If you’ve seen the trailers for the Starz series, you probably think you know the vibe. Lavish costumes. Julianne Moore looking terrifyingly sharp. And, of course, Nicholas Galitzine as the "honeytrap" son, George Villiers. But honestly? The real story behind Nicholas Galitzine, Mary and George is a lot messier, darker, and weirder than just another "sexy period drama."
Most people assume this is just Bridgerton with more swearing. It isn't.
It’s a story about a mother who basically looked at her son’s face and saw a high-yield investment. Mary Villiers (played by Moore) was a widow with zero prospects and a lot of debt. George was her second son—beautiful, a bit aimless, and, at the start of the show, kind of a mess. She didn’t just encourage him to get a job at court; she groomed him to seduce a King. Specifically, King James I.
The "Dumb Jock" of the Jacobean Court
There’s a hilarious meta-moment for fans of Nicholas Galitzine. In the movie Red, White & Royal Blue, his character Prince Henry actually calls the historical George Villiers King James’s "dumb jock boyfriend." Fast forward a year, and Galitzine is literally playing that guy.
But George wasn't exactly dumb. He was just... manufactured.
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To get George ready for the King, Mary scraped together every penny she had to send him to France. This wasn't a gap year. It was boot camp. He learned to fence, dance, and speak French—the three essential skills for any 17th-century social climber. When he came back, he wasn't just Mary's son; he was a weapon.
Galitzine plays this transition brilliantly. You see him go from this suicidal, lovelorn teenager (literally hanging from a noose in the first episode because he doesn't want to leave his local girlfriend) to a man who realizes that his body is his only currency. It’s a transformation that feels earned because it’s so uncomfortable to watch.
What the Show Actually Gets Right (and Wrong)
Whenever a show like this drops, everyone starts Googling "was King James I actually gay?"
The short answer? Yeah, pretty much. While he had a wife and children, James was famous for his "favorites"—handsome young men he showered with titles, land, and very intense letters. He once told his privy council, "I, James, am neither a god nor an angel, but a man like any other. I love my masters and friends more than others."
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George Villiers was the ultimate favorite. He went from a nobody to the Duke of Buckingham in record time. He was the only person who wasn't royal to be made a Duke in that era.
The Accuracy Check
- The Seduction: Real. George was introduced to the King during a hunt in 1614 specifically to oust the previous favorite, Robert Carr.
- The Mother-Son Dynamic: Mostly real. Mary Villiers was notoriously ambitious and widely hated by the court for how she pushed her family into power.
- The Murder Plot: This is where the show takes some liberties. In the series, things get... dark. In real life, James died of natural causes (likely dysentery and a stroke), though there were rumors at the time that George had poisoned him with a "quack" medicine.
Why Nicholas Galitzine is More Than a Pretty Face Here
We’ve seen Galitzine play the "dreamy guy" before. He’s done the charming prince and the pop star. In Mary & George, he has to be repulsive.
There’s a scene where George is deathly ill—sweaty, pale, and covered in sores. It’s a far cry from the polished TikTok edits of him. It shows a side of his acting that people haven't really seen: a willingness to look ugly to tell a story about corruption. Because that’s what this show is. It’s a story about how power rots you from the inside out.
By the end of the series, George isn't the victim of his mother's schemes anymore. He’s the one running the show. He becomes more arrogant, more reckless, and eventually, the most hated man in England.
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The Brutal Reality of the Ending
If you’re expecting a "happily ever after" for George and the King, you haven't been paying attention to history.
Power like that creates enemies. A lot of them. The real George Villiers was eventually assassinated in 1628, stabbed to death in a pub by a disgruntled army officer named John Felton. The public in London actually celebrated when they heard he was dead. That’s how much people loathed the influence he had over the crown.
Actionable Insights for Fans and History Buffs
If you want to dive deeper into the world of Nicholas Galitzine, Mary and George, don't just stop at the show.
- Read the Source Material: The series is based on Benjamin Woolley’s book The King’s Assassin. It’s a non-fiction deep dive that reads like a thriller.
- Look at the Portraits: Go to the National Portrait Gallery website and look up George Villiers. You’ll see the "pearl earring" that gets progressively larger in the show—a subtle costume detail that signals his rising wealth.
- Visit the Locations: If you’re in the UK, many of the filming locations like Hatfield House and Knole are open to the public. They actually filmed the "London" palace scenes at Hatfield, which was built in 1611—the exact era the show takes place.
- Check Out the Letters: The actual letters between James and George are archived. James used to call George "Steenie" (a nickname for St. Stephen, who was said to have the face of an angel). George’s replies are equally... passionate.
The real takeaway from the story of Mary and George isn't the scandal—it's the survival. In a world where they had nothing, they used the only thing they had (George's looks and Mary's brain) to seize a kingdom. It didn't end well, but they certainly made sure history wouldn't forget them.
Check out the original 17th-century correspondence at the British Library digital archives to see just how "fluid" the Jacobean court really was. It puts modern period dramas in a whole new perspective.