ORF-E
English
1 x 52 min / 1 x 45 min
Worldwide except for Germany and France

Mary I of the House of Tudor was the first queen in English history and became known as “Bloody Mary”. Disowned by her highly educated yet brutal father Henry VIII, Mary was initially refused the right of succession. The young princess resisted, eventually becoming a pioneer and powerful queen in her own right. Raised a Catholic, Mary was persecuted by her Protestant sister Elizabeth, who succeeded her on the throne and, as queen, played a significant role in blackening Mary’s reputation. The documentary takes an unusual, innovative approach to the story of “Bloody Mary”: the actor Marie-Christine Friedrich assumes the role of Queen Elizabeth I, Mary’s sister, allowing the film to explore both the historical realities of Mary’s reign and the complicated personal relationship between the two monarchs. This casts an entirely new light on both queens, revealing how a number of Mary’s achievements were subsequently claimed by Elizabeth – such as the reform of the navy, which laid the foundation for England to eventually become the world’s dominant naval power.