I finally got around to watching the director's track to Elizabeth. Shekhar Kapur's observations regarding how man sees woman really struck me.

Norfolk seeks to dominate Elizabeth, and that is no surprise; Dudley, her lover, seeks the same, whether he knows it or not. I had thought him merely callow and perhaps selfish; but to hear Kapur speak of him, he's far worse. He loves young Elizabeth who was "his", and like many men, can't see her changes. Like Cecil, he doesn't actually respect Elizabeth as Queen: He doesn't trust her enough. Only Walsingham sees clearly. His affection is genuine.