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We talked recently to Tamara Hope, who played Princess Elizabeth in "Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor." Read what she learned about living the life of a princess.
 Did you ever wish you were a princess?
I used to be obsessed with King Arthur — the girls weren't much fun in those stories though! I did like the Ladies of the Lake (the 9 ladies of Arthurian legend) and Lady Avalon. I also read a lot of Greek and Roman mythology. I really liked Athena. I was [also] really into fairy tales. Everyone dreams of being a princess, so yes it was like a dream to film this episode — with all the big beautiful dresses, and especially because Elizabeth was such a fascinating princess. It was a lot of fun to be able to wear the clothes and imagine that I really was back in time.
Now that you've been a princess, is there anything you like better about being a "regular" girl?
Those clothes were hot and tight — very restricting. You wear so many layers!
What would you miss most about life today if you lived in the 1500's?
I would miss easy travel. Every trip then was such a long, hard journey. I love to jump on a plane. I'd also miss music. They had music back then but not like we do now. And I would miss the instant communication of e-mail and telephones.
Were there any aspects of being a princess that you can relate to?
Being a princess is a bit like being an actor on set — people dressing you, no privacy, tons of people always fussing over you. In many ways actors are our modern day royalty. I can understand what it was like for Elizabeth who was so on and off as a princess. For a short time everyone would wait on her — "Can I get you a drink of water?" or this or that. And then she would be sent back to Hatfield to be a normal kid again. It's interesting about Elizabeth... [that] she didn't have everything handed to her. She had to deal with being a normal kid some of the time but yet she was never really normal. And I think trying so hard to impress her father made her feel like she never wanted to impress anyone ever again. She had one of the longest and most successful reigns, yet for a long time it was up in the air whether or not she would even become queen.
You know a lot about Princess Elizabeth. Did you research the part?
I saw the movie with Cate Blanchett and when I got the part I went to the library and checked out a bunch of books on Elizabeth. Then I became more and more excited to play her.
Is it more difficult to play a real person than a fictional character?
[Yes.] I had 6 days to really be this person that I held in such high regard. It was a lot more exciting to think "I'm being Elizabeth!" instead of making someone up. It's harder, but at the same time you're not working from nothing — you know exactly what your character is going to do. Sometimes when you have a smaller part you have no idea who the person is and you have to make them up — what they're going to do, where they're going.
In one scene you play the piano and sing. Was that really you?
I do play the piano but that wasn't me playing on set. I didn't know in advance that I was going to be playing that song so I couldn't learn it. It is me singing though. It was really cool to be able to sing in Elizabeth!
Which do you enjoy more, singing or acting?
Singing is a lot simpler ... it's more relaxing and not as complicated as acting. Acting is so different and takes you over more. I love acting though — it's fascinating.
Did anything funny happen while you were filming?
In one scene Robin throws a bucket of fish at me. The first time
they threw one bucket of fish. Then they decided to do another take
and they threw two buckets of fish. And the next time it was 3 buckets!
It kept multiplying. I thought they would use plastic fish or something
but they were real, stinky fish. One hit my cheek and exploded all
over my dress! It was fun though.
Elizabeth reigned during one of the more constructive times in English history — literature, fashion, music and education flourished. If you could influence politics today what would you like to change?
Like Elizabeth, I would also like to see the arts have more support. I would like to honor culture more and make that a bigger part of the government. And make military spending a smaller part.
As we know from The Royal Diaries, the life of a princess wasn't all glamour and excitement. It could be a roller coaster of highs and lows, just like the life of an actress-- or a regular girl.
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