Queen Victoria's social and political accomplishments during her 63-year reign are widely known, but a new film about her early years sheds light on a much lesser known side of her life -- her great romance with husband Prince Albert.
"The Young Victoria," which will close the Toronto International Film Festival with a gala screening Saturday night, stars Emily Blunt as the feisty queen and Rupert Friend as the charming man she falls for.
Journalists who have already screened the film at TIFF have fallen too for this epic love story.
Although the film focuses on the pair's courtship and early years of marriage, it makes reference to Albert's death at the young age of 42 from typhoid ... and the state of mourning Victoria entered until her own passing at the age of 81.
Friend says he was also quite moved by the story when he first read the script.
"It's the last image, really, of her laying out his clothes every day after he died ... she wouldn't have anything touched in his room. I still find that incredibly powerful because what sort of a love inspires that kind of devotion, even after death, is really amazing," says Friend.
Directed by Montreal's Jean-Marc Vall�e, the idea for the film came from none other than the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who also co-produced the film.
Friend says Ferguson felt it was very important to cast a different light on this important historical figure.
"Like any 17, 18 year old girl, (Victoria) wanted to go dancing and stay up and she argued and she was headstrong and she had her own voice in many ways and broke free of her manipulators, and that's what's great about the film is that it shows this side of her that we don't know," says Friend.
While the film does look at the queen's tumultuous first years in power, Vall�e is quick to point out it's a love story first and foremost.
"The historical, political stuff is more background stuff to serve the love story ... at the same time we see what she did when she was a new queen, a stubborn queen making her mistakes and refusing the love of Albert because she didn't want anybody to tell her who to marry or when," says Vall�e.
Vall�e believes he's "made a film for women" and when I tell him the movie was the one I enjoyed the most throughout the festival, he replies with a laugh, "It's such a chick flick. You're a sucker for chick flicks."
The film already debuted in England to much acclaim earlier this year, but is making its North American premiere at TIFF.
Friend, who has enjoyed his visit to Toronto so far, especially the U2 concert at the Rogers Centre Thursday night, says they are very proud that the film is closing the festival.
"I think we're all just excited to have been asked and pleased to be here," he says.
"The Young Victoria" officially opens in Canadian theatres Dec. 18.
