The Duchess

"Set at the end of the eighteenth century, The Duchess is based on the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous. Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, intimate of ministers and princes, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator and darling of the common people, but at the core of the story is a desperate search for love. The film also delves into Georgiana’s passionate and doomed affair with Earl Grey to the complex love triangle with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster."

Keira Knightly plays the part of Geogianna Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire to perfection in this beautifully crafted movie. The movie was described to me as kind of a simple story and it was. A young girl marries an older man who wants an heir. He dallies with others (common in those days) She falls for another (younger) man (Earl Grey) and has a child by him. What makes it all the more intersting is that it is a true story. She really did marry the Duke and raise his older illigitimate daughter as her own. She really did invite her best friend (Lady Elizabeth Foster) to come and live with them and the best friend became the Duke's mistress and later married him and became the Duchess after Georgianna died.

The thing that makes it most interesting to me is the connections to today. Earl Grey is the British Prime Minister for whom Earl Grey Tea (my favorite tea) is named. And Georgianna's Family was the Spencers. Diana Princess of Wales was a descendant of her brother.

The Cast

Keira Knightley as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Ralph Fiennes as William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
Hayley Atwell as Bess Foster
Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer
Dominic Cooper as Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
You can see the whole list here.

I recommend the film highly. It was also great to see Kat who was working behind the counter and catch up on her and her family. Thanks for stopping by, ARTYAL. Hugs. j