The insanely talented Emma Stone is back at it again with another wacky movie role. Literally crazy, in fact. She's playing a a key part in The Favourite (clock the British spelling), an upcoming period dramedy/historic biopic based on true events in the royal family of 18th century England during the reign of Queen Anne. Specifically, the actress plays Abigail Hill, a favoured royal servant who was eventually named Baroness Masham of Otes while in the service of Queen Anne's court — because everyone in a royal court is scheming for titles, jewels, castles, and the monarch's favour after all!
And, guess what? Joe Alwyn, a.k.a. Taylor Swift's British beau, plays her eventual husband Samuel Masham, Baron of Otes. You might say she needs to... feel her Otes. Speaking of, the trailer shows a steamy exchange between the two, with Baron Alwyn telling the then-servant Stone that, "I should have you stripped and whipped." Stone replies, "I'm waiting." *wink wink*
But this isn't your typical love story! It's an R-rated romp seemingly full of royally mad, power-hungry aristocrats trying to kill each other. (Makes you wonder what it's like going for dinner at Prince William and Kate Middleton's place, right?!)
It's important to note that, while popular at the time she ascended to the throne in 1702, Queen Anne was unofficially dubbed "Brandy Nan" during her reign — as the New York Times put it, she was viewed as "obese and of limited intelligence, with a predilection for the bottle." While trying to rule independently, she often needed to rely on advisers and ministers due to those "intellectual limitations," as well as "chronic ill health." In particular, she suffered from chronic gout. This explains — well, sort of? — scenes in the trailer featuring badger-like makeup, nonsensical games (like LOBSTER RACES, and throwing fruit at a naked man wearing a pink powdered wig), and ribbon-clad ducks running in the palace.
The trailer also shows Baroness Masham as the recipient of much back-biting and outright violence from her peers at court, including family members — this being a downside of her status as Anne's "favourite." She gets shoved face-first in mud, pushed over by Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (Nicholas Hoult), and shot by her cousin Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz). Even Baron Masham goes for a sneak-attack (playful, maybe?) in a forest in the palace grounds, with a twig in-hand as if he's set for a duel.
Though enticingly zany, the teaser doesn't give away all the details of the star-studded film's plot, but audiences will surely have a blue-bloody good time when it comes out in theatres on November 23.
Jasmine Ting is a Filipino journalist based in New York City. You can spot her either at the movie theater for the latest A24 release, on the couch binge-watching the latest K-dating show, or on the 7 train listening to her latest audible obsession (be it music or a podcast). To see what she’s up to when she’s not plopped in front of a big screen, follow her on Instagram @jasminepting.
