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Queen Cleopatra review – the idea that you need a white actor is utterly insidious

Adele James, who stars in this curious Netflix docudrama about ancient Egypt’s most famous queen is the best thing about it – despite the furore around her race

T here’s often a debate about whether real-life subjects are better suited for drama or documentary treatment, the core (but admittedly oversimplified) belief being that documentaries serve primarily to educate while drama serves to entertain. Netflix’s docudrama Queen Cleopatra tries to have its cake and eat it too: it has all the campy fun of Cleopatra the soap opera in dramatic re-enactments, but intersperses them with straight-faced expertise from academic talking heads. Despite these historians’ impressive credentials, the drama outshines the testimony at every turn. Executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith delivers the narration with such sombre self-righteousness that it sucks the joy out of the atmosphere. It’s a deliciously fun drama weighed down by the self-serious need to educate.

The biggest buzz about Netflix’s latest comes from casting a Cleopatra with light brown skin and curly hair – it met with uproar from those who insisted that she couldn’t possibly be Black . This insistence on her whiteness is curious, as much of her lineage (including her mother’s race) is unknown. Her Macedonian roots had spent eight generations in Egypt at the time of her birth, and many of the specifics of her family tree have been lost to the annals of time. But while that uncertainty opens her up to being played by any number of actors, it is notable that some see blue-eyed Elizabeth Taylor and Israeli Wonder Woman Gal Gadot as more accurate. Cleopatra’s precise skin and hair texture are up for speculation, but to default to whiteness is insidious and ridiculous. Cultural acceptance of an image of a beautiful white woman with a straight jet-black bob does not make it a fact, as her portraits of the era are limited to the sides of coins, and tales of her stunning looks were written hundreds of years after her death.

In this docudrama, she is played by Adele James, a mixed-race actor with a glorious crown of dark curls who brings a fierce intelligence to her portrayal of Cleopatra. James folds the Queen’s inner turmoil into every step of her journey, from a naive princess poring over text in the Alexandria libraries to a formidable queen who would rather die than succumb to a life in bondage. It’s hard not to feel that she is the programme’s greatest strength.

The series puts little stock in the particular skin colour of its lead, given the uncertainty of her appearance. In fact, it suggests that people tend to view Cleopatra as their proxy. The African American academic Prof Shelley P Haley says that, like her grandmother, she pictures her as Black. Dr Islam Issa says he imagines her as having the same pale brown skin and curly hair as he does. Identifying her as one thing or another amounts to little more than guesswork and presumes that race is, or ever was, a fixed concept.

Yet despite their solid credentials and insight into her origins, the talking heads regularly feel more like fans than historians. Some of their insights resemble fan fiction, particularly when they speculate as to how great a lover Cleopatra must have been. Given the two millennia that have passed, describing her and Caesar’s trysts seem overly salacious, but to their credit, the actors perform it with steamy aplomb. It illustrates how successful this could have been as a campy drama where dramatic licence could have gone full sexy soap opera. It’s clear that they want to have a little fun with the documentary elements, but using terms like “ghosting” when describing Marc Antony’s three-year absence feels incongruous. James’s characterisation of Cleopatra as a female badass feels plucked from contemporary graphic novels, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A nonfiction sexing up of one of the most powerful women who ever lived, espousing knowledge of her prowess in the bedroom, however, is a more uneasy proposition.

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Despite having to vacillate between descriptions of her subject as a politician, a seductress and a warrior, James manages to excel in each. She brings intelligence and nuance to a performance that is strikingly better than what surrounds her – which seems apt, given that Cleopatra was undeniably such an exceptional force of nature. Even when faced with hordes of angry citizens or soldiers that clearly amount to little more than a few dozen extras, James maintains an air of a leader commanding thousands. Her portrayal keeps the programme’s energy alive and interesting for those familiar with the history, even though it’s aimed at those with only cursory knowledge of it. It conveys why Cleopatra is still a household name in 2023, and how complex and extraordinary her life was. Sadly, those who can only see this story in black and white have missed the point.

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Queen Cleopatra’ On Netflix, A Controversial Docuseries-Drama Hybrid About The Egyptian Queen

Where to stream:.

• Queen Cleopatra

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Testament: The Story Of Moses’ On Netflix, A Docudrama Version of ‘The Ten Commandments’

Stream it or skip it: ‘alexander: the making of a god’ on netflix, a docuseries-scripted hybrid about the rise of alexander the great, ‘queen cleopatra’s audience score getting review-bombed on rotten tomatoes isn’t funny, it’s racist, who is adele james meet the actor playing cleopatra in netflix’s ‘queen cleopatra’.

Queen Cleopatra is the second in Jada Pinkett Smith’s African Queens series of drama-docuseries hybrids; this time the focus is on one of the most famous African queens of them all, Egypt’s Cleopatra. Controversy has surrounded this installment, including objections from Egypt’s own government. Are those objections merited?

QUEEN CLEOPATRA : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A snake slithers on sandy ground, then we see an eagle. A woman walks towards the camera, and narrator Jada Pinkett Smith intones “Cleopatra, African queen. Mother to a nation of millions. A living, breathing Egyptian goddess, both feared and adored.

The Gist: Cleopatra (Adele James) is part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and at the tender age of 17, she took over Egypt, along with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII (Calum Balmforth), when their father, Ptolemy XII (Louis Emerick), died.

In her father’s will, it was decreed that Cleopatra and her brother would rule together, which means that, per Egyptian custom, the two of them were married. But the eunuch Pothinus (Michael Greco), who raised Ptolemy XIII, soon gained too much influence; while Cleopatra was touring Lower Egypt trying to be the “people’s queen,” Pothinus and Ptolemy were plotting to kill or exile her.

