Trivia / The Lion in Winter

• Dawson Casting:
  • Henry, 50: Inverted for Peter O'Toole who was 36, played straight for Patrick Stewart who was 63.
  • John, 16: Nigel Terry was 23 and Rafe Spall was 20, neither of which are quite teenaged.
  • Philip II, 18: Jonathan Rhys Meyers was 26. Not quite as egregious for Timothy Dalton, who was 22.
• Dueling-Stars Movie: In both screen adaptations.
• Hostility on the Set: Defied by Katharine Hepburn, who knew of Peter O'Toole's reputation for turning up late and partying. On their first day of work, she told him in no uncertain terms that if he wanted to be in a movie with her, he was going to be on time and professional. And he actually listened to her. (You know you're an Iron Lady when Peter O'Toole shuts up and listens to you.) As a result of Hepburn not hesitating to lay down the law, she and O'Toole got on just fine on set. It helped that they both greatly admired each other's work and respected each other.
• Real-Life Relative: Katharine Hepburn actually is descended from Eleanor of Aquitaine...twice, once from Eleanor's first marriage, one from her second.

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