Lady Jane (film)

Lady Jane is a film, first released in the United Kingdom on February 7, 1986, that tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen. It is mainly remembered as Helena Bonham Carter's first major film role.

Historical accuracy

Although the movie is correct to portray Jane as a precocious and talented scholar, apart from that it contains a number of historical inaccuracies.

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In particular, Jane and Guilford probably did not get on very well with each other, and lived apart for most of their brief marriage. Jane was not a social reformer during her reign as the film portrays her.

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There could also be a problem with the treatment of Jane's age. She was 15 at the time of her wedding and brief reign, and 16 when she was executed. In the film she is described near the start as 16. Later, although there is not much explicit detail, Guilford and her are shown in bed together and implied to be sexually active. The film-makers may have wanted to avoid appearing to condone child abuse (16 is currently the age of consent in Great Britain). (In real life Helena Bonham Carter was 18 when it was filmed.)

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