Dr Elizabeth Norton, a British historian who specialises in queens of England and the Tudor period, shared which historical figures deserve their own feature film.
The Tudors have been no strangers to the big screen, with 1998’s Elizabeth, covering the reign of Elizabeth I, and 2023’s Firebrand following Henry VIII’s final years through the eyes of his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.
Besides theatrical releases, there have also been long-running television series Tudors (2007-2010) and Wolf Hall (2015-2025), that deep-dive into the lives of Tudor nobility.
Dr Norton said: I’m always surprised Robert Dudley has never had his own film. He’s such a character.”
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, served as one of Elizabeth I’s privy councillors from 1564 until his death in 1588. His film appearances include Joseph Fiennes’ portrayal in ‘Elizabeth I’ and Joe Alwyn in 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots.
Dr Norton continued: “The son and grandson of people beheaded for treason. He spends time in the tower, tries to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne. And he’s desperate to marry Elizabeth, and really tries very, very hard to become king of England.
“Sir Francis Walsingham has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years.”
Walsingham served as Queen Elizabeth’s Principal Secretary and Spymaster General after he returned from exile under Mary I. He appeared in Elizabeth, played by Geoffrey Rush.
She added: “There are a lot of people interested in his spy techniques. He brought Mary Queen of Scots down; she knew it, at her trial she accused him of entrapping her and causing her death…which is true really.
“Mary’s half-brother, James Stewart, is another character that is really, really interesting. The fact doesn’t take the throne; he’s always ruling through his relatives, but ultimately brings Mary down.”
The first Earl of Moray was the illegitimate son of James V and acted as the Regent of Scotland for his half-nephew James VI before his assassination in 1570. Portrayed by James McArdle in Mary Queen of Scots.
Dr Norton concluded: “It’s a period that’s absolutely full of interesting characters.”
