As artistic partnerships go, it rates as one of the more unlikely. Martin Scorsese, the Oscar-winning director known mainly for American gangster films, is to join forces with the Duchess of York, whose best-known artistic project to date is the children’s book, Budgie the Helicopter.

The collaboration emerged as it was announced that the film-maker is to turn his attention away from the Mafia to another prominent family, the British monarchy. The film will focus on the early life of Queen Victoria.

It is being produced by a team led by Scorsese and Graham King, head of the Initial Entertainment Group. Mr King said that the Duchess of York, who had suggested the idea, was now signed up as a co-producer who could offer Hollywood invaluable insights into a monarch’s life.

The Duchess said yesterday: “I met Graham King and said, ‘Why don’t you produce a movie about Queen Victoria?’ All people see of Victoria is a melancholy Queen in mourning, dressed in black. She should be remembered as a beautiful girl, skipping through the grass in bare feet. Hers is a wonderful love story.”

The Duchess was given access to the archives at Windsor while researching a book on Queen Victoria’s travels, and another on her favourite retreat, Osborne House, both of which she wrote with the historian Benita Stoney.

In the foreword to Travels with Queen Victoria, which was published in 1993, she wrote: “Queen Victoria has always fascinated me. I admire many of her qualities, and in some sense feel a bond of friendship with her. I was able to understand her longing to escape from the pressures of royal life and found her desire to broaden her horizons inspirational.”

Emily Blunt, the British actress who made her name as Meryl Streep’s highly-strung assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, has been cast to play the lively and warm-hearted girl who became Queen of England in 1837 at the age of 18.

The film traces Victoria’s rise to the throne, focusing on the early years of her reign and her romance with Prince Albert.

Blunt, 23, has already collaborated with some of the greats of British theatre, including directors such as Peter Hall and Richard Eyre, and Dame Judi Dench, whose portrayal of Victoria — grieving after the death of her beloved Albert — in Mrs Brownwon her an Oscar nomination.

She attracted rave reviews for The Devil Wears Prada last year and earned a Golden Globe nomination. She eventually won a Globe for her second nomination, a supporting role in the BBC Television film, Gideon’s Daughter.

Mr King said: “We think she is perfect to play this feisty, passionate young woman who went on to have nine children with the love of her life, Prince Albert.

“We all think we know Queen Victoria from the latter part of her life, but in fact she was an amazing, dynamic, romantic personality from a very early age that is largely unknown. I had been searching for a British project for many years so am just thrilled to bring her story to life. And to do so in partnership with Marty is a special joy.”

The Young Victoria will be directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, a French Canadian who most recently made the coming-of-age tale, C.R.A.Z.Y. The screenplay is by Julian Fellowes, the British writer and actor whose screenplay for Gosford Park won him an Oscar in 2001.

Blunt will next be seen in a horror film, Wind Chill, due for release shortly, and has most recently worked on a drama titled Charlie Wilson’s War, which also stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Queen at 18

— Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, in 1819, the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III

— Her father died shortly afterwards. She became heir to the throne as her three uncles, George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV, had no surviving legitimate children

— Described as a lively and warm-hearted young girl, she had a gift for drawing and painting

— Educated by a governess, she kept a journal throughout her life

— On William IV’s death in 1837, she became Queen at 18, reigning until 1901

Source: www.royal.gov.uk

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