Becoming Elizabeth

Anya Reiss's account of the Tudor court takes on a propulsive intensity, full of vomit and sex and cruelty.

As with the start of any series, even one where introductions are barely necessary, Becoming Elizabeth takes a while to work up a head of steam. It’s a forgivable anachronism in a horrifying history that explains, ever so moreishly, how she came to wear them as queen. He is also taken to blurting brattish things like “I am the f---ingKing!” in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Game of Thrones’ Joffrey. As for Elizabeth, it’s a relief to read that Alicia von Rittberg is in her late twenties, but she manages not to seem it as delight, terror and confusion play out on her face. But there are three in this marriage (it’s scarcely a spoiler to reveal she and Thomas get spliced in episode two). They are housing the 14-year-old Elizabeth, almost as a hostage, and Thomas soon turns into an abusive groomer. If there was, then Becoming Elizabeth (Starz) has taken an axe to it to imagine the precarious teens of our Virgin Queen.

Aren't we done with the Tudors? After Wolf Hall, surely there was an industry-wide moratorium abolishing the dynasty from our screens, while we all.

But there are three in this marriage (it’s barely a spoiler to reveal that she and Thomas spliced in episode two). They harbor 14-year-old Elizabeth, almost hostage, and Thomas soon turns into a violent groomer. If there were, then Become Elizabeth (Starz) gave himself a chop to imagine the precarious teens of our Virgin Queen. In our first view of her, she’s rolling around in a four-poster bed with her late husband’s former buff brother-in-law.

There are never enough shows and movies that tell us the stories of the Tudor monarchs. Becoming Elizabeth is the newest one to check out.

After all, we have seen Starz shows eventually head to Netflix. Outlander is the biggest Starz show for the female demographic and that is available to stream on Netflix. It might take a couple of years for Becoming Elizabeth to come to Netflix, though. Becoming Elizabeth is the newest one to check out. You’ll need to turn to the home of The White Queen and The Spanish Princess. Starz is the place to turn to for Becoming Elizabeth. The first episode is available on the app right now, with the episode airing Sunday nights on the channel.

Tom Cullen as Thomas Seymour. Bella Ramsey as Lady Jane Grey. Jamie Parker as John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. Oliver Zetterström as King Edward VI.

- Robert Whitelock as Robert Kett. - Ekow Quartey as Pedro. Viewers can watch new episodes of Becoming Elizabeth season 1 on the Starz channel at 9 pm ET/PT on the date mentioned above. - Leo Bill as Henry Grey. - Jacob Avery as Guildford Dudley. - Jamie Blackley as Robert Dudley.

Elizabeth Tudor is only 14 years old in Becoming Elizabeth, which looks at the politics, intrigue, and sexual dalliances that went into making her Queen ...

So, I think it is a very difficult relationship that I think was portrayed so carefully in those books, and I just really hope we can show that in the show as well. I think the relationship was incredibly complex and wrong, and I think that the age and power dynamics were not right. That’s why it’s even more painful to watch the downside of that relationship as well, and the manipulation and the challenge. The rest of the team hated it because it took so much time, but for me it was just so important to put on those different layers of the character. Because her duty demanded that of her, I think she held a lot more responsibilities, a lot more responsibility than I would have had when I was 14. And I think that’s also because she wanted to have that person to take care of her and to trust in. But do you think that the bond that they formed was a real mother-daughter bond? I talked to my movement coach about it, and she was like, “Imagine when you were younger, you were not distracted by 3,000 things. As mentioned, this starts with Elizabeth at 14, who didn’t really know her mother Anne Boleyn that well because she was executed when Elizabeth was very young. I think it’s beautiful how you can get closer to the actual person, the human behind the queen we know from the books by talking about her early years. Becoming Elizabeth opens with young Elizabeth Tudor (Alicia von Rittberg) only 14 years old when her father King Henry VIII dies, and her 9-year-old brother Edward (Oliver Zetterström) ascends to the throne. Now STARZ revisits the subject of the many-storied monarch in Becoming Elizabeth but with a fresh take.

Since that time Henry VIII and his six wives have been the focus of narrative features and documentaries, as well as television series. In 2007, Showtime gave ...

