A recounting of the relationship between General Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, as they try to cope with the consequences of deposing King Charles I.
Acting
Tim Roth's Cromwell: quiet menace in Puritan black.
Writing
Dialogue that sounds like Shakespeare on a bender.
Director
Mike Barker
Tim Roth
Oliver Cromwell
Dougray Scott
Thomas Fairfax
Olivia Williams
Lady Anne Fairfax
James Bolam
Denzil Holles
Corin Redgrave
Lord de Vere
Finbar Lynch
Cousin Henry
Julian Rhind-Tutt
James
Adrian Scarborough
Sergeant Joyce
Jeremy Swift
The Earl of Whitby
Rupert Everett
King Charles I
Steven Webb
Boy at Naseby
Leonard Woodcock
Young Royalist Prisoner
Thomas Arnold
Messenger at Naseby
Sam Spruell
King's Guard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Tim Roth spent months researching Puritan speech patterns, then mostly improvised the intensity. The historical Cromwell was reportedly less charismatic and more shouty.
This bombed at release partly because British audiences were still weird about glorifying Cromwell—he's basically their complicated uncle nobody invites to Christmas.
GB