Cleopatra’s younger sister Arsinoe (Andira Crichlow) is also unhappy that she has no power, and when she is granted land to rule, she’s given Cyprus. In order to get her throne back, Cleopatra secretly visits Julius Caesar (John Partridge) after Ptolemy XIII and his men kill his son-in-law Pompey (Caesar was chasing Pompey through Egypt after he fought him off in Rome). She offers not only an alliance, but the two of them have an affair, resulting in Cleopatra’s pregnancy, shortly after she took over, her brother died, and Arsinoe was arrested.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? As we mentioned, Queen Cleopatra is the same format as African Queens: Njinga , where dramatic sequences are interspersed with expert interviews.

Our Take: The hybrid format is always a puzzler to us, because it doesn’t seem to give enough time to the talking head experts, but it also doesn’t provide the dramatic sequences enough narrative momentum for the audience to get into the story. Overall, there’s never a good balance between the elements.

Queen Cleopatra definitely suffers from this problem, but in a way that’s different than Njinga did. In the first season, the interviews felt like window dressing for the well-acted dramatic scenes. Here, the interviews are the more compelling part, mainly because a lot of the talks go into how the history of Cleopatra is different than how pop culture portrayed her.

Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’ Gives Zero F–’s About Portraying Cleopatra as Black in Docuseries

And we’re not just talking about the queen’s skin color. As Professor Shelley P. Haley said, her mother told her that “I don’t care what they tell you in school, Cleopatra was Black.” In fact, because not much is known about her mother, what she looked like is very much up to debate , as the controversy surrounding the casting of this series has pointed out. It’s definitely a question that needed to be discussed in this series.

However, the more important message that people should get out of this series, though, is that Cleopatra wasn’t the temptress she has been portrayed as in popular culture; she was a strong, intelligent and determined leader who knew what she wanted for herself and her country.

James does a good job of showing that side of Cleopatra. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast play their parts like they’re in something more akin to Caligula than a serious examination of Cleopatra’s life. The dramatic sequences feel more disjointed here than they did in Njinga , and not as well fleshed-out or acted.

Sex and Skin: Cleopatra and Caesar get it on, but we don’t see much.

Parting Shot: We see Arsinoe get on a ship to Rome, where Caesar is supposed to execute her. “That doesn’t happen,” says Haley.

Sleeper Star: Besides Haley, we liked the interview from Dr. Islam Issa, who wrote a book about Alexandria. We especially liked when he talked about how different cultures would picture Cleopatra as reflections of themselves.

Most Pilot-y Line: “I wanted Egypt! Not some small province floating in the see,” Arsinoe says about Cyprus. That’s too bad; we hear Cyprus is a very nice place to live.

Our Call: SKIP IT. Though we liked the experts that were interviewed for Queen Cleopatra , as well as Adele James’ performance as the famous queen, the dramatic sequences leave too much to be desired to keep us from just reading about Cleopatra online to get the information we want.

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

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Queen Cleopatra: What To Know Before You Watch The Netflix Docudrama

Before you watch...

• The Episodes

After what seems like months of waiting and controversy surrounding the series , Netflix has finally released the Queen Cleopatra docudrama. The multi-part documentary, which features Jada Pinkett Smith as an executive producer and narrator, follows the multicultural leader as she navigates romance and politics in her quest for power and attempts to hold onto her rule of her people over the course of 21 years.

If you are thinking about checking out the new Netflix series but still haven’t decided, stick around because we’re about to break down a handful of things you should know before you watch Queen Cleopatra . With a breakdown of its story, presentation, tone, and length, this should help making a decision a little easier. Let’s get into it…

Queen Cleopatra Depicts The Rise And Rule Of The Egyptian Ruler

If you are looking for a docudrama series that tells a near-complete story of Cleopatra, the Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, then this 2023 Netflix series is going to be right up your alley. Queen Cleopatra takes a deep dive into the rise and rule of the Egyptian ruler, picking up with the death of her father in 51 BC and going all the way through the end of her life 21 years later.

The Docudrama Contains Scripted Scenes And Expert Interviews

Similar to what Netflix has done with several of its other historical documentaries, Queen Cleopatra is presented in the docudrama format. This means you can expect a combination of traditional documentary storytelling with experts providing information about the Egyptian ruler’s life and reign. But at the same time, you can also expect to watch extended scripted segments that follow Adele James’ portrayal of the historical figure alongside other actors. 

The two formats go back and forth throughout the series’ duration, creating an informative and engaging experience

Politics And Romance

When it comes to the tone of Queen Cleopatra , you can expect to see a mixture of politics and romance, which are often presented as two concepts married together. Over the course of the series, Cleopatra’s strategic romantic and political affiliations with Roman leaders like Julius Caesar and Marc Antony play a crucial role in her story. This continues the dynamic that has been used in Cleopatra’s cinematic history of the years, most notably in the 1963 epic starring the late Elizabeth Taylor as the famous ruler and Richard Burton and Rex Harrison as Antony and Caesar, respectively. 

The Docudrama Is Split Into Four Chapters

Queen Cleopatra is split into four chapters, each ranging anywhere from 41 to 48 minutes in length, for a total runtime of approximately three hours. Each of these chapters focuses on a different part of her reign, the alliances she forged during those periods, and the issues she faced throughout her rule.

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Though the docudrama is longer than most documentaries on the Egyptian ruler, it is still shorter than Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra movie, which boasted a runtime of more than four hours.

Queen Cleopatra Is Rated TV-14

It should also be noted that Queen Cleopatra carries a TV-14 rating, which might throw off prospective viewers expecting a straight-forward historical documentary series. But the four-part series contains multiple scenes depicting of sex and violence throughout its duration, and includes mentions of suicide in the final chapter. 

18 Great Documentaries To Watch During Women's History Month

Hopefully, this helps you get a better grasp on Queen Cleopatra and what you can expect from the docudrama. But remember, you’ll need a Netflix subscription to watch the new show as well as some of the most promising shows on the 2023 TV schedule .

Stream Queen Cleopatra on Netflix.

