Vanessa Kirby is one of those stars that shines bright no matter what she’s working on, but there’s no denying that she’s at her very best when she’s at the centre of a sumptuous period drama.

From Great Expectations to Agatha Christie’s Poirot, the talented actor has dazzled us many times over, though perhaps never more so than her award-winning portrayal of Princess Margaret in The Crown. 

Now, Kirby is about to win our hearts all over again with her latest project, Napoleon. Which, whatever the title may lead you to think, promises to be a story of love and loss in epic proportions.

Watch the trailer for Napoleon below:

Anyone with an A-level in French history will know the rough beats of Napoleon’s meteoric rise to fame. And, of course, anyone who remembers the contents of that love letter after its unexpected appearance in the first Sex And The City movie will know that the military leader and emperor was also half of one of the most famous, most volatile and most complex romances ever documented.

Now, Napoleon, a sweeping historical epic by Ridley Scott, promises to explore its subject through the prism of his relationship with his wife and one true love, Joséphine.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is Napoleon about?

It’s an origin story, documenting Napoleon’s swift and ruthless climb to emperor. The film takes us rocketing back in time to the days when Napoleon was a poor, insignificant army officer and Joséphine was a widow. They met by chance in a Paris ravaged by revolution, fell in love, married and… well, to say much more would likely take us into spoiler territory.

Let’s just add that there’s a reason why Napoleon and Joséphine’s relationship continues to be pored over by scholars and romantic souls alike.

Who stars in Napoleon?

The aforementioned Kirby takes on the complex role of Joséphine in this one, while Joaquin Phoenix stars opposite her as the eponymous Napoleon.

They are joined by the likes of Tahar Rahim, Mark Bonnar, Rupert Everett and Youssef Kerkour.

What are people saying about Napoleon?

During a recent interview with Collider, Kirby piled praise on Scott’s movie, noting: “It’s epic. Joaquin is extraordinary. It’s Ridley’s finest historical biopic, really. It’s got incredible battles and an amazing character study, like Joaquin does. It was a pleasure. It was a pleasure to do it. I loved it.”

The actor, who has been dubbed the scene-stealer of the grandiose film, added to The Hollywood Reporter: “As with any fictional interpretation, who they are on screen and compared to the history, there’s always creative license. 

“It’s like in The Crown. I learned that behind closed doors, it’s an imagined version of events… I read every book I possibly could about her to capture this very elusive, interesting, strange energy [that Joséphine] had.”

When and where can we watch Napoleon?

Napoleon will be released in UK cinemas on Wednesday 22 November. The film will later arrive on Apple TV+ at an as-yet unannounced date.

Images: Apple TV+