SPINNING a love story from an arranged marriage between two 19th century European bluebloods, one of whom could be the most dour-faced British monarch of all time, is no easy sell.

So the makers of The Young Victoria can be forgiven for taking some creative and cosmetic licence when they cast attractive British actors in the roles: Emily Blunt as the young Queen.

Rupert Friend plays Albert, the first cousin she married in 1840, when it was still okay to do that sort of thing.

Blunt, 26 and best known for her turn as Meryl Streep's bitchy assistant in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), is certainly easier on the eye than the real Victoria.

But in an interview to promote the film, the actress insists that the queen was only 'repressed, overweight and sour-faced' when she was older and in mourning.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times' LIFE!.