“She married a man, and they were in love, and they had a lot of children.” “I don’t think we go in with the intention of franchising,” said Hoffman when asked whether the idea of a Tudor multiverse with spin-offs and sequels is a possibility. It’s not necessarily a leap to watch something like “The Tudors,” with its all-white cast and see just one of many reasons why the British press falls into racist headlines around Meghan Markle. It could be a key reason why works like “Becoming Elizabeth,” or Jodie Turner-Smith’s most recent performance as Anne Boleyn for the BBC, have been focused on colorblind casting. Even when Elizbeth I was still alive, William Shakespeare was writing plays about her and enhancing the belief that she was “Gloriana,” a representative of a glorious time in history. In 2013, Starz released “The White Queen,” a quasi-Tudor prequel focused on the War of the Roses which would lead to Henry VIII becoming King. The success of that series saw Starz greenlight two more series with tangential connections to the Tudors. “Becoming Elizabeth” is the first of Starz’s series to specifically bring it back around to Henry VIII’s child. “The Tudors are so fascinating to people because it is a bit of a real drama because what King married six times?” said author and historian Phillipa Vincent-Connolly.

Here's your guide to watching the Queen Elizabeth I series Becoming Elizabeth, with all the info on where it's streaming, what it's about, and more.

His conflict with the Catholic Church and relationship with Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk provides a rich sub-plot. Elizabeth has to manage all this while also struggling to tame her attraction to Sir Walter Raleigh. A melodramatic tale of a powerful female monarch trapped in a lonely prison of her wealth and power, Elizabeth: The Golden Age has got memorable scenes and a fantastic cast. The story focuses on the early years of his 40-year reign (1509-1547) and his various female companions. Becoming Elizabeth tells the fascinating story of perhaps the most influential woman of the Tudor dynasty. She begins her own maneuvers, all of which end in her becoming Queen. The trailer merges scenes that tell her story from a princess to a woman and finally, a leader. Obviously too young to lead, the power tussle around him intensifies as different powerful families try to manipulate the royals to curry favors and remain in the power reckoning of the empire.

Alicia von Rittberg plays the future Queen Elizabeth I for Becoming Elizabeth, but shared that she initially thought there was a mistake in getting the ...

Becoming Elizabeth will be a new take on the 16th century, and not a series to miss for any fans of period dramas. Be sure to check out her take on the future Queen Elizabeth I with the series premiere of Becoming Elizabeth (opens in new tab) on Sunday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET on Starz. The show picks up not with Queen Elizabeth I on the throne of England, but teenage Elizabeth in the wake of Henry VIII’s death.

'Becoming Elizabeth' follows a young Queen Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg) through political intrigue following the death of Henry VIII.

“I claim that right.” By allowing Elizabeth to be a teenager first, with all the inner turmoil, impetuous choices and foolish ideas that entails, Becoming Elizabeth grants the future monarch some of the agency that she claims to have been denied — and that the inevitability of history too often robs of its most influential figures. The Elizabeth who began the series complaining that, as a princess, she’s never gotten what she wants, is by the middle of the season making big public moves of her own in court and declaring that the naïve girl she once was “is dead.” Justin Chadwick, who directed the first three episodes (of four sent to critics, and of eight total for the season), complements Reiss’ approach with a handheld camera that frequently gets up close and personal with the cast. The battle of wills between two noble brothers, Catherine’s new husband Thomas Seymour (Tom Cullen) and Edward VI’s top advisor Edward Seymour (John Heffernan) play out in hostile arguments at royal council meetings, but also informs Thomas’ wildly inappropriate flirtation with Elizabeth — who, as a sheltered girl who’s never caught the attentions of such a charismatic man before, finds him difficult to resist. It also speaks to Becoming Elizabeth‘s insistence on living in these moments as they were experienced by the people within them, rather than looking back at them with the clarity of hindsight. But their initial panic speaks to the siblings’ painful awareness of the precariousness of their positions.

Alicia von Rittberg stars as the young Elizabeth Tudor. She's joined by Jessica Raine as Catherine Parr, and Tom Cullen as Thomas Seymour. Other members of the ...

- Episode 4: July 3 If you prefer to watch the show live on TV, episodes will be available at 9 p.m. PT/ET on the regular Starz channel. Excited to immerse yourself in a new era?

Learn about the 'Becoming Elizabeth' filming locations, cast, and plot before the “smart” and “satisfying” Starz drama premieres on Sunday, June 12.

Alicia told HollywoodLife she “fell in love” with the script. So far, Becoming Elizabeth has a Metacritic score of 70, indicating generally favorable reviews. “This series explores the Tudor Reign and young Elizabeth, who would become England's ‘Gloriana’ and one of history's most dynamic figures, through a new lens which we think viewers will find highly engaging.”

