The Favourite. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman)
The Favourite

The Favourite

  • 2019 film

Olivia Colman stars as a frail Queen Anne in this film from the director of The Lobster. Also features Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith and more.

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The Favourite

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2019
Stars
Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith, Mark Gatiss, Jenny Rainsford and more
Writers
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
Director
Yorgos Lanthimos
Producers
Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Yorgos Lanthimos, Daniel Battsek, Rose Garnett, Josh Rosenbaum, Ken Kao and more
Companies

The Favourite is a bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy and betrayal in the court of Queen Anne in early 18th century England. This period comedy has been made by the same production team as The Lobster.

Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots.

As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.

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Additional details

UK certificate
15
Duration
119 minutes
UK release
Tuesday 1st January 2019
Produced
2017
UK premiere
Thursday 18th October 2018, BFI London Film Festival, BFI Southbank
Distributors

Fox Searchlight

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Wednesday 10th January 2024 at 10:55pm on Film4
  • Saturday 15th July 2023 at 10:30pm on C4
  • Tuesday 30th May 2023 at 9:00pm on Film4

Recording details

  • Hatfield House and Hampton Court Palace

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