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BBC gets middle ages spread with lavish royal saga BBC gets middle ages spread with lavish royal saga
(4 months later)
She has been cast as the "most beautiful woman in the island of Britain" but although she is apparently a distant relative of Sarah Ferguson, Rebecca Ferguson is in fact Swedish.She has been cast as the "most beautiful woman in the island of Britain" but although she is apparently a distant relative of Sarah Ferguson, Rebecca Ferguson is in fact Swedish.
The actor will this week be introduced to BBC viewers in the lead role of The White Queen, the lavish adaptation of Philippa Gregory's Wars of the Roses novels, her first UK TV drama role.The actor will this week be introduced to BBC viewers in the lead role of The White Queen, the lavish adaptation of Philippa Gregory's Wars of the Roses novels, her first UK TV drama role.
BBC controller of drama commissioning. Ben Stephenson, is confident the 29 year-old's starring role in the series, which starts on Sunday, will be a stepping stone to a more high-profile international acting career. Since landing the BBC role Ferguson has been cast in another historical TV drama, Ridley Scott's The Vatican, and the movie Hercules: The Thracian Wars, alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Hurt.BBC controller of drama commissioning. Ben Stephenson, is confident the 29 year-old's starring role in the series, which starts on Sunday, will be a stepping stone to a more high-profile international acting career. Since landing the BBC role Ferguson has been cast in another historical TV drama, Ridley Scott's The Vatican, and the movie Hercules: The Thracian Wars, alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Hurt.
The BBC clearly has high hopes for Ferguson and The White Queen, a 10-part international co-production filmed in Belgium with a budget of more than £10m. New director general, Tony Hall, has heartily endorsed it, attending a screening last month and describing The White Queen as the kind of "really ambitious" drama the broadcaster should be aiming for.The BBC clearly has high hopes for Ferguson and The White Queen, a 10-part international co-production filmed in Belgium with a budget of more than £10m. New director general, Tony Hall, has heartily endorsed it, attending a screening last month and describing The White Queen as the kind of "really ambitious" drama the broadcaster should be aiming for.
"I think what this shows is our desire on BBC1 to push the boundaries of mainstream TV," said Stephenson. "It's a great story, with a definite element of scale.""I think what this shows is our desire on BBC1 to push the boundaries of mainstream TV," said Stephenson. "It's a great story, with a definite element of scale."
The White Queen is based on Gregory's four novels in The Cousins' War series, which tell the story of the Wars of the Roses from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville (Ferguson), Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale) and Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), three women involved in the 15th-century conflict between the rival Yorkist and Lancastrian factions for the English throne.The White Queen is based on Gregory's four novels in The Cousins' War series, which tell the story of the Wars of the Roses from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville (Ferguson), Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale) and Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), three women involved in the 15th-century conflict between the rival Yorkist and Lancastrian factions for the English throne.
While Hale and Marsay's characters come to the fore as the drama progresses, Ferguson is the most prominent protagonist throughout the narrative, which covers a 20-year period.While Hale and Marsay's characters come to the fore as the drama progresses, Ferguson is the most prominent protagonist throughout the narrative, which covers a 20-year period.
The White Queen was Ferguson's first casting call in London and she only got the nod the night before the first read through, according to Stephenson. After a crash course in horse riding, within three days the actor – who has an English mother – was on set in Bruges. Stephenson described the casting process as "hair raising and exhilarating", but after a worldwide search Ferguson's "star power" shone through. "She plays all the emotions across her face without doing anything – real film acting," he said.The White Queen was Ferguson's first casting call in London and she only got the nod the night before the first read through, according to Stephenson. After a crash course in horse riding, within three days the actor – who has an English mother – was on set in Bruges. Stephenson described the casting process as "hair raising and exhilarating", but after a worldwide search Ferguson's "star power" shone through. "She plays all the emotions across her face without doing anything – real film acting," he said.
A story set in the middle ages is something of a departure for BBC1, which in recent years has switched from the 19th (Jane Austen and Charles Dickens adaptations) to the 20th century (Birdsong, The Village, Call the Midwife) in its costume drama output.A story set in the middle ages is something of a departure for BBC1, which in recent years has switched from the 19th (Jane Austen and Charles Dickens adaptations) to the 20th century (Birdsong, The Village, Call the Midwife) in its costume drama output.
Stephenson admitted drama set in the middle ages on other channels – such as The Tudors, The Pillars of the Earth and even Game of Thrones, which although a fantasy shows draws heavily on British and European medieval history as its inspiration – had made it easier to raise international co-production funding for The White Queen.Stephenson admitted drama set in the middle ages on other channels – such as The Tudors, The Pillars of the Earth and even Game of Thrones, which although a fantasy shows draws heavily on British and European medieval history as its inspiration – had made it easier to raise international co-production funding for The White Queen.
But he said what really attracted him was Gregory's ability to tell a "rattling good story" from the point of view of the women behind the throne, where medieval history in fiction and non-fiction usually focuses on the point of view of the powerful men involved.But he said what really attracted him was Gregory's ability to tell a "rattling good story" from the point of view of the women behind the throne, where medieval history in fiction and non-fiction usually focuses on the point of view of the powerful men involved.
Emma Frost, the lead writer on the show, described the novels as "big, bold, fast paced" and very accessible – obvious material for a BBC1 adaptation. "The White Queen is a story about a commoner who marries the king, the commoner who ends up at the royal court. Viewers can identify with that," she said.Emma Frost, the lead writer on the show, described the novels as "big, bold, fast paced" and very accessible – obvious material for a BBC1 adaptation. "The White Queen is a story about a commoner who marries the king, the commoner who ends up at the royal court. Viewers can identify with that," she said.
Frost added that she also relished writing for a drama with strong female characters, who are involved in the power plays and intrigues of the period, including marriages arranged between different factions for political reasons. "These are strong, dynamic women who are in charge of their own fate … They just had to go about getting what they wanted in different ways [to men]."Frost added that she also relished writing for a drama with strong female characters, who are involved in the power plays and intrigues of the period, including marriages arranged between different factions for political reasons. "These are strong, dynamic women who are in charge of their own fate … They just had to go about getting what they wanted in different ways [to men]."
The White Queen was filmed in Belgium primarily to take advantage of tax breaks, but the Flemish architecture also provided the production with a different look and feel and reduced the need for CGI special effects, according to executive producer John Griffin. "They have castles that aren't ruins. The Belgians repoint their castles," Griffin said.The White Queen was filmed in Belgium primarily to take advantage of tax breaks, but the Flemish architecture also provided the production with a different look and feel and reduced the need for CGI special effects, according to executive producer John Griffin. "They have castles that aren't ruins. The Belgians repoint their castles," Griffin said.
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