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The Duchess

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for The Duchess PG-13 2008 1h 49m History Drama Romance Mystery & Thriller Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 165 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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The Duchess

The Duchess

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Oct 22, 2026 The Duchess is a *3.5* star Movie! See more 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. See more 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. See more 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 See more 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. See more 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 See more Read all reviews
The Duchess

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Cast & Crew

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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

Bess

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The Duchess

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The Duchess

A scene from the film "The Duchess." The Duchess (2008) The Duchess (2008) The Duchess (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

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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