C16th makeups: The Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen

A young Walter Raleigh is introduced to Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis). An unlikely friendship grows but is threatened by her jealousy of his love for a beautiful lady-in-waiting. Raleigh is imprisoned in the Tower of London but Elizabeth relents and Raleigh sails off with his love. Utter tosh, but who cares when you can watch Bette ham it up for all her worth.

This was Bette’s second time playing Queen Elizabeth I: she had played the role in The Private Lifes of Elizabeth and Essex (1939).

The makeup

Perc Westmore was Bette’s makeup artist again. He reportedly persuaded her to shave back her hairline: she wore the nightcap for the Oscars.