Kew’s Forgotten Queen (2016)

Hidden within Kew Gardens is a unique gallery showcasing the art of Marianne North, a highly productive botanical artist from Victorian England. While women were expected to stay home, North traveled the world alone during the British Empire, exploring places like Borneo, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Australia, and India. She fearlessly journeyed twice around the globe to paint every plant she could find. The film tells the story of how this unconventional Victorian woman revolutionized botanical research, earning her recognition in a male-dominated scientific field and admiration from figures like Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria. The film follows Emilia Fox as she retraces North's travels and reconnects with the places that inspired her.