15. Wrong: The film’s taglines states that Elizabeth was “Born to Power” and Mary was “Born to Fight” when in truth the reverse is far more historically accurate
As part of the marketing for the film, in line with the story being told predominantly from Mary’s perspective and placing the Queen of Scotland as the wronged protagonist, two taglines were used for the female monarchs: “Born to Power” and “Born to Fight”. Used for Elizabeth and Mary respectively, situating Mary as the underdog and elevating Elizabeth into her historically acclaimed position of authority, in actuality the reverse is far more truthful. Mary, in spite of the film’s portrayal of her a rebellious stalwart, became Queen of Scotland at the age of just six days old after her father died suddenly on December 14, 1542, without any other living children.
In contrast to Mary, who was literally born into power and who subsequently married the crown prince of France, Elizabeth was born into a far more uncertain future and one she was forced to persistently fight for. The daughter of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife beheaded for treason, her mother was killed when Elizabeth was just two-years-and-eight-months old. Declared illegitimate following this event, Elizabeth endured her childhood and adolescence under the constant threat of the executioner’s ax. This threat only intensified after her Catholic sister, Mary, became Queen of England in 1553.