Details

Release year: 2006

Storyline

The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

Top credits

Directors

Michael Apted

Writers

Steven Knight

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd — William Wilberforce
Albert Finney — John Newton
Michael Gambon — Lord Charles Fox
Romola Garai — Barbara Spooner

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Did you know

• During the scene in which William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) sings "Amazing Grace" at the card house, the singing was performed live by Gruffudd. In the previous several takes, a playback had been used, but it is Gruffudd singing in the final film. Director Michael Apted had no idea whether or not Gruffudd could actually sing. Little did he know, Gruffudd is an accomplished soloist and choir singer. With a little practice, Gruffudd performed for the first time on-set while the cameras were rolling, all much to the surprise of the cast, crew, and director.

• During the conversation between Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell) and William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), it is questioned how a person can remain loyal to a King who shakes hands with an oak tree and see Germany through his telescope. The quote, spoken by Clarkson, is a reference to King George III, who, by the contemporary belief of history and scientific research, was known to have suffered from porphyria, which was possibly provoked by his use of arsenic.

• William Wilberforce's family line lives on today, and most recently, their name was in the news in the United Kingdom after Susan Wilberforce (the Baroness de Stempel), a direct descendant of William, stood trial for the murder of her first husband in 1989. She was eventually found not guilty, and the murder remains unsolved.