The series "The Empty Crown": actors who embodied on the screen images of English kings

"Empty Crown" - a British series, shot on the historical plays of William Shakespeare. All works are transferred to the screen in an unchanged form, and the main characters were played by the best actors of Great Britain.

Richard II

Opens the series story about the English King Richard II. The ruler of the country appears to the audience as a weak, but vain man, who is confident that the power is given him from God. He is not interested in governing the state, instead he prefers to reflect on life, religion and his own power. The Kingdom is ruled by its favorites, who want to cash in on a nearby ruler. As a result of the conflict, Richard expels from England his cousin Heinrich Bolingbroke. But the knight is not going to put up with the verdict, so he leads the rebellion, whose goal is to overthrow the cousin.

In the first part of the series "Empty Crown" actors perfectly conveyed the characters of their characters. The role of Richard II was played by British actor Ben Wishaw, who previously starred in the film "Perfume. The Story of a Murderer, "and also played in the James Bond films. His opponent, Heinrich Bolingbroke, is played by Rory Kinner, a British theater and television actor who also starred in James Bond. Great popularity was brought to him by the monster Frankenstein in the series "Horror for Cheap".

Henry IV

The following story tells about the elderly Bolingbroke, who has long ruled England under the name of Henry IV. The piece consists of two parts, so there were two episodes. The King of England is old and sick, and his eldest son spends his free time in taverns, leading a loose life. The father tries to instruct his son on the true path, to explain to him what burden he will fall on the head of the prince after the death of the king. But Prince Hal does not listen to him, still angering his father. In addition, the kingdom is again on the brink of civil war. In Scotland, the heir of the murdered Richard II, who led the rebellion of influential barons, appeared.

The series "The Empty Crown", whose actors were selected with historical accuracy, did not fail this time. The role of the aged Henry IV was played by one of the most famous British actors, an Oscar winner - Jeremy Irons. The actor starred in a huge number of films, and is best known for the role of Humbert in the film adaptation of Lolita by Nabokov. He also played in such cult films as "Kingdom of Heaven", "Die Hard", voiced the main character of the cartoon "The Lion King".

Prince Hal, the future King Henry V, was played by Tom Hiddleston. Popularity to him brought the role of the god Loki in the screen version of the comics "Marvel".

Henry V

After the death of his father, Prince Hal was instantly transformed. From an idle youth, he grows into a real king, whom the whole kingdom respects. Henry V abandons his former friends-drunkards, giving all his strength to rule the kingdom. In the series "Empty Crown" actors and roles are selected so accurately that the viewer has no doubt that they are the true king of the state.

In addition, Henry claims the French throne. Taking advantage of the weakness of royal power in France, he declares war on the country. The king personally stands at the head of the army and at first wins the battles. But it is difficult to wage war on foreign territory, the army is running out of supplies, and all approaches to English castles were blocked by the French. Henry decides to make his way through a larger enemy army and wins. The battle of Azencourt became one of the most famous victories in England, glorifying King Henry for centuries.

In the final part of the first season of the series "The Empty Crown", the actors play their previous roles. Tom Hiddleston still plays the role of a matured and matured king. The cast was joined also by the King of France, played by the actor Lambert Wilson, who became famous for his role in the Métryts trilogy.

Henry VI

The second season opens with a play about the Wars of the Scarlet and White Rose in England. Henry VI rules the country from infancy. His father was the famous Henry V, but the son is not at all like him. He can not make independent decisions, relying on the opinion of advisers. The unfinished military campaign in France is crashing, nullifying all the victories of the previous king. Even more know is indignant with the king's imperious and unfaithful wife - Marguerite of Anjou. All this leads to the fact that the cousin of King Edward York begins a war against the ruler.

In the second season of the series "The Empty Crown. Henry 6 "actors are matched no worse than in the first part. The role of King Henry is performed by a novice actor Tom Sterridge. The role of his opponent Edward Yorke, who became King Edward IV, is played by Geoffrey Stretfield.

Richard III

The reign of Edward IV was long and prosperous. However, his sudden death was the occasion for a new round of civil war. Bypassing the sons of Edward, the throne is usurped by his younger brother Richard - a man just, but grumpy and unpleasant. Edward's sons disappear, Richard's only son dies suddenly. After him, the queen died, and Henry Tudor returns from the continent to England - another contender for the throne of the state.

The main role of King Richard was played by the most popular British actor Benedikt Kamberbatch. He got fame by playing a modern version of Sherlock Holmes. Also received a nomination for an Oscar for the main role in the film "Playing in imitation." In the series "Empty Crown" actors, photos of which can be found on the web, look like their historical prototypes. Cumberbatch even had to wear a plaster hump on himself to match the image.

In the series "Empty Crown" actors embodied the images of famous English kings. As a result, we received a high-quality British TV series, which must be seen by all lovers of foreign history and literature. The screenwriters and directors not only completely preserved the original texts of Shakespeare, but also created scenery allowing the viewer to plunge into the medieval world.