There is no doubt that the Monarch has inspired multiple films and shows for many years. From documentaries to fictionalized dramas, there's a long list of films with nuanced depictions of the famed royal. However, playing the roles of royalty and aristocrats is always a challenge for actors. Because those roles require actors to both show the aristocratic temperament and accurately reproduce the character's personality.
However, there are many A-list stars who have excellently transformed into powerful queens. They have not only a beautiful appearance but also a noble style. Whether the character is evil or good, fantasy or based on real history, these beauties have nailed their role as queens.
But which performances stand out the most? Keep reading for a list of 20 actresses who played a Queen.
#1 Judi Dench
Source: Getty
When you think about queens in movies, Judi Dench might be the first name that comes to mind. Despite having only a few minutes on film, Dench received an Oscar for his performance as an aged Queen Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love" (1997). However, her fans in England prefer her as Queen Victoria in "Mrs. Brown" (1997). Dench reprised the role over 20 years later in 2018's "Victoria & Abdul", playing the 19th century (and longest-reigning British) monarch once more.
#2 Cate Blanchett
Source: Universal
Cate Blanchett is well-known for her performance as Elizabeth I, the 16th-century British ruler in "Elizabeth" (2000) and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2004). The movie in 2004 depicts the Queen's later years, whereas "Elizabeth" (2000) concentrates on her early reign. Both movies brought Blanchett an Oscar. In 2012, Blanchett also appeared in an episode of "Family Guy" as Queen Elizabeth II.
#3 Tessa Thompson
Source: Marvel | Disney
Tessa Thompson, who is superpowered as the ex-scraper, Pegasus-riding Valkyrie in "Thor: Ragnarok", played a royal character. At the conclusion of "Avengers: Endgame", Thor crowns her King of New Asgard. In 2022's "Thor: Love and Thunder", we should see Valkyrie in full royal regalia (and searching for her queen as the first LGBTQ
Marvel hero). I'm looking forward to it.
#4 Emily Blunt
Source: Apparition
Emily Blunt's film and television career began with queenly roles. In "Boudica" (2003), she portrayed the role of a Celtic warrior-queen. In the same year, she starred as Queen Catherine Howard in "Henry VIII" (2003). Those parts led to larger things, and Blunt was on the verge of stardom with another performance as a queen in 'The Young Victoria" (2009). She's one of the biggest stars in the world now.
#5 Emilia Clarke
Source: HBO
The Iron Throne is Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen's objective in the film "Game of Thrones". She is the First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons. Dany is one of the most well-known fictional queens in the history of popular culture.
#6 Lena Headey
Source: HBO
Cersei Lannister as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Before becoming Dowager Queen after her husband, Robert dies, she is the most vicious of all the kings and queens. Cersei, on the other hand, becomes queen, having reclaimed the Iron Throne after defeating the High Sparrow and his zealots. She's wearing the crown when Daenerys Targaryen comes looking for it in the final season. The confrontation has gone down in television history as one of the most memorable.
#7 Sophie Turner
Source: HBO
In "Game of Thrones", Sansa Stark (played by Sophie Turner) has to put up with a lot. She's engaged to a lunatic monarch, married to his brother, and then kidnapped and wedded to another madman. Sansa discovers her true power only after enduring all of her tribulations. As King Jon Snow's counsel and sister, it guides her. It also prepares her for her own ascension to the throne, with her becoming the first Queen of the North at the end of the series.
#8 Claire Foy
Source: Netflix
Netflix's "The Crown" is a series about Queen Elizabeth II's life and reign. Claire Foy received several awards for her performance in the first two seasons. From her marriage to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the Suez Crisis, Prime Minister changes, and the birth of Prince Edward, the play recounts the major events in the Queen's life.
#9 Rene Russo
Source: Marvel | Disney
Rene Russo is known for her role as Thor's mother, Frigga. In the first two Thor movies ("Thor" (2011) and "Thor: The Dark World" (2013)), she rules Asgard along with her husband, Odin. She also has an appearance in "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) thanks to a time travel subplot.
