Are you ready to make the most of your Starz subscription this month? It’s all about Mary & George, the new historical drama series that is inspired by true events.
I saw “inspired by” because there is a lot in this that is not based on true historical accounts. There is a lot of dramatization that goes into the story, but it is not as bad as the dramatization that the likes of Reign brought us.
The series follows the absurd and shocking story of Mary Villiers, who finds herself a widow and in need of a plan to keep hold of her estates. When she learns of King James’s interest in her son, George, the two plot together to find a way to gain more power and influence in the country. Of course, it’s the English Court. There is plenty of backstabbing and conspiracy-making going on.
Mary & George cast
Julianne Moore stars as Mary Villiers. She starts off in an abusive marriage, but when her husband dies after she pushes him, she needs to figure out a way to keep everything she has become accustomed to. That includes power and influence.
This brings in her son George, played by Nicholas Galitzine. She tasks him with seducing King James I of England (also King James VI of Scotland) to become his all-powerful lover. We know that female mistresses would often gain power for their families, but what about male ones in a time when homosexuality was against the law?
Tony Curran plays King James. He is England’s first Scottish king, a man who only gained the crown because Queen Elizabeth I died without her own heir.
There are many others who make up the main cast, and they are names who will sound familiar for those who follow English history.
For example, we can’t have a story about James I without his wife, Queen Anne. She is played by Trine Dyrholm. And here is James’s son, Prince Charles, who ends up being Charles I of England. He will be played by Samuel Blenkin.
Take a look at the rest of the Mary & George cast:
Laurie Davidson as Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
Sean Gilder as Sir Thomas Compton
Mark O‘Halloran as Francis Bacon
Pearl Chandra as Fraces Carr, Countess of Somerset
Simon Russel Beale as George Villiers
Niamh Algar as Sandie
Adrian Rawlins as Edward Coke
Amelia Gething as Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck
Nicola Walker as Elizabeth Hatton
Kate Fleetwood as Cunning Mary
Mirren Mack as Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham
Unax Ugalde as Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, Count of Gondomar
Joseph Mawle as Sir Walter Raleigh
It is an outstanding cast, and we can’t wait to see the new episodes each week.
Mary & George premieres on Friday, April 5 on Starz.