Screenwriters William Nicholson and Michael Hirst care little about re-creating political history
as it was, but relish shooting for the Barbie doll moments in the royal court and the occasional
cloak - and - dagger
thriller moment (the soon to be beheaded scheming Catholic Mary Stuart, Queen of the Scots (Samantha Morton), passing notes from her prison cell to approve the assassination attempt on cousin Elizabeth), and in keeping all the scenes with the athletic looking Raleigh intentionally playful and sexually inviting.