Helen mirren stars as queen elizabeth i in this two part channel 4 drama written by award winning screenwriter and acclaimed novelist nigel williams. With jeremy irons, patrick malahide, toby jones and hugh dancy.  the drama begins in 1579 and portrays elizabeth – daughter of henry viii – during her later years. It exposes the conflict between her sense of duty and the instincts of her heart, her doomed affair with the earl of essex, and the struggles of a powerful and independent woman battling to survive in a male dominated world. During her reign, elizabeth became one of england's most admired monarchs, having resisted the spanish armada and having reunified the nation after it was divided by religious factionalism. Her successes and popularity led to the creation of the 'virgin queen' legend, but this drama, for the first time, delves beyond this myth and attempts to uncover the real woman behind the crown. Screenplay by nigel williams the wimbledon poisoner, bertie and elizabeth and uncle adolf.  running time 223 minutes region region 2 release date 17 04 2006