DRAMA . 2003 . 1h 40m . 5.0/10

The Emperor's Wife_

"A fairy tale for grown ups."

In an undisclosed location and time, in the land of 1001 nights, the law dictates that the Emperor must take a new wife if his current Empress does not bear a son within seven years of marriage. At the celebration Ball of their sixth wedding anniversary, the Emperor (MAX BEESLEY - Torque) and his faithful manservant, Chamberlain (JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS - Vanity Fair, Bend It Like Beckham, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead) begin the covert operation to find and prepare a virgin candidate to become the new Empress.A suitable young woman, Sabah (LETICIA DOLERA) is secretly transported into an isolated wing in the Imperial Palace. In this prison of fairytale rooms, she is tutored by the Masters and spied upon by the Emperor and Chamberlain. Should the current Empress (ROSANA PASTOR) conceive, everyone in the secret wing will be executed.

Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Max Beesley, Rosana Pastor

5.0/10

Rating

1h 40m

Runtime

2003

Year

Updated Feb 16, 2026

The Emperor's Wife poster

A fairy tale for grown ups.

In an undisclosed location and time, in the land of 1001 nights, the law dictates that the Emperor must take a new wife if his current Empress does not bear a son within seven years of marriage. At the celebration Ball of their sixth wedding anniversary, the Emperor (MAX BEESLEY - Torque) and his faithful manservant, Chamberlain (JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS - Vanity Fair, Bend It Like Beckham, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead) begin the covert operation to find and prepare a virgin candidate to become the new Empress.A suitable young woman, Sabah (LETICIA DOLERA) is secretly transported into an isolated wing in the Imperial Palace. In this prison of fairytale rooms, she is tutored by the Masters and spied upon by the Emperor and Chamberlain. Should the current Empress (ROSANA PASTOR) conceive, everyone in the secret wing will be executed.

WHERE TO WATCH

Prime Video 5 countries

ALL REGIONS

DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as Chamberlain in The Emperor's Wife.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers →

Year context

The Emperor's Wife was released 23 years ago in 2003.

Overview

In an undisclosed location and time, in the land of 1001 nights, the law dictates that the Emperor must take a new wife if his current Empress does not bear ...

The Emperor's Wife is a Drama film with a runtime of 1h 40m.

CAST (7)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Max Beesley

Max Beesley

Emperor

Rosana Pastor

Rosana Pastor

Empress

Leticia Dolera

Claire Johnston

Claire Johnston

Mother

Alex Macqueen

Dr. Lambroso (as Alexander Macqueen)

Johnny de Mol

DETAILS

Release

September 3, 2003

Status

Released

Runtime

100 min (1h 40m)

Country

BE, LU, Netherlands

Rating

5.0/10 (7 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Emperor's Wife about?

In an undisclosed location and time, in the land of 1001 nights, the law dictates that the Emperor must take a new wife if his current Empress does not bear a son within seven years of marriage. At the celebration Ball of their sixth wedding anniversary, the Emperor (MAX BEESLEY - Torque) and his faithful manservant, Chamberlain (JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS - Vanity Fair, Bend It Like Beckham, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead) begin the covert operation to find and prepare a virgin candidate to become the new Empress.A suitable young woman, Sabah (LETICIA DOLERA) is secretly transported into an isolated wing in the Imperial Palace. In this prison of fairytale rooms, she is tutored by the Masters and spied upon by the Emperor and Chamberlain. Should the current Empress (ROSANA PASTOR) conceive, everyone in the secret wing will be executed.

How long is The Emperor's Wife?

The Emperor's Wife has a runtime of 100 minutes (1h 40m).

Who stars in The Emperor's Wife?

The cast of The Emperor's Wife includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Max Beesley, Rosana Pastor, Leticia Dolera, Claire Johnston.

What is the rating of The Emperor's Wife?

The Emperor's Wife has a rating of 5.0 out of 10 based on 7 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (1)

Drama