The Duchess

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The Duchess

PG-13

2008

1h 49m

History

Drama

Romance

Mystery & Thriller

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

170 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Though adored by the people, the Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley) is not content to sit as a pretty figurehead. Determined to be a major player in affairs of state, she rises to the forefront of the Whig Party and helps usher in reform in late-1700s England. The one thing it seems she cannot do is win the heart of her husband (Ralph Fiennes).

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Critics Consensus

While The Duchess treads the now-familiar terrain of the corset-ripper, the costumes look great and Keira Knightley's performance is stellar in this subtly feminist, period drama.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

This is meant to be Ms Knightley's film, and in many ways it is. She is in every frame, looks dazzling throughout, and must act with something behind the eyes because in two of her scenes... I welled up rather seriously.

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Claudia Puig

USA Today

Oct 18, 2008

3/4

It chronicles the saga of a vibrant and forward-thinking woman hampered by the constraints of a rigid society.

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Tasha Robinson

Chicago Tribune

Oct 18, 2008

2.5/4

It's disturbingly shallow, focused so tightly on one woman's feelings of repression and loneliness that it lacks any perspective on their causes.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 20, 2024

3/4

As a probe into the sexual politics of eighteenth-century England, The Duchess effectively paints an unremitting portrait of how love and breeding greatly differed among the social elite.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 19, 2021

3/4

Hands Keira Knightley another plum leading role and serves as yet another example of how Ralph Fiennes' brooding brand of acting can be successfully employed for all manner of characters.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Aug 4, 2021

4/5

The film's real scene-stealer is Fiennes... Despite playing a cad of few words, he manages to elicit both hatred and sympathy from the audience in equal amounts.

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C C

@Frankie99 Apr 17, 2026

The true story of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, the great-great-great-aunt of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. Both descendants of the Spencer family, their lives have been compared in terms of tragedy, despite being separated by two centuries. I recommend reading up on her real life character after watching the film. Knightly and Fiennes play their parts brilliantly.

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Keith B B

@Okbullard Dec 23, 2025

I don't usually bother with this genre but it seemed interesting. It was well done and supposedly based on true events which is better IMO. There was plenty of drama as expected but I didn't care for the outcome.

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Billie R.

@777Billie-Kat777 Oct 25, 2025

It's been years since I watched it but after watching a YouTube biography about the duchess are you watching it was absolutely worth the price of having to rent it because even with six streaming channels not a one of them was showing it for free however it was definitely worth the price

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Stella W

@RT97952540 Jun 4, 2025

❗️❗️❗️Spoilers ahead ❗️❗️❗️I loved this movie. It really brought to life what the duchess went through in real life. The acting was great and the characters. The only thing I didn't like is that the issue wasn't solved.

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cato k

@RT90749843 Dec 1, 2023

Very interesting movie and i loved the drama. When I watched it I did not realise it was based off a true story until the end

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Nicolas F

@RT17137964 Mar 20, 2023

A beautiful and well acted film about a terrible and true story that reminds us somewhat of the story of Lady Di. Keira Knightley beautiful to die for in a very beautiful role. A nice moment of a princess in a strong and popular glass tower.

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Saul Dibb

Director

Keira Knightley

Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire

Ralph Fiennes

The Duke of Devonshire

Charlotte Rampling

Lady Spencer

Dominic Cooper

Charles Grey

Hayley Atwell

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Synopsis

Though adored by the people, the Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley) is not content to sit as a pretty figurehead. Determined to be a major player in affairs of state, she rises to the forefront of the Whig Party and helps usher in reform in late-1700s England. The one thing it seems she cannot do is win the heart of her husband (Ralph Fiennes).

Director: Saul Dibb
Producer: Gabrielle Tana, Michael Kuhn
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Magnolia Mae, Pathé, Paramount Vantage, Qwerty Films, BBC Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Brief Nudity|Thematic Material)
Genre: History, Drama, Romance, Mystery & Thriller, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.8M
Runtime: 1h 49m

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