Philip grew up in Louisiana (not New Orleans) before moving to St. Louis after graduating from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. When he's not writing about movies or television, Philip can be found being chased by his three kids, telling his dogs to stop barking at the mailman, or chatting about professional wrestling to his wife. Writing gigs with school newspapers, multiple daily newspapers, and other varied job experiences led him to this point where he actually gets to write about movies, shows, wrestling, and documentaries (which is a huge win in his eyes). If the stars properly align, he will talk about For Love Of The Game being the best baseball movie of all time.

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Queen Cleopatra

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Jada Pinkett Smith (Narrator) Adele James (Cleopatra) Craig Russell (Mark Antony) John Partridge (Julius Caesar) Andira Crichlow (Arsinoe) Kaysha Woollery (Charmian) Laya Lewis (Eiras) Calum Balmforth (Ptolemy XIII) Louis Emerick (Ptolemy Auletes) Phillip E. Walker (Pasharenptah)

Peres Owino, NneNne Iwuji

Netflix docudrama about Queen Cleopatra of Egypt of the Ptolemaic lineage from Macedonia, Greece, that ruled for 21 years, between the years 51 BC and 30 BC, ending with her suicide.

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Queen Cleopatra review: casting is not the problem with Netflix docudrama

Adele James is superb as Cleopatra but the series is ‘too soapy’ for history buffs

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Netflix’s drama-documentary made headlines last month when the Egyptian government denounced it as a “historical fallacy”, because the show insists that Cleopatra was black, said Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph . No one knows what colour Cleopatra’s skin was, but she is widely believed to have been of Greek-Macedonian descent.

The Week Unwrapped: Erdogan’s last stand, childbirth in prison and Cleopatra 25 Netflix UK series and films to watch in 2023

So what evidence has the series got to support its theory? Well, it mainly relies on the work of the American academic Shelley Haley who, in the first episode, recalls her grandmother telling her: “I don’t care what they tell you in school, Cleopatra was black.” And that is that really.

As for the rest of the series, it mixes talking heads with historical reconstruction, to explain why Cleopatra “was such a significant figure”. It does that well enough, but ultimately falls between two stools. It’s “too soapy” for history buffs, and not soapy enough to entice fans of “juicy historical dramas”.

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Still, Adele James is superb as Cleopatra , said Leila Latif in The Guardian . And the reenactments are “fun”. It is just a shame they are interrupted by interviews with people who seem more “fans than historians”.

James is “mesmerising”, agreed Hugo Rifkind in The Times . Other aspects of the casting are more questionable – such as Michael Greco (Beppe from “EastEnders”) as a “hairy, sexy” eunuch. But what is perplexing was the decision to mix up enjoyable enough drama with dense explanation, and producer Jada Pinkett Smith intoning things such as, “What is a Pharaoh? She is the sands and the skies and everything in between.”

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Queen Cleopatra Review – a disappointing docuseries about a true female icon

We review the Netflix Documentary series Queen Cleopatra, which will be released on May 10th, 2023.

Queen Cleopatra is a 4-part documentary series from executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith and hopes to teach audiences about one of our most prolific female rulers, Cleopatra.

It states that Hollywood legend Smith narrates the series, but this is a grand exaggeration to describe her contribution. The first season of African Queens followed the 17th-century warrior Queen Njinga, who ruled over Ndongo and Matamba and received mixed reviews from audiences. (Please note: since the publication of this review, Netflix have changed the title, and it no longer has African Queens in it. It’s now aptly named Queen Cleopatra ).

Queen Cleopatra Review

Cleopatra was one of the most powerful and influential women in history, and as someone who is interested in Ancient Egypt, I feel this series is a mismatch of historical inaccuracies, disjointed scene work, and sub-par acting.

Slightly infuriating, this documentary made it seem as if all Cleopatra’s choices were about seducing men, which I feel does her a massive disservice. It’s more concentrated on her love life than her intellect, cunning, determined nature, and Egypt at the time of her rule.

I did enjoy Cleopatra being shown as more vulnerable, giving birth, and becoming a mother, as we do see her as a strong, powerful, complex woman, so this is a nice balance between the feminine and masculine. 

Each episode is roughly forty minutes long. In between the drama, there are many historians in an interview setting, giving information and attempting to set the scenes. Sometimes this works very well. Other times it feels disjointed.

READ: Best Netflix Documentary Series of All Time

Reenactments to support their words works, but when there are full scenes of drama between the actors, this is where the historians’ interjections disrupt the drama and break the rhythm.  

What was disappointing about this series is the hair and makeup. When one thinks of Cleopatra, one thinks about her exquisite look. This leader has money at her disposal and made herself irresistible to people. In this series, the hair and makeup are very plain and underwhelming. 

There has been a lot of controversy about her race, as black actress Adele James ( Casualty ) has been cast to play Cleopatra. During the time of her reign, Egypt’s population was multicultural and multiracial. Cleopatra’s race was unlikely to be documented, and the identities of her mother and paternal grandparents weren’t known.

Some speculate she was a native Egyptian woman, while others say she was Greek. Cleopatra herself was vocal about being Egyptian and fought to rule over Egypt strongly.

READ: Who plays Cleopatra in the Netflix series?

This documentary states she is depicted differently by the people depicting her, and some refer to her as a black woman. As there is much speculation and Cleopatra’s body has never been found, it still feels as if this documentary is forcing the color black onto her; after suggesting her story has been whitewashed. 

The final episode is the most entertaining of the four, depicting Cleopatra’s downfall and eventual, inevitable death. Cleopatra committed suicide, and it’s still unknown how, but the reasons why are clear.

We see what happens to her children and the future of Rome and Egypt. To this day, we do not know where Cleopatra’s body or burial ground is, and that is fascinating. This episode has a strong pace and finishes the docuseries nicely.

Is Queen Cleopatra on Netflix Good or Bad?

It’s not very good. Overall, it lacks context, personality, and a reason for being made. I think the series would have been more successful with a personal touch from Jada Pinkett Smith or more involvement from her.

Is Queen Cleopatra Worth Watching?

In my opinion, there are much better documentaries available out there on multiple streaming services to teach you about ancient Egypt and the life of Cleopatra.

However, if you are completely new to the history of Egypt and who Cleopatra was, this documentary could be a good start. 

