Victoria & Abdul [DVD]

The Cast of Victoria & Abdul

Queen Victoria (Judi Dench)

In 1887 Queen Victoria is celebrating her 50 years on the throne at her Golden Jubilee. During the festivities she becomes fascinated with a young Indian man who was chosen to present her with a gift from his country to mark the occasion. The loss of her husband has left Victoria despondent, and when she meets Abdul she sees her own traditional and rigid existence through a new set of youthful and enthusiastic eyes. As their friendship develops, prevailing racial, class, and cultural prejudices of the time create turmoil among her family and royal court.

Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal)

Abdul is a young Indian man who is chosen to present Queen Victoria with a gift from his native country during her Golden Jubilee. Victoria notices the young man and soon brings him into her inner circle, and he becomes her closest advisor and companion. Abdul teaches her his native language of Urdu, and the teachings of the Koran. His innocence and wonder at the new world he has found himself in draws Victoria closer to him, and they are each able to learn valuable life lessons. Victoria’s family and court do not accept the relationship between them, resulting in a bitter controversy and racial animosity. However, the Queen’s fondness for Abdul creates a bond which is stronger than tradition, bigotry and the repression of the monarchy.

Bertie, Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard)

Bertie, the Queen’s son and the Prince of Wales, resents his mother’s new confidant. He is next in line for the throne and feels Abdul is an unwanted political influence on the Queen as well as someone who is beneath the social class and status of the royal family. With the rigid class system of the time, Bertie sees Victoria’s friendship with Abdul as threatening the power structure within the monarchy and threatens to have his mother declared insane if she does not end her close relationship with Abdul.

Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill (Olivia Williams)

Jane Spencer serves as the Queen’s closest attendant, Lady of the Bedchamber. Like many of the Queen’s inner circle, the arrival of Abdul and ensuing closeness with the Queen creates friction for her longtime personal friend and adviser.

Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar)

Mohammed is a fellow Indian who is sent with Abdul during the Golden Jubilee and also begins working with him as a servant to the Queen. Mohammed, having a less optimistic outlook, sees the monarchy as the oppressor of the Indian people and sees Abdul’s friendship with the Queen as disruptive and something that should not be encouraged.

Sir Henry Ponsonby (Tim Pigott-Smith)

Sir Henry is the Queen’s attentive long-serving personal secretary.