This Walking Dead actress portrays The Serpent Queen, but who is the character based on?

Starz's historical period drama The Serpent Queen recently premiered its second season. The series, created by Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road), is inspired by Leonie Frieda's book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France. In the series, Catherine is brilliantly played by Walking Dead's Samantha Morton, who is known as Alpha, leader of the Whisperers.

The Serpent Queen premiered its first season in 2022 and was quickly renewed for a second season that aired its first episode in July 2024. Morton's character is based on Catherine de Medici, a controversial 16th-century leader of France. A brutal and calculating woman, Catherine became Queen when she married into the French Valois court at the age of 14. Her reign extended from 1547 during her husband, King Henry II's reign, and through 1559 when her three sons, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, all held the throne.

She was one of the most powerful French queens in history and even though her sons were the rightful heirs, the period in which they held the throne is known as "the age of Catherine de' Medici" as she greatly influenced the political climate of France during this time.

She was dubbed the Serpent Queen as legend tells of her manipulation and scheming, and she was well known for being untrustworthy. She was also accused, along with her sons, for inciting the French Wars of Religion. Catherine did everything in her power to keep her family on the throne, making her extremely unpopular with the French citizens who believed their pleas for a better life fell on deaf ears.

The Serpent Queen series

The debut season of The Serpent Queen was told in two different timelines. Liv Hill portrayed the younger Catherine in flashbacks of her marriage into French royalty. The second timeline follows Morton's mature, well-seasoned queen as she takes control of the politics of her family's reign.

The second season continues to chronicle Catherine's life as she works the French court as pawns in her game. Morton is extraordinary in this role; you won't want to miss it. This season premiered in July and new episodes air weekly on Thursdays through the season finale on August 30.

The cast includes Danny Kirrane, Ray Panthaki, Raza Jaffrey, Enzo Cilenti, Amrita Acharia, Ruby Bentall, Beth Goddard, Ludivine Sagnier, Nicholas Burns, and Rupert Everett. And the second season sees the addition of Minnie Driver as Queen Elizabeth. Emma McDonald portrays Catherine's maid in season two, a role played by Sennia Nanua in the first season. Additionally Angus Imrie, Stanley Morgan, and Philippine Velge have been added as series regulars, with Rosalie Craig, Isobel Jesper Jones, Bill Milner, Ashley Thomas, and Alexandre Willaume in recurring roles.