What did you think of the Netflix Documentary series Queen Cleopatra ? Comment below.

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Queen Cleopatra: release date, cast, plot, trailer, interview and all about Jada Pinkett Smith's docu-drama series

Queen Cleopatra on Netflix stars Casualty’s Adele James plus former EastEnders actors John Partridge and Michael Greco.

Queen Cleopatra is one of the most famous women ever in history and has become a cultural icon. But over time the ancient Egyptian ruler has been hugely misunderstood and misrepresented and she has become more well-known for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony than for her fierce intellect and strategic genius. 

Now, Jada Pinkett Smith is determined to right that wrong and has produced and narrated a Netflix docu-drama that attempts to uncover the truth about the powerful Queen. 

Starring Casualty 's Adele James as Cleopatra, John Partridge as Julius Caesar, Craig Russell as Marc Antony and Michael Greco as Cleopatra's brother Pothinus, and using the testimonies of real-life experts and historians, the educational series documents the Queen’s rise and fall. 

“We don't often get to see or hear stories about Black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them!” says Jada, wife of Hollywood actor Will Smith. “Cleopatra is a queen who many know about, but not in her truth. She’s been displayed as overtly sexual, excessive, and corrupt, yet she was a strategist, an intellect, a commanding force of nature, who fought to protect her kingdom and her heritage is highly debated. This season will dive deeper into her history and re-assesses this fascinating part of her story.” 

So here’s everything you need to know about the Netflix series Queen Cleopatra …

Queen Cleopatra release date

Queen Cleopatra is a four-part series that launches worldwide on Netflix from Wednesday May 10 2023. Each episode is 45 minutes long.

Is there a Queen Cleopatra trailer?

Yes there's a Queen Cleopatra trailer and it looks gripping. The trailer shows a dramatised version of Cleopatra’s life interspersed with insight from real-life historians. We hear Jada Pinkett Smith saying: “There was a time long ago when women ruled with unparalleled power as warriors, queens and mothers of nations and there were none more iconic than Cleopatra.” Then Adele James as Cleopatra asks, “I would die for Egypt. What would you die for?”

It looks like the series is going to be high drama, and we can’t wait! You can watch the trailer below... 

Queen Cleopatra plot 

Using a mix of dramatisation and expert opinion, the four-part series follows the rise and fall of Queen Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. It delves into her relationships, celebrates her tactical prowess and shows her determination to protect her kingdom. It also examines her heritage, which has been widely disputed. 

Queen Cleopatra cast — Adele James on playing Cleopatra 

Adele James played Tina Mollet in the British medical series Casualty and has also starred in Nate & Jamie, Doctors, The Corona Connections and Acceptable Damage . On playing the iconic Queen Cleopatra she told us: "Cleopatra has been misunderstood and misrepresented over time,’ says British actor and former Casualty star. "She’s been over-sexualised and not credited enough for the intelligent, brilliant, political leader she was. There’s so much more to Cleopatra than meets the eye, than what we think we know from Hollywood versions of her.

"I’m so pumped to play Cleopatra! It’s the role of a lifetime and top of my bucket list as she’s one of the most iconic human beings that ever lived. It’s also the first time I’ve led a series on my own and the first time I get to hear the famous Netflix ‘Ta-DUM’ when my work comes on TV!

"I’m no Egyptologist, so just surface-level stuff that I learnt at school or from Hollywood versions of her played by actresses over the years such as Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh and Sophia Loren. Thankfully, this is a docudrama, so the script had so much detail. The drama mixes in real-life ‘talking head’ experts to give a very thorough picture of Cleopatra.

"The most exciting thing for me is being able to humanise the icon. We show the human being behind what it was to be a woman in power in Ancient Egypt; a Queen, a Pharaoh, a mother. We show the rise and fall of Cleopatra, picking up her story when her father dies and she becomes co-ruler, then ruler of her country – and remember, she was only 18! We also spotlight her intellect – she spoke nine languages – and her relationships with Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, her children and the political decisions she made with her advisors. She was just brilliant.

'Transforming into Cleopatra took hours! I think the first costume fitting was at least seven hours long. She has quite a few looks – as a warrior, mother, queen, scholar – and there are some epic scenes where Cleo’s all glammed up. I also had combat training and had to learn how to ride a horse."

On getting this big Netflix role Adele reveals: "I started auditioning a few months after coming off-air in Casualty. I sent an audition tape of myself – heard nothing – then had two recalls and a call last spring saying I’d got the role and needed to fly to Morocco to start filming in two days! I was in A&E at the time, trying to get emergency medication as I thought I had tonsillitis – it was crazy!"

It was quite a gear change, from filming Casualty in Cardiff to a Netflix blockbuster in the desert as Adele explains: " It was difficult to process! But I had to be present and focus as I knew it’d be over in the blink of an eye. We filmed in Ouarzazate, which they call the Hollywood of North Africa, and it was manic, as being in most scenes meant so much rested on my shoulders. In some ways, though, having to think on my feet was somewhat similar to what Cleopatra went through as the ruler of a nation. I was trying to lead a production as she was trying to lead a nation – and possibly conquer the world! It gave me a small appreciation of what her life may have been like."

The series has experienced some criticism for portraying Cleopatra as having African heritage but Adele addresses this casting controversy: "I anticipated some people may be a little ruffled by it. The conversation about her identity, with regard to her race, is a big question mark, and many have made assumptions about who she is, without knowing the full picture. This series shines a light on bits of history that have been conveniently left out. Given that there’s academic research and historical evidence that supports why they cast me – a bi-racial actress – in the role, I’m surprised the response was so strong. And I’m extremely disappointed that anyone thinks it’s OK to racially abuse anyone for any reason, let alone for an acting role." 

John Partridge as Julius Caesar 

John Partridge stars as the infamous Roman leader Julius Caesar. He is best known for his role as Christian in the British soap EastEnders . He’s also appeared in Game On and Cats and taken part in Celebrity Juice, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, I’m a Celebrity... and Celebrity Mastermind .  

