Lillibet's Lil' Sis
One of the most controversial British dramas of the year tells the no-holds-barred story of the complicated and colorful life of Queen Elizabeth's sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret. Upon the death of their father, George VI, elder sister Elizabeth adapted to a life of duty, while Margaret (Lucy Cohu, Gosford Park) lived the high-life and soon became the center of London's social scene. The first modern wild-child of the British monarchy led a controversial life of public scrutiny, excess and heartbreak. In a relatively short time, Margaret fell from role model and fashion icon to an aging, out of touch princess who was the shame of the royal family. The Queen's Sister premieres Sunday, March 5, 2006 8 p.m. ET/PT on BBC America
Margaret's story is that of a life lived in the glare of the press and paparazzi. It's also the story of a woman trying to dispense with the formalities of her privilege yet instinctively crushing anyone who didn't treat her with the deference she thought she deserved. Writer Craig Warner says, "Piecing together the private world behind the headlines was an extraordinary process in its contrasts: Princess Margaret's life was the collision of nobility and rebellion, a woman whose every move was instant news the first royal wedding to be televised, the first divorce of the royal household. Margaret was a tabloid editor's dream. She trail blazed the first British royal scandal."
Spanning three decades, The Queen's Sister travels through Margaret's childhood, a much publicized, prohibited love affair in the '50s, her rebellious bohemian life in the swinging '60s, and the private isolation of a woman dismissed by her world. Lucy Cohu recreates the princess's life with co-stars Toby Stephens (Cambridge Spies) as husband Anthony Armstrong-Jones and David Threlfall (Shameless) as Prince Philip. The Queen's Sister is sponsored by American Honda Motor.
THE QUEEN'S SISTER
CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS
Princess Margaret Lucy Cohu
Sharman Douglas Meredith MacNeill
Billy Wallace Alex Barclay
Cecil Beaton Edard Tudor Pole
Sunny Blandford James Wallace
Peter Townsend Aden Gillett
Horace Featherstonehaugh Douglas Reith
Gillian Fleming Felicity Montagu
Prince Phillip David Threlfall
Archbishop Fisher Michael Elwyn
Piers Waldron Robert Fitch
Colin Tennant Johnathan Hansler
Anne Tennant Caroline Loncq
Tony Armstrong Jones Toby Stephens
Mr. Eales Roy North
Danny La Rue Christopher Green
Willie Hamilton MP Ken Drury
Lord John Hope Julian Curry
Ranulph Bacon Tim Preece
Cronin Benjamin Whitrow
Anthony Barton Robert Portal
Eva Barton Elka De Wit
Jackie Rufus-Isaacs Fleur Klijnsha
Ronald Kiddo Jason Thorpe
Rachel Burke Caroline Harker
Curly Burke George Potts
Mr Simpson Gary Gairhall
Robin Douglas-Home Dominic Mafham
Roddy Llewellyn Simon Woods
Pru Meg Garagher
Greg Tom Fisher
Executive Producer Rob Pursey
Written by Craig Warner
Produced by Kath Mattock
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones
