First let me say that I'm a Helen Mirren fan. She does not disappoint in this 2-part HBO production of England's Queen Elizabeth I. Having an English history-phile at my side while watching this movie, didn't hurt my appreciation for the accuracy of the production, either.

Although significant evidence exists that Elizabeth I had daliances with more than one admirer, she did remain unmarried her entire life, choosing a more independent life. She defied the conventional social and political wisdom of the day. She was very much a woman, but very much a tyrant when she needed to be. The men who got close to her were almost like moths attracted to flame. If they got too close, they got burned, and the smart ones learned to at least feign attraction without seeking to dominate and control. What made the movie so intriguing was the personality and motivations of the lead character. She wanted to be loved and adored, but cross her, and one could (and did) lose their head, not to mention their entrails. Speaking of which, there are scenes not for the faint-hearted, but so much a part of the story and the nature of the times of that period that they were not gratuitous.

Jeremy Irons, as Lord of Leceister, one of the Queen's paramours, did his usual superb job in basically an all-English cast. There are other familiar faces and talent that add to the story, but Mirren carries the day. Her performance is alone worth it.