Bringing the young Elizabeth Tudor to life — before she became the ruler that so many of us have studied in history class — was not an easy feat for Alicia von Rittberg. Studying up on the role, while also wanting to bring Elizabeth’s adolescence, innocence, and vulnerability to the screen, von Rittberg didn’t turn to another historical royal ruler for inspiration but rather Diana Spencer, the princess of Wales.
“I was very inspired by an interview with Lady Diana because she was so soft and vulnerable and yet so respected,” von Rittberg told The List. “I wanted to give [Elizabeth] something like that. I wanted her to be emotional, vulnerable — someone who’s not like with their head through the wall, but also someone who’s observing and learning, and then choosing her fights wisely and being agile as well.”
Reflecting on the historic moment in time, von Rittberg acknowledged that the actions women took in those days “could mean your head on a spike,” and that “daring to take yourself back” could be one of the biggest risks you could take. Of all the royals who have redefined themselves in the public eye, Diana is certainly the one to draw inspiration from.