"Both John Partidge and Michael Greco (see below) were fun, which was important as the material is so heavy – she had a very dramatic life! I had to do a whole day of birthing scenes one day, so to have people like John and Michael to make you laugh and lift your spirits was great."

Craig Russell as Marc Antony 

Craig Russell is Cleopatra’s lover Marc Antony. He’s starred in The Last Kingdom, Riches, Pitching In and Doctors . He played DI Mark Gascoyne in Hollyoaks and has also been in Dream Team and The Hatton Garden Job . 

Michael Greco as Pothinus

Michael Greco plays Queen Cleopatra’s brother Pothinus who eventually betrayed her. Michael of course is best known for playing Beppe di Marco in EastEnders and has also starred in Holby City, Casualty, The Killer Beside Me, Chasing Shadows and Doctors . 

Previous stars playing the iconic Egyptian ruler Queen Cleopatra

Queen Cleopatra has been depicted countless times on screen. Most famously, Elizabeth Taylor played her as a temptress in the big budget 1963 movie Cleopatra , alongside Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. Vivien Leigh played her in the 1945 film Caesar and Cleopatra and Sophia Loren took on the role in Due notti con Cleopatra in 1954. Gal Gadot is also playing her in a movie, although there’s no release date yet. The famous Queen has also been featured in everything from Scooby-Doo to Asterix cartoons. 

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How Accurate Is Netflix's Queen Cleopatra Docudrama?

"Among the most famous women to have lived, Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt for twenty-two years. She lost a kingdom once, regained it, nearly lost it again, amassed an empire, lost it all. A goddess as a child, a queen at eighteen, a celebrity soon thereafter, she was an object of speculation and veneration, gossip and legend, even in her own time." These were words delivered expertly by Stacy Schiff, author of "Cleopatra: A Life." While she worked tirelessly to bring the real Queen of Egypt to life in her writing over a decade ago, we still see Cleopatra mainly as the seductress presented by Elizabeth Taylor .

The truth behind Cleopatra is shrouded in mystery due to many different accounts over the last 2,000 years. Pulling back the curtain on Hollywood's portrayal of one of the most famous female leaders in history involves peeling layer after layer of mistruths, intentional embellishment, and devious downplaying. While historians have had difficulty finding the truth behind her two decades of rule, Hollywood has done their own work to muddy the waters.

Netflix is the latest studio to attempt a recreation of Cleopatra's life with the release of the documentary "Queen Cleopatra." Like all attempts to recount her rule, some of it is real, some of it is inaccurate to the point of being ludicrous, and the rest is somewhere between.

Casting a Black actress caused controversy

Of course, hashing out the accuracy and inaccuracy in this documentary starts with the casting choices. Putting Adele James ("Casualty," "Acceptable Damage") in the lead role was explained by Netflix's creative team on Tudum.  "Her ethnicity is not the focus of Queen Cleopatra, but we did intentionally decide to depict her of mixed ethnicity to reflect theories about Cleopatra's possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of ancient Egypt," said the show's producers. 

However, Egyptian officials in Cairo claim the series is blackwashing the role, something that Dr. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, called a "falsification of Egyptian history and a blatant historical fallacy" in an interview with NBC . Waziri added that those in charge should "investigate accuracy and rely on historical and scientific facts."  While there is plenty of backlash on the casting of the titular role, James feels the debate is off the mark.

In an episode of The Wayne Ayers Podcast, James said she believes that the argument is wrong and that it is sad that the show's detractors are so threatened by Blackness they resort to separating Egypt from the rest of Africa. This isn't the only contested historical content in the series, as there are some liberties taken by the writers.

There are shades of accuracy

The two most significant ways the documentary muddies the waters of the true history of Cleopatra lay in the depiction of the family and her upbringing. As far as the family goes, the accepted version of her parentage is that she is the daughter of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V. However, the documentary goes to great lengths to say that we don't know who the mother was, allowing them to depict her and her family however they see fit. This doesn't work if they add in the Roman busts and coins that depicted her and her family as more Greek in heritage, so they simply avoided having them present.

There is also the matter of her family dynamics depicted as simple scuffles instead of a brilliant strategist moving pieces across a chess board to remove her rivals for the throne. Combine that with her inexplicable training sequence in Syria that resembled a gladiatorial journey akin to Russell Crowe's in  "Gladiator," and you get the feeling that Netflix took a lot of liberties.

However, outside of the reenactments that embellish the queen's life, the documentary leans on the presentation of actual historians that lend credibility to the story presented. This includes Deborah Heard, a Ph.D. candidate in Egyptian Studies, and Dr. Islam Issa, author of "Alexandria: The City that Changed the World," who start off right away by depicting her as a brilliant woman who spent an immense amount of time in the Library of Alexandria learning the Egyptian language and preparing herself to be a queen.

Where entertainment meets wish fulfillment

The documentary aims to create a new hero for Black women everywhere. The story is presented as a black queen rising up to lead her people in the time of Greek and Roman influence, setting up a role model for women of all races .  However, an air of wish fulfillment seeps through while the documentary embellishes the more vague and mysterious aspects of her life. What the documentary does best is introduce Cleopatra to a new audience, with the apparent goal of sparking interest.

While Cleopatra is definitely one of the most influential figures in all of history, regardless of gender, race, or nationality, she seems to continuously get lost in the throes of societal bickering. While she was initially dismissed as a figurehead and a puppet by writers threatened by a woman in power, then reimagined as a seductress and defined by her trysts with Romans, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony, she is now suffering from more societal infighting. That causes her story to be muddied yet again. 

One thing is for sure — every time someone decides to depict the last Queen of Egypt, her story gets more shrouded in mystery. Maybe someday we will get the opportunity to see Cleopatra as someone who is more than skin deep.

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Queen Cleopatra review: Controversial Netflix documentary deserves to be buried in a crypt

Queen cleopatra review: the discourse around netflix's documentary makes you wonder what’s more ancient, the relics on display or the mindset of the people commenting on the colour of somebody's skin..

