Elizabeth is a 1998 British
biographical film written by
Michael Hirst, directed by
Shekhar Kapur, and starring
Cate Blanchett in the title role of
Queen Elizabeth I of England, alongside
Geoffrey Rush,
Christopher Eccleston,
Joseph Fiennes,
Sir John Gielgud,
Fanny Ardant and
Richard Attenborough. This 1998 film is loosely based on the early years of Elizabeth's reign. In 2007, Blanchett and Rush reprised their roles in the sequel, , covering the later part of her reign.