#10 Olivia Colman
Source: Searchlight
Olivia Colman, a British beauty, has recently appeared in films and television shows as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (in "Hyde Park on Hudson") and her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II (in "The Crown"). Her most renowned queenly performance, though, is a different one. In 2018, Colman received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her diabolical performance as Anne, Queen of Great Britain in the black comedy "The Favourite".
#11 Anne Hathaway
Source: Disney
In director Tim Burton's live-action versions, Anne Hathaway earned the part of Mirana the White Monarch, the second, creepier "Alice in Wonderland" queen. The White Queen is the Red Queen's sister, and despite her charming and innocent appearance, she possesses a terrible heart.
#12 Helena Bonham Carter
Source: Disney
Helena Bonham Carter played Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in the Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech" (2010). In addition, Carter also played the Red Queen in the live-action adaption of "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016). Freya Wilson also makes a cameo appearance in The King's Speech as a young Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen.
#13 Natalie Dormer
Source: Showtime
Although her appearance on "Game of Thrones" is just 15 minutes long, Natalie Dormer had a remarkable stint as Queen Margaery Tyrell. Some "Game of Thrones" fans may be unaware that Dormer had a lot of royal experience before to the show. She also appeared in two seasons of Showtime's "The Tudors" (2007–2008, 2010) as Anne Boleyn.
#14 Florence Pugh
Source: Netflix
Florence Pugh is a young and excellent actress who has previously played a queen. In the 2018 Netflix movie of Robert the Bruce, "Outlaw King", she plays Elizabeth de Burgh. Elizabeth, a woman from Ireland who lived around the turn of the 14th century, is a little-known figure. She was Bruce's lone queen consort during his 20-year reign in Scotland, which began in 1306.
#15 Lily-Rose Depp
Source: Netflix
With her fleeting appearance as Catherine of Valois, wife of Henry V (Timothée Chalamet) in Netflix's "The King" (2019), Lily-Rose Depp became one of the youngest onscreen queens. Catherine was Queen Consort of England from 1420 to 1422, when her husband died suddenly. Catherine was just 21 years old at the time, and a new mother to Henry VI, the baby monarch. In "The King", Thomasin McKenzie plays Queen Phillippa of Denmark in a minor part.
#16 Margot Robbie
Source: Focus Features
"Mary Queen of Scots" portrays the English/Protestant side of the Rising of the North focusing on Elizabeth I (played by Margot Robbie). Elizabeth is concerned about her reign since half of her people (the Catholics) believe Mary is the true queen. She is unmarried and without an heir. Robbie was nominated for SAG and BAFTA awards for her performance.
#17 Saoirse Ronan
Source: Focus Features
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan played Mary Stuart in "Mary Queen of Scots" (2018). The Rise was a failed effort by Catholic lords from Northern England to remove Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth's cousin...
#18 Natalie Portman
Source: LucasFilm | Disney
Natalie Portman cemented her place in Star Wars legend as Queen Padmé Amidala, the mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker, in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" and its two sequels ( from 1999 to 2005). She's a member of the galactic royal family. In The "Other Boleyn Girl" (2008), Portman also played Anne Bolyn. Anne was Henry VIII's infamous second wife, who ruled England for three years before being killed for treason.
#19 Angela Bassett
Source: Marvel | Disney
Angela Bassett is one of those rare American actresses who have an aristocratic temperament. Bassett played Ramonda, Wakanda's Queen Mother, in Marvel's "Black Panther." She's mother and adviser to king T'Challa.Moreover, Bassett was also Emmy-nominated for Voodoo queen Marie Laveau on "American Horror Story: Coven".
#20 Helen Mirren
Source: Pathé Distribution
Helen Mirren is the first queenly choice among actresses today. She is the only actress who has played both Queen Elizabeth on screen ("Elizabeth I"(2005) (TV) and "The Queen" (2006)). She also received her first Academy Award nomination for her role as Queen Charlotte in 1995's "The Madness of King George". She went on to win Best Actress for her role in "The Queen".In addition, Mirren also plays Magdalene "Queenie" Shaw in "Fast and Furious" movies: "The Fate of the Furious" (2017), "Hobbs & Shaw" (2019), and "F9" (2019)