A surface-level docudrama that often slips into Mills & Boon territory, Netflix ’s Queen Cleopatra tells the legendary monarch’s tale with all the dramatic heft of a Wikipedia article. But even on Wikipedia, you always have the option to click on an interesting hyperlink and dive down an endless rabbit hole. Queen Cleopatra, however, chains you to your seat and forces you to watch limp dramatic recreations interspersed with overly effusive commentary for four episodes.

Each episode begins with a voiceover from executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith, in which she invariably speaks about how brilliant Cleopatra was, in a grave tone that one would reserve for bad news. Each episode also features numerous scholars who are no doubt highly qualified to be commenting on Cleopatra’s life and reign, but the show rarely uses them cleverly. Instead, it’s almost as if the filmmakers made each scholar recount Cleopatra’s entire life story on camera one by one, and then intercut the interviews in a way that makes it seem as if they’re struggling to identify who she was and what she represents.

Cleopatra was “worshipped and feared by Egypt, courted and reviled by Rome,” one scholar says in episode one, setting the tone for what follows — a sloppily told tale of palace intrigue, blind ambition, and steamy romance. We’re told that Cleopatra lived in a particularly ruthless era, when siblings would often stab each other in the backs, literally, just to climb up the succession ladder. Almost as if they want to beat you to it, another academic describes it as “a Game of Thrones environment,” but with zero playfulness. And this is one of the main drawbacks of the show; while the recreations are indistinguishable from your grandmother’s favourite soap, the talking head portions are as dry as an Egyptian afternoon.

Even after watching four episodes, you don’t quite get an idea of who Cleopatra was as a person. When she isn’t being presented as a scheming seductress who would often cross moral boundaries to get what she wanted, she’s projected, funnily enough, as a Beyonce-like figure. The soundtrack includes trip-hop and rap, a stylistic choice clearly inspired by Black Panther.

But the show doesn’t have a soul. And every story needs one, even thinly produced Netflix docudramas about Cleopatra that don’t feature a single archive photograph of the palaces in which she lived, or of her many sculptures, or even paintings of her most famous conquests — both geographical and romantic. All of this would no doubt have highlighted just how fluid her image was, constantly being altered depending on who was holding the brush or the chisel.

Indeed, Cleopatra’s portrayal in films by dark-haired, olive-skinned women such as Elizabeth Taylor and Monica Bellucci (and maybe Gal Gadot someday) has clearly contributed to the general public’s perception of her. But even the scholars assembled by Netflix don’t seem to have a firm idea about what she looked like. While one woman says that she imagines her to be Black, like herself, a man says that he thinks she had light brown skin and curly hair, as he does. The consensus is that people project themselves onto Cleopatra. In that way, she isn’t unlike Jesus.

There was a controversy about this in the days leading up to its release, after the Egyptian Supreme Antiquities Council countered the show’s suggestion that Cleopatra was Black. In the recreations, she’s played by the mixed-race actor Adele James, who was immediately targeted by racist trolls. The trolling was undoubtedly encouraged by the Egyptian government’s condemnation of the show. But they have a point; if they feel that there is enough evidence to prove that Cleopatra ‘had white skin’, then it’s a bit rude of a Netflix show to suggest otherwise, especially when it doesn’t have proof to back its claims.

If anything, the discourse around the show makes you wonder what’s more ancient, the relics on display or the mindset of the people commenting on the colour of somebody’s skin.

Queen Cleopatra Director – Tina Gharavi Cast – Adele James, Craig Russell, John Partridge Rating – 1/5

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Queen Cleopatra (2023)

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Queen cleopatra, common sense media reviewers.

Lackluster historical docuseries; suicide, violent deaths.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

The lessons of history are the most positive messa

Most of the characters are scheming for political

Cleopatra and family members are played by Black a

Mentions and sometimes depicts violent events, but

History records Cleopatra as having political alli

Characters drink wine at gatherings and dinners; s

Parents need to know that Queen Cleopatra is a documentary series about the real life of Cleopatra (played by Adele James). The series intersperses reenactments with commentary from scholars; the mature content is found in the reenactments. Violence includes images of war such as marching soldiers and a city…

Positive Messages

The lessons of history are the most positive message here, and most of them are cautionary: When you're rich and powerful, you can trust almost no one; engaging in power plays can erode personal connections.

Positive Role Models

Most of the characters are scheming for political power, so their motivations cannot be trusted. Cleopatra is the central figure and is depicted sympathetically.

Diverse Representations

Cleopatra and family members are played by Black actors, and it's emphasized that Cleopatra took power as a young woman. Many of the academics featured are women of color; their expertise and authority is displayed. The documentary also investigates intersectionality, noting that Cleopatra is often portrayed as an evil temptress because she's a compelling and powerful woman.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Mentions and sometimes depicts violent events, but mostly stops short of showing any bodily violence: soldiers march to execute Cleopatra (who flees on horseback), Cleopatra and a soldier battle with swords (no one gets stabbed; the match ends with the soldier conceding). One scene, however, shows the realistic severed head of a political rival. Cleopatra also famously commits suicide by poisoning to gain political ends.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

History records Cleopatra as having political alliances that were sexual in nature; we see flirting and affection between her and other characters such as Caesar. Characters kiss before the camera cuts away, implying sex.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink wine at gatherings and dinners; sometimes it seems to accompany strategic mistakes.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Queen Cleopatra is a documentary series about the real life of Cleopatra (played by Adele James). The series intersperses reenactments with commentary from scholars; the mature content is found in the reenactments. Violence includes images of war such as marching soldiers and a city burning, a beheading (we see a gory and realistic severed head), and mentions of off-screen violence such as executions. Sexual content includes discussions of Cleopatra's affairs with historical figures like Julius Caesar; we see actors kissing before the camera cuts away. Characters drink wine at dinners and gatherings. The actors who play Cleopatra and her family are Black, and both her race and gender figure into the discussion of her life.

