The Women who have played Mrs Simpson

In 1936, Edward VIII caused the biggest scandal in the history of the British Monarchy when he walked away and gave up the thrown to marry the woman he loved, twice divorced American Wallis Simpson. Their incredible story has been recreated many times, most recently in Madonna’s feature film W.E. To celebrate the release of W.E on DVD and Blu-ray on 4th June we take a look back at different actresses who have portrayed style icon Wallis Simpson in the ultimate love story.
First to take on the role of Wallis Simpson was Faye Dunaway in 1972 in the US TV adaptation The Woman I Love directed by Paul Wendkos. Faye went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network, after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Chinatown, and her role as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde, which also earned her an Oscar nomination. Throughout her career she’s worked with a fleet of leading men, including Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford and Jack Nicholson. In 1996 she was awarded the 2,074th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Cynthia Harris received a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Mrs. Simpson in the classic 1978 ITV drama Edward & Mrs. Simpson. Produced and aired during the Duchess of Windsor’s lifetime, and awarded with a BAFTA and an Emmy Award, the series followed the pair’s relationship and the drama that ensued.  New York born Cynthia is known for role in American sitcom Mad About You, and she also appeared on Broadway in the landmark musical Company, and is a founding member of The Actor’s Company Theatre.
Jane Seymour portrayed Wallis Simpson alongside Anthony Andrews in the TV Movie The Woman He Loved in 1988. The controversial love affair is played out in flashbacks, as Wallis prepares for Edward’s funeral in 1972. Seymour gained critical acclaim for her performance and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1989 for Best Performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for TV. Although she did not win for this particular role she was later awarded an Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards for her work in East of Eden, Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman and Onassis: The Richest Man in the World, and is best known for her performance in James Bond film, Live and Let Die.
Amber Sealey starred as Wallis Simpson in the 2002 ITV adaptation, Bertie and Elizabeth. The TV film was commissioned especially for the Golden Jubilee, and showed the trials and tribulations that the Duke of York experienced during his time on the throne.
Joely Richardson starred in Wallis and Edward in 2005. The TV movie was the first script that accounted the story of their love from Wallis Simpson’s point of view.  Richardson is an English actress who was born into a theatrical family, the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and Director Tony Richardson. She is best known for her role of Julia McNamara in the successful television series Nip/Tuck but has appeared in a vast array of roles both in TV and film. Richardson is still acting and has recently starred in Anonymous and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The latest actress to take on the role of portraying Wallis Simpson was Gillian Anderson in the 2010 BAFTA winning TV series Any Human Heart. The drama tells the story of a novelist’s life as he ricochets between different eras and countries. Along the way he meets a variety of characters, including Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Gillian’s acting roots stem from the theatre, however she was presented with worldwide success in her role of Dana Scully in American television series The X-Files, a role that earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild awards. Gillian was also nominated for a BAFTA as her portrayal of Mrs. Simpson.

W.E is released on DVD and Blu ray on 4th June

Win W.E. on DVD

In celebration of the upcoming release of Madonna's W.E. coming out on DVD and Blu-ray, Studiocanal has given you a change to win the DVD and soundtrack.

All you need to do is head over here and enter the competition

“Ravishing, sumptuous and utterly stylish” - GRAZIA
“A bold, original retelling of a compelling story” - HEAT
“Bold and confident” - THE TELEGRAPH
“Riseborough is award-winning brilliant as Wallis” - INSTYLE

Directed by Madonna
Starring Andrea Riseborough, Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy and Natalie Dormer
Out To Own On DVD, Blu-ray & EST June 4th, 2012

W.E. is a beautifully crafted, passionate tale charting one of the greatest royal love stories of the modern age; the enduring relationship between twice divorced American Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough, Brighton Rock, Made in Dagenham) and King Edward VIII, (James D’Arcy, Master and Commander and the forthcoming Hitchcock) and the toll taken on Wallis as she comprehends the magnitude of the sacrifice that has been made for her. Viewed through the eyes of a modern day New Yorker, Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish, Sucker Punch, Somersault) W.E begins in 1998, and Manhattan is abuzz with anticipation about the upcoming auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.  But the auction is far more than a diversion for Wally, trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage. Transfixed by the exquisite artefacts of the Windsors' lives, she becomes obsessed with their love story and in particular the chic, charismatic Wallis and what it took to capture the heart of a King. As she learns more about what Wallis gave up in choosing to be with Edward, Wally in turn starts to find the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness. 

Directed by Madonna, the film is co-written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian and produced by Madonna and Kris Thykier (The Debt, Kick-Ass).  The highly acclaimed and award winning production team include Director of Photography, Hagen Bogdanski (The Lives of Others, The Young Victoria), Production Designer, Martin Childs (London Boulevard, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Costume Designer, Arianne Phillips (Walk the Line, A Single Man) who was Academy Award nominated for her sumptuous work on the film, and Hair and Make Up Designer, Jenny Shircore (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Clash of the Titans).


DVD & Blu-ray Extras:

The Making of “W.E”
UK Premiere Red Carpet featurette
Interview with Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy
Image gallery
Trailer and TV spots

Tech Specs:

DVD: Cert: 15 / Feature Running Time: 119 min approx / Region 2 / Feature Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 / Colour PAL / Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital & Stereo 2.0 / English language / Cat No: OPTD2318 / RRP: £17.99

BLU-RAY: Cert: 15 / Feature Running Time: 119 min approx / Region B / Feature Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 / Colour PAL / Audio: 5.1 DTS HD Master & Stereo 2.0 LPCM / English language / Cat No: OPTBD2318 / RRP: £22.99

W.E. coming soon

With incredible reviews of Madonna's second film as a director that range from the "fatally mishandled" to being "a bold and confident story". STUDIOCANAL has now set a release date for the film. That being January 20, 2012

We haven't been sent a UK trailer for the film so I've had to go hunting around youTube. This not being the easiest thing to do with the title of the film! The below trailer seems to be a teaser trailer.

W.E. is a beautifully crafted, passionate tale about the search for true love in the modern world, viewed through the prism of one of history's most fabled romances. The year is 1998, and Manhattan is abuzz with anticipation about the upcoming auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. But the auction is far more than a diversion for Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), a transplanted Southerner trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage. Transfixed by the exquisite artefacts of the Windsors' lives, Wally becomes obsessed with the love story of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy). As she learns more about the sacrifices Wallis made in choosing to be with Edward, Wally finds the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.

W.E. is abdicating into UK cinemas January 20, 2012