Becoming Elizabeth

Becoming Elizabeth is a historical drama television series, created by Anya Reiss, that follows the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I, who lived in the 16th century. It premiered on Starz on 12 June 2022 and Channel 4 on 15 June. In October 2022, the series was cancelled.

Plot
The series follows the younger years of the only surviving child of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, who starts out in the story as an orphaned teenager who becomes embroiled in the politics of the English court on her journey towards the crown. Before cancellation, the series covered almost the full reign of her younger half brother, Edward VI.

Cast and characters

 * Alicia von Rittberg as Elizabeth Tudor
 * Romola Garai as Mary Tudor
 * Jessica Raine as Catherine Parr
 * Tom Cullen as Thomas Seymour
 * Bella Ramsey as Jane Grey
 * Jamie Parker as John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
 * Oliver Zetterström as King Edward VI
 * John Heffernan as Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
 * Jamie Blackley as Lord Robert Dudley
 * Jacob Avery as Lord Guildford Dudley
 * Alexandra Gilbreath as Kat Ashley
 * Leo Bill as Henry Grey
 * Ekow Quartey as Pedro
 * Alex Macqueen as Stephen Gardiner
 * Olivier Huband as Ambassador Guzman
 * Robert Whitelock as Robert Kett
 * Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Amy Robsart

Development
In December 2019, it was announced Starz had greenlit an 8-episode series focusing on the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I created by Anya Reiss, who would also serve as an executive producer. In October 2022, it was announced that Starz had cancelled the show and there would be no season 2 covering the reign of Mary I.

Casting
In October 2020, Alicia von Rittberg joined the cast of the series. In May 2021, Romola Garai, Jessica Raine, Tom Cullen, Bella Ramsey, Oliver Zetterström, John Heffernan, Jamie Blackley, Jacob Avery, Alexandra Gilbreath, Leo Bill, Ekow Quartey, Alex Macqueen and Oliver Huband joined the cast of the series.

Filming
Principal photography began in December 2020. In March 2021, production took place at Cardiff Castle.

Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads, "Angsty as a disgruntled teenager and all the better for it, Becoming Elizabeth finds fresh drama in the Tudors by shifting focus onto the royal court's web of spiders.". Particular praise was given to Romola Garai in her role as Mary Tudor, with many commentating that she stole the show. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

The series was repeated in the UK on Channel 4 from 15 July 2023.