The Duchess (2008)

Cast and Crew

Director

Producer

Screenwriter

Starring

• Keira Knightley as Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire
• Ralph Fiennes as Duke of Devonshire
• Hayley Atwell as Bess Foster
• Dominic Cooper as Charles Grey
• Aidan McArdle
• Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer
• Emily Jewell
• Simon McBurney

Movie Story

Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley), was the original "It Girl." Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke (Ralph Fiennes). And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons would leave all of London talking.

"The Duchess" is the story of an extraordinary woman who rose to fame by staying true to her passions in a world of protocol, gossip and social rules - and paid the price.

Academy Award nominee Knightley and Academy Award winner Fiennes head an international cast that also includes Dominic Cooper ("The History Boys") as the abolitionist Charles Grey, the Duchess's favorite lover; Haley Atwell ("Cassandra's Dream") as the Duchess's alluring best friend and rival, Lady Elizabeth "Bess" Spencer; and Charlotte Rampling ("Swimming Pool") as the Duchess's mother, the Lady Spencer.

Rising UK director Saul Dibb ("Bullet Boy," "The Line of Beauty") brings to life a vibrantly lavish, yet rapidly changing England in the time of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the madness of King George. The film is written by Dibb, Jeffrey Hatcher ("Casanova") and Anders Thomas Jensen ("After the Wedding") based on the award-winning biography Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. The producers are Gabrielle Tana and Michael Kuhn. The executive producer is Carolyn Marks Blackwood.

Watch Video (11 videos)

Clip 'What Kind of Man Are You?'

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Movie Stills (38 photos)

Reader's Reviews

i love it

posted by Lea on May 29, 2009 08:09:11

Bad movie, great music. The movie don't show why is she so in love with Charles Grey, at the beginning she alread knowles hin, thats bad, the public dont see the romance comming up. But the sondtrack are the best.

posted by Vanessa on May 07, 2009 02:19:34

Good film, great costumes and keira is great!

posted by Mandip on Mar 08, 2009 05:09:09

freak_weird but cool

posted by moza on Dec 30, 2008 11:50:35

Gorgeous film. Amazing acting. Gripping from the start. Well done.

posted by dina on Dec 28, 2008 07:18:13

i really enjoyed this film, it was really enjoyable

posted by victoria on Oct 26, 2008 02:24:23

absolutely fantastic and touching movie.

posted by elle on Oct 01, 2008 06:23:41

Brilliant, A Great Film Would Deffo Reccomend It.

posted by -Lauren, on Sep 11, 2008 02:02:49