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Courtly intrigue

Don’t expect The Great to be unduly concerned with strict historical accuracy. Instead, Tony McNamara’s US-made hit comedy is, to quote its opening credits, “an occasionally true story” that takes the life of the young Catherine the Great as a starting point – and then gleefully runs with the idea of an unworldly young woman contending with a spoilt and entitled husband. It may help to know that McNamara also co-wrote the script to The Favourite, which similarly made merry with the past.

Elle Fanning