Anne Clinard Barnhill's "Queen Elizabeth's Daughter"

Anne Clinard Barnhill has been writing or dreaming of writing for most of her life. For the past twenty years, she has published articles, book and theater reviews, poetry, and short stories. Her first book, At Home in the Land of Oz, recalls what it was like growing up with an autistic sister. Her work has won various awards and grants. Barnhill holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her latest novel, Queen Elizabeth's Daughter:

In Queen Elizabeth's Daughter, there is no question about who should play Elizabeth Tudor. Cate Blanchett has already proven she understands the complexity of the queen in two movies, Elizabeth and Elizabeth, The Golden Age. She has the skill to expose the many layers that make up the woman for whom an age is named, and could easily handle the tender and sometimes brutal scenes required.

As her royal ward and ‘daughter,’ Mary Shelton, Emma Watson, of Hermione fame can skillfully portray a spirited, intelligent young woman who must eventually make a decision that will change her life, perhaps even end her life.

As Mary’s love interest, Sir John Scudamore, the handsome Henry Cavill would do nicely. For history lovers, he will be remembered as Charles Branson from the series, The Tudors. For others, he will be recalled as the most recent incarnation of Superman. He can convey the passion and romance called for in Queen Elizabeth's Daughter.

And, for Robert Dudley, the patient wooer for Elizabeth and her one true love, Clive Owen, who has played against Blanchett previously in Elizabeth, The Golden Age as Sir Walter Raleigh, made sparks fly then. I believe those two could light up the screen now.

All would be directed by John Madden, who has proven his knowledge and understanding of Elizabethan London in the great film, Shakespeare in Love.

Visit Anne Clinard Barnhill's website.

The Page 69 Test: Queen Elizabeth's Daughter.

--Marshal Zeringue