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The Best Period Films
To prepare for the Pillars of the Earth premiere, take a look at our favorite films that transport us back in time. 
By Rachel Bertsche
Original Content  |  July 19, 2010
Elizabeth Photo: Polygram Films Entertainment
Elizabeth

It seems certain actresses were born to play the Queen. Cate Blanchett leads that pack (with Helen Mirren and Judi Dench as close runners-up). In her Oscar-nominated performance, Cate plays Queen Elizabeth I of England during the early years of her reign, and we witness her transformation from a kind-hearted girl to an assertive—sometimes even ruthless—queen. As any successful period film does, Elizabeth reminds us that though modern-day existence is a far cry from 1550s England, certain human emotions—lust, jealousy, rage—transcend time.
Printed from Oprah.com on Friday, May 24, 2013
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