Who Plays Shax And Why Does She Look So Familiar?

The anthology format isn't exclusively for horror or suspense. Starting way back in 1983, BBC One began releasing "Blackadder," a series of period sitcoms all starring Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder. Now, Blackadder is not the name of a singular character but rather the name of many, all of whom are a little grumpy and a lot greedy, and all of whom are played by Atkinson. The "Blackadder" umbrella features a number of titles, including "Blackadder II," "Blackadder the Third," and Blackadder Goes Forth."

Miranda Richardson appears in five "Blackadder" projects, including all the aforementioned titles as well as "Blackadder's Christmas Carol" and "Blackadder Back & Forth." In most of these, Richards portrays Queen Elizabeth I. Better known by the nickname Queenie, Elizabeth is something of a flirtatious prankster, especially in "Blackadder II," where she goes to any length to cause Blackadder distraction and distress. In fairness, he kind of deserves it.

According to The Guardian, Queenie's antics were inspired by Richardson's comic stylings long before she was ever cast in the role. That said, Richardson's talent for unhinged buffoonery caused her career to stagnate. Studios only wanted to cast her as a brash, hysterical woman, and she wanted to explore other character types. Despite this, in 2021, Richardson voiced a willingness to return to "Blackadder," should the possibility ever arise.