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• Parents say (3)
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Based on 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 51 BC, QUEEN CLEOPATRA begins her reign as queen of Egypt and the last of the Ptolemaic dynasty, but as students of history may know, her life will hardly be a peaceful one. Using historical facts related by classics scholars with live-action reenactments of events from Cleopatra's life starring Adele James, this documentary series presents a retelling of Cleopatra's notorious saga.

Is It Any Good?

Tracing a life story that's been told many times in many ways, this documentary covers a fascinating historical period but the script and acting aren't up to the source material. The best parts of Queen Cleopatra are when academics appear on the screen to explain incidents in Cleopatra's life (which is unusual, because that's sometimes when the life goes out of a documentary). Clearly enthralled by what they know about the life and times of Cleopatra, these magnetic scholars explain details with impressive economy, quickly ensnaring us into the story of this vivid historical ruler. And then it's time for another unsettling reenactment.

Adele James comes off best. With her glowing eyes outlined in glittery (and yes, period-correct) eye paint and kohl, she's a strong screen presence at the center of the action. But the actors she's surrounded with seem so uncomfortable, and their dialogue is so stilted, as well as studded with distracting anachronisms: The characters say "yeah" and "OK" at regular intervals. As the series progresses, budget limitations start to show as well, with thin background casts and scenes that rush from one historical event to another. It's interesting to see history brought to life, but Queen Cleopatra's lack of artfulness mars its impact.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

This documentary series received some backlash for asserting that Cleopatra was a Black woman, and casting a dark-skinned actor in the role. Did Queen Cleopatra make a case for their assertion and casting? Is the actor's race or the race of the historical figure Cleopatra important to this narrative? Why or why not?

Anachronisms are visual or other elements of a movie/show that don't fit in with the time period in which the movie/show is set. What anachronisms, if any, exist in Queen Cleopatra ? Are there any anachronisms in dialogue?

The life of Cleopatra has been depicted many times. Have you seen any other Cleopatra stories? How were they alike or different from this version?

• Premiere date : May 10, 2023
• Cast : Adele James , Craig Russell , Nada El Belkasmi
• Network : Netflix
• Genre : Drama
• TV rating : TV-14
• Last updated : May 10, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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“Queen Cleopatra” Review: Jada Pinkett Smith’s Docu-series is a Flawed Romance of a Pre colonial African Monarch

Although the series is an attempt to glorify Cleopatra’s legacy, the series fail to show how important Cleopatra’s rule is to the Egyptian people…

By Seyi Lasisi

“Her legend has been retold for millennials. But few know the real woman. Her truth,” says the narrative voiceover in the first episode of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Queen Cleopatra . It is easier to understand why there are “few” people who know about Queen Cleopatra: she is a woman. African history is constantly moving towards the fringes of extinction. The custodians of history are dying. This instills a sense of loss of African history in the consciousness of Africans. Thus, for a patriarchy–dominated society, where women are still considered less important, despite their monumental achievements, it’s easier to understand why their history is barely told.

The history of African women faces a more cruel and immediate eraser. Although the lives of these African women leaders offer a defiant challenge to society’s existing masculine order, their histories are often subdued. The reiteration of their stories is on the margin compared to their male counterparts whose history is often elevated. It is this paucity of cinematic documentation of the lives of African female rulers that Smith is curbing with her documentary series. Queen Cleopatra is a continuation of the documentation effort Smith started with African Queens: Queen Njinga .

Smith’s Queen Cleopatra is a dramatised narration of the political life of an Egyptian matriarch. The four-episode documentary series tells the story of Queen Cleopatra ( Adele James ). The docudrama series chooses an interesting beginning: the death of Cleopatra’s father, Ptolemy XII ( Louis Emerick ). Ptolemy XII’s death inspires a drastic change in the life of young Cleopatra. Prior to her father’s death, she shows intense interest in literature, art, and science. She is constantly domiciled in the Library of Alexandria absorbing knowledge from various world cultures of that epoch. The series, in reenacted sequence, retells the deeds, compromise, and political decisions Queen Cleopatra took to maintain Egypt’s continued sovereignty from Rome. The documentary reenacts the popular romance that existed among Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Mark Anthony, Caesar’s trusted general. Despite Cleopatra’s significance, she inspires hatred from a faction of Roman nobles who, answering to their masculine instincts, see Cleopatra as a femme fatale. Cicero (Simon Kunz) is openly opposed to Cleopatra.

(Read also: The Woman King Review: Revisionist History in an Otherwise Excellent Hollywood African Historical Epic )

Cleopatra’s relationship with Julius Caesar ( John Partridge ) and Mark Anthony ( Craig Russell ) is propelled by the need to form an alliance. This transactional relationship among Caesar, Anthony, and Cleopatra reflects how monarchs sign pacts and form friendships to safeguard their position in the face of hostility. Although Cleopatra’s political relationship with Anthony has a semblance of truthful emotional connection, the choices they both take are inspired by personal, masked as political, agenda. Anthony, to assuage the enmity between him and Octavian ( James Marlowe ) marries Octavian’s sister. Cleopatra’s relationship with these Roman soldiers portrays the personality of the African noble class who wants to ensure that power is retained in their lineage. Their alliance with external forces is often necessitated by personal over national gain. For Cleopatra, her relationship is influenced by political and military gain. Even for Caesar and Anthony, their partnership with Cleopatra is necessitated by economical, political, and financial gains.

There is an unwritten manual that guides relationship between royal siblings. In African Queens: Queen Njinga , Njinga’s ( Adesuwa Oni ) ascension to the throne is preceded by the numerous royal carnages. Every possible opposition must be subdued. The same pattern is observed in Queen Cleopatra . Although it’s not historically certain if Cleopatra ordered the assassination of her co-ruler and brother, Ptolemy XIII ( Calum Balmforth ), the death of Arsinoe ( Andira Crichlow ), her sister, is imprinted on Cleopatra’s name. This royal sibling rivalry, while it’s seen as “normal” and a conventional behaviour in these two ancient societies, Egypt and Angola, indicates how the African ruling class guarantees their assertion to the ruling of society. The rivalry between the royal siblings always places their subjects in danger. Factions are formed. War ensued. The economy enters a descent. As indicated by these two documentaries, Queen Cleopatra, and African Queens: Queen Njinga , succession to the throne isn’t reflective of the collective will of the people. It is the personal wish of the intended ruler and their blood-letting pursuit of that ambition.

