Queens and queenliness: Quentin Crisp as Orlando’s Elizabeth I

In 1992, Quentin Crisp appeared on cinema screens as Elizabeth I in Sally Potter’s 'Orlando'; the following year, he provided the ‘Alternative Queen’s Message’ on Channel 4 television on Christmas Day, going head-to-head with Elizabeth II. This essay revisits this cultural moment, examining the significance of Crisp’s performances of ‘queenliness’. Crisp’s performance as Elizabeth I is compared with other cinematic depictions of the monarch (Cate Blanchett, Bette Davis, Judi Dench). Potter has argued that there is a neat ‘fit’ between Crisp and Elizabeth I that justifies his casting, a suggestion that will be unpacked through a comparison of their biographies. 'Orlando' is also compared with Virginia Woolf’s source text, and the film’s content related to some of her other writings.