X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

The Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen explores the full sweep of Elizabeth's life: from her days of fear as a potential victim of her sister's terror; through her great love affair with Robert Dudley; into her years of triumph over the Armada; and finally her old age and her last, enigmatic relationship with her young protégé, the Earl of Essex.

Loading. Please wait...

Content not available in your region? ExpressVPN can help you stay connected wherever you are. Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.

Cast & Crew See All

Anne-Marie Duff
Queen Elizabeth I
Sienna Guillory
Lettice Knollys
Ian Hart
William Cecil - Lord Burghley

Season 1 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

Episode #1.1

116 mins

Elizabeth remains a threat in her childless Catholic sister's eyes. Queen Mary is still on the throne and with her harsh politics, she excessively pursues the persecution of Protestants, even of her sister. Queen Mary knows that her sister has a large number of supporters in England, and therefore, she imprisons Elizabeth in the tower and later puts her under house arrest. When Queen Mary surprisingly dies from a tumor, Elizabeth becomes Queen of England. William Cecil, her advisor, warns Elizabeth of the dangers that the married Robert Dudley may, due to their inappropriate relation, cause as a member of the Privy Council.

Where to Watch

Awards

  • 2007 - BAFTA TV Award - Best Drama Serial - nominated
  • 2007 - BAFTA TV Award - Best Actress - nominated
  • 2007 - BAFTA TV Award - Best Costume Design - winner
  • 2007 - IFTA Award - Best Actress in a Lead Role in Television - nominated

You May Also Like See All

The Office
Homicide: Life on the Street
The Staircase
The Sopranos

Popular Shows See all shows

Band of Brothers

1 Season
This landmark miniseries based on Stephen E. Ambrose's best-seller, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, recounts the remarkable achievements of an elite team of U.S. paratroopers during World War II.
87   Metascore
2001 Action & Adventure, Drama, Documentary

The Curse of Oak Island

13 Seasons
Rick and Marty Lagina, two brothers from Michigan with a life-long interest in the mystery of Oak Island, renew efforts to discover the legendary treasure with sophisticated machinery.
2014 Documentary, Reality

The Faithful

1 Season
Women from Genesis navigate love, marriage, motherhood, and faith as their descendants establish Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Their personal journeys reveal struggles with relationships, children, and belief.
50   Metascore
2026 Drama, Documentary

Chernobyl

1 Season
Starring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson, the five-part miniseries dramatizes the story of the 1986 nuclear accident — one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history — and the sacrifices made to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
82   Metascore
2019 Drama, Documentary, Suspense

The Crown

6 Seasons
This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
78   Metascore
2016 Documentary, Drama

Call the Midwife

15 Seasons
Midwives in East London in the 1950s, experience the growing pains of life and love.
81   Metascore
2012 Drama, Documentary