“Becoming Elizabeth,” a series based on the teenage life of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, premieres on Starz on Sunday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The premise, according to Starz, is that “long before she ascended the throne, young Elizabeth Tudor, (played by Alicia von Rittberg) was an orphaned teenager who became embroiled in the political and sexual politics of the English court. The death of King Henry VIII sees his 9-year-old son Edward (played by Oliver Zetterström) take the throne and sets into motion a dangerous scramble for power when Elizabeth, Edward and their sister, Mary (played by Romola Garai) find themselves pawns in a game between the great families of England and the powers of Europe who vie for control of the country.” “Becoming Elizabeth,” a series based on the teenage life of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, premieres on Starz on Sunday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. You can also watch it on FuboTV. “Becoming Elizabeth” dives into the struggles of coming of age in a regal setting.

The series stars Alicia Von Rittberg (Emma in Fury) — she will be representing the young woman who became Queen Elizabeth I. The series comes from playwright ...

- Robert Whitelock as Robert Kett. - Ekow Quartey as Pedro. Viewers can watch new episodes of Becoming Elizabeth season 1 on the Starz channel at 9 pm ET/PT on the date mentioned above. - Leo Bill as Henry Grey. - Jacob Avery as Guildford Dudley. - Jamie Blackley as Robert Dudley.

This is the story of the woman who would eventually become Queen Elizabeth I, and Alicia von Rittberg is mesmerizing in the role (along with Tom Cullen). Over ...

Set in Miami, it's a great summer watch and the casting (which also includes Diego Boneta, Adria Arjona, and Isabela Merced) is perfect. Don't sleep on this one, and come back to Glamour later in the week, as we'll have interviews with the cast, who you'll want to know everything about. The busiest and best TV week of the summer kicks off today with Becoming Elizabeth, Starz's newest historical drama which spares no expense at bringing the young life of Elizabeth Tudor to the screen.

Alicia von Rittberg, Tom Cullen and Jessica Raine star in this new take on the power vacuum after King Henry VIII's death.

“I am the fucking king!” Edward yells back, which is always disturbing coming from a kid (Zetterströmr is 15 but he’s playing Edward as more of a 10-year-old here). Most Pilot-y Line: When the Lord Protector proposes to Edward that he get married to a child that’s even younger than he is (ick), he angrily refuses. At the very least, she might feel she needs to protect her brother from everyone’s slings and (maybe literal) arrows. The only question is how Elizabeth is going to play her part. Will she capitulate to Catherine and Sir Thomas, given her attraction to him? For instance, she truly thought that she’d marry Sir Thomas, despite her age and the fact that he has his sights set on her stepmother Catherine. We know that Elizabeth won’t become queen for another six years, after the death of her brother Edward and some succession chaos. Right now, Elizabeth is still young and naïve, and von Rittberg plays her with that undercurrent of innocence, despite being a strong and assertive princess. It just takes some effort to get through the first episode as all of the chess pieces take their place on the board. In an effort to not lose her grip on the monarchy, Catherine proposes to Thomas, though it seems that young Elizabeth is also taken with him. It also feels like a sequel to The Tudors. and all of them have given their votes to the duke.

The eight-part series airs every Sunday on Starz and explores the formative years of Queen Elizabeth I (played by Alicia von Rittberg) and her two half-siblings ...

She was never really kind or given that much thought, but she was an incredibly interesting woman and her story is really rich." I think that is probably the case for quite a lot of people. "To have a historical piece written like this by such an incredible young woman who is so much closer in age to Elizabeth herself and therefore so much closer to her predicament, it's not hard to imagine what it was like for a 15-year-old woman to go through these things. I mean, I would read anything that Anya [Reiss, creator] wrote, she is such a unique talent and such an incredibly interesting writer. She said: "We just really enjoyed how you never forget that they actually more or less grew up together, and that no matter how difficult it is and again, later on, they have so much in common because they did grow up together, they were still family. His father, Henry VIII was responsible for the Protestant Reformation which saw the church of England break away from the Roman Catholic Church.

The Boys, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Becoming Elizabeth and Iron Chef: here's the best of this week's TV, as reviewed by Clare Rigden.

Yep. It’s a big call, but this series, based on the popular young adult novel by Jenny Han, is so much more than you might expect. Part of the appeal of watching Grand Designs for many a viewer is the delicious schadenfreude that sometimes accompanies it. As will this series, which focuses on Queen Elizabeth I in the years before she became monarch. Mere minutes into the opening of this series, there’s a sex scene that ends with — wait for it — a penis exploding. This season, the searing social commentary continues — as well as all that blood and gore. This superhero show flips the script on our obsession with heroes.