(Read also: Black on Black Discrimination and the Ignorance of our Collective Histories )

A controversy that motivated responses from the quarters of the Egyptian government preceded Queen Cleopatra ‘s debut on Netflix. This controversy is anchored around Queen Cleopatra’s skin colour and what seemed to be the deliberate choice to cast her as black. In the official response to the controversy, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a long statement at the end of April 2023 stressing that “Queen Cleopatra had light skin and Hellenistic (Greek) features.” The show’s producers issued a response to the official statement. Queen Cleopatra’s producers insisted that they “intentionally decided to depict her [Cleopatra] of mixed ethnicity to reflect theories about Cleopatra’s possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of ancient Egypt.” As Haythem Guesmi concludes in his essay, “ The Two Africas ,” the reaction to casting Queen Cleopatra reflects the divisive politics. “It has more to do with the divisive politics of African representation in black American cultural production,” Guesmi concludes.

(Read also: Tribalism in Africa: A Tool for Charging Political Agenda )

Queen Cleopatra further explores the themes and motifs that have woven their way through Smith’s earlier documentary series, Queen Njinga : the complexities of gender dynamics, societal expectations, and the quest for liberation within a patriarchal society. These themes effortlessly leap forward all through the scenes of the documentary series. The series resource persons: Prof. Shelley P. Haley, Prof. Joyce Tyledesley, Debora Heard, Prof. Islam Issa, Dr. Colleen Darnell, all scholars, in varying degrees, of Egyptian’s history, give spoken testimonies to the legacy of Cleopatra, and by extension, her Ptolemaic ancestry. This oral account is what formed the template for the reenacted documentary.

African Cinema on the Rise: 13 African Titles Gracing the 74th Berlinale

The historical importance of Cleopatra aside, the idea for creating African Queens was inspired by Smith’s daughter, Willow, who posed the question: “Who are the African queens, and why don’t we know about them?” The series of documentaries which Smith is creating is a noble cinematic initiative to preserve the legacy of these African matriarchs whose stories are similar with that of other female leaders in Western societies. These documentaries created by Smith offer easy access to the stories of these African female rulers.

Queen Cleopatra, in its preservative effort, shows the crudeness of pre-colonial African nobles. Smith’s documentation of the African pre-colonial rulers, though a noble attempt at preserving African history, is still flawed. Smith’s growing catalog of films which explore the African past with a feminist inclination is an attempt to preserve the flawed history of the African ruling class. Cleopatra became active with Roman politics at a crucial period with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony providing her entry into Roman politics. The series subtly hints at the architectural and political changes Cleopatra’s relationship to Julius Caesar inspired. All through the time span of the four-episode series, there is a struggle to ascertain what political, economical and architectural reformation Cleopatra’s rulership necessitates in Egypt. Although the series is an attempt to glorify Cleopatra’s legacy, the series fail to show how important Cleopatra’s rule is to the Egyptian people.

( Queen Cleopatra is currently streaming on Netflix .)

Seyi Lasisi is a Nigerian student with an obsessive interest in Nigerian and African films as an art form. His film criticism aspires to engage the subtle and obvious politics, sentiments, and opinions of the filmmaker to see how it aligns with reality. He tweets @SeyiVortex. Email: [email protected] .

What's Your Reaction?

to lend this work of fiction any credibility is wholly moronic.

Macedonian Greek .. Hellenistic Greek..

Repeat after me ..

Macedonian Greek…

Don’t call factually inaccurate… Demonstrably inaccurate tales ‘Documentaries’…

Hopefully the actual Egyptians get this abomination removed from Netflix… The Greeks are understandably none to pleased either.

‘Queen Cleopatra’s is one abomination that truly deserves the scorn it is receiving.

A ‘Documentary’ it surely is not.

Again.. say it after me…

Macedonian Hellenistic GREEK.

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Cleopatra (1999) Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video

By Elton Fernandes

Cleopatra is 1999 drama miniseries about the life of the famous Egyptian queen. It follows her rise to power, her romances with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, and her ultimate downfall.

Here’s how you can watch and stream Cleopatra via streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video.

Is Cleopatra (1999) available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Cleopatra is available to watch via streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

This two-part miniseries looks at the dramatic life of Cleopatra. This young woman uses her beauty and intelligence to make a place for herself on the Egyptian Throne. At the age of 18, Roman ruler Julius Caesar brings her in. He adores her and gives her everything she asks for. After the death of Caesar, she shifts her attention towards Caesar’s former general, Marc Antony. Cleopatra strongly influences Roman politics, however in the end she faces betrayal and defeat.

In the lead, Leonor Varela plays Cleopatra. We see Timothy Dalton as Julius Caesar and Billy Zane as Marc Antony. Additionally, the miniseries features Rupert Graves, John Bowe and Owen Teale, in supporting roles.

Watch Cleopatra (1999) streaming via Amazon Prime Video

Cleopatra is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

It is a popular streaming service that offers subscribers a quality streaming experience with its cast library of on-demand content.

You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps:

• Go to  Amazon Prime Video
• Select ‘Sign in’ and ‘Create your Amazon account’
• $14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership
• $8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is the online retailer’s paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the company’s most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately.

Cleopatra’s synopsis is as follows:

“Cleopatra, the famed Egyptian Queen born in 69 B.C., is shown to have been brought by Roman ruler Julius Caesar at age 18. Caesar becomes sexually obsessed with the 18-year-old queen, beds her, and eventually has a son with her. However, his Roman followers and his wife are not pleased by the union. In fact, as Caesar has only a daughter by his wife, he had picked Octavian as his successor.”

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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