King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

[Eric_Lowe]

He could be Queen Mary, he look good in gems and a wig (Queen Mary wore one in her later years).

I think Madonna would make it into a musical, much easy to handle than a bio film.

[emeraldeyes1969]

I always thought Kristin Scott Thomas would have made a good Wallis.....that brittle steeliness is there. But really the part if there is any truth in this tale of a letter being sent to the Queen, the part should really go to an American actress who 'can' act!

You are right on the money with that one!  When I saw Kristin Scott Thomas recently on the Golden Globes I said to my hisband immediately that she would make a great Wallis.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...She was closer in looks. She could do a good job. Now...Madonna...

[Robert_Hall]

Besides the looks, Madonna is simply a lousy actress. She might do a great job of producing such a project, though.
 Who would paly Wallis, though,would depend on what part of her life the film is concerned with, I think.

[Eric_Lowe]

Madonna is a good stage performer. She can sing and dance and do a fab show. I am her fan on stage. But she was no dramtic actress. Her performance was best in "Desperately Seeking Susan", "Evita" and "Dick Tracy".

[Robert_Hall]

I would agree, Eric. Madonna has a lot of spirit and energy. She was brilliant in Evita. Wallis  had it as well. But even with movie magic, I think it would hard for her to pull it off.  If there must be a new film on the D&D of Windsor, I would hope a really talented actress takes the role of Wallis. It is interesting, British actresses can  do an American accent better than Americans can a British accent. And there are many of both [accents as well as actresses, of course]
 As the real people are so familiar to so many of us, all around the world, casting  should be a critical factor. Madonna may immerse herself in the role, like she did  with Evita, but unless it is a singing and dancing event,  I honestly do not think she could draw the audience to pay for it. And, when it comes down to it- "money makes the world go 'round".

[Eric_Lowe]

I agree. I just have to see what plans Madonna come up with this project. We are all speculating here. I do not think American actress cannot do a British accent. Remember "Bridget Jones' ? Even the British handed to Rene on the mastery of her take on the role.

[Robert_Hall]

True, Eric, some can. [the accent] but it is usually rather perfunctory. Not specific. Now, Wallis was an an American from Baltimore, of course, and had a distinct accent of her own. It came from her schooling and her affectations. She worked at it, so to speak, not natural.
 You are quite correct, we are just speculating. This project is just being talked about. It is not even in pre-production stages. However, if it does go into production, I would hope it does justice to the people involved- Wallis, David, etc. I may not be a big fan of the Windsors, but I do appreciate a job well done, especially in films about history.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. Although drama has not been truthful to history these days. Just look at "The Tudors"...

[Robert_Hall]

Well, since we are discussing the film media,  a lot of artistic licence would necessarily be taken. And since all the main players in that dram are dead,  even more so.
 I agree, the Tudors was dreadful, but not at as bad as the Coppola version of Marie Antoinette a few years ago. I think the best historical drama I have seen lately,other that documentaries, was The Queen, with Helen Mirren. That is the sort of treatment I would enjoy seeing about the Duchess of Windsor.

[Eric_Lowe]

The Queen was made by BBC. I dread the Madonna treatment on Wallis...

[alixaannencova]

The Queen was made by BBC. I dread the Madonna treatment on Wallis...

Was it made by the BBC Eric...the last I read, it was actually made by Granada Productions which is one of the UK's ITV companies! One of my sources is www.itv.com what are yours for stating that 'The Queen' was made by the BBC Eric? I don't mean to sound like a know-all, but tut tut, that is the second time today I have felt obliged to question your sources!

[Robert_Hall]

I think, perhaps, that Eric actually made in Britain, not lettrally the BBC. I checked my DVD copy and therte is no BBC logo or credit on it.

[LadyTudorRose]

I always thought Kim Cattrall would make a good Wallis. She doesn't look that much like her, but her voice and some of her mannerisms make me think she could do a really good job. She also has a mole on her chin just like Wallis did.

I really think it'd be nice to get an American in the role as Wallis has already been portrayed by British actresses. Jane Seymour was pretty good, but I really didn't like what Joely Richardson did. It seemed like she was trying so hard to do an American accent that didn't sound like Julia McNamara she ended up just sounding like Julia McNamara in a community theatre production of A Streetcar Named Desire. The only non-American actress who I think could really pull it off is Cate Blanchett. She played Katherine Hepburn really well and can do a lot of accents convincingly and really becomes her character. She also really became Elizabeth I in the Elizabeth movies even though I felt the writing wasn't that great and she really wasn't given much to work with. Cate Blanchett doesn't really remind me of Wallis, but I think she could play almost anyone convincingly.

Slightly OT, but did anyone else think that ring Angelina Jolie wore at the Oscars last night looked a lot like Wallis's engagement ring?

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes with the big green earrings too...

I agree Cate Blancett would be the best to play her.