Madfabulous
A Queer Period Drama That Refuses to Play It Safe — But Maybe Too Quietly
Madfabulous is set to explore the life and times of Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey — a man who treated the rigid gender ideals of 19th-century aristocracy less like rules and more like suggestions he'd already decided to ignore. The film premieres on 5 June 2026 in the UK, running 108 minutes, and it's based on a genuinely strange true story: a Welsh nobleman who spent everything he had just to be seen.
Directed by Celyn Jones and shot across North Wales, Madfabulous traces Henry's extravagant theatrical performances, his deep platonic bond with a woman named Lily, and the financial catastrophe that followed his refusal to live quietly. It's a biographical comedy with weight underneath the sequins — a portrait of someone who couldn't stop being himself even as the cost kept climbing.
Cast, Production, and Why Wales Matters Here
Callum Scott Howells leads as Henry Paget, and early festival audiences have flagged his performance as the film's clearest asset — physically committed, bittersweet, and apparently willing to throw everything at the role. Ruby Stokes plays Lily, Henry's closest companion, while Rupert Everett joins in a supporting capacity. (Everett, of all people, understands something about flamboyance and its costs.) The ensemble also includes Paul Rhys, Siobhán McSweeney, Louise Brealey, Louis Hynes, and Tom Rhys Harries.
The production backing isn't incidental. Produced through Mad as Birds, Ffilm Cymru Wales, and Picnik Entertainment—with support from the Wales Creative IP Fund—the film was shot on location across North Wales. The landscape doesn't just sit in the background; it feels embedded in the film's identity. This is a full-length period piece, not a sketch.
The film premiered at BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival on 25 March 2026, where its placement in the LGBTQ+ strand made the film's queer-centered framing explicit. It was also selected for the GREAT 8 Showcase at Cannes—the kind of industry signal that tends to precede genuine attention. Icon Film Distribution handled the UK release.
What the Critics Actually Said — And What They Missed
Critical reception so far is mixed-positive, which is about right for a film this tonally tricky. The consensus: beautifully shot and designed, but perhaps too restrained for a subject this inherently wild. Screen Daily put it plainly, calling the film "too pedestrian for its flamboyant real-life subject" — a fair criticism, but one that slightly misses what the film seems to be doing.
Here's what strikes me: the film frames Henry's queerness-coded persona not as scandal or spectacle, but as the simple, stubborn core of who he was. That's a different project than the wild queer romp some festival-goers were expecting. The production design has been widely praised—period detail that feels lived-in rather than museum-curated. Howells' performance is the thing that keeps pulling focus in early write-ups: a man performing joy while something sadder runs underneath. That tension—between the dazzle and the damage—is where the film is most alive.
Letterboxd responses from early viewers skew warmer than the critical consensus, with users pointing to moments that are simultaneously hilarious and genuinely affecting. Hard to say if the film fully sticks its landing, but the ambition is real.
Where to Watch — And What's Available Now
Madfabulous opened theatrically in the UK on 5 June 2026. Streaming availability varies by region, and that's where Movie OTT's where-to-watch tracker comes in handy — it pulls from multiple platforms so you don't have to refresh six different apps manually. The widget at the top of this page reflects the most current verified availability in your country.
UK viewers have the clearest path right now. International streaming rights haven't been formally documented yet, but deals are typically announced within a few months of a film's theatrical window closing. Check back on Movie OTT as new regional releases get confirmed.
The Real Henry Paget — and Why This Story Matters
Henry Cyril Paget lived from 1875 to 1905. He was genuinely famous—or infamous—for his theatrical performances, extravagant spending, and defiance of Victorian gender norms. He did eventually bankrupt the Paget family estate. The film doesn't shy away from that cost.
What's interesting is how rarely we get biographical films about people who simply refused to perform the version of themselves that society demanded. Most period dramas punish that refusal or frame it as tragedy. This one treats it as the whole point.
Should You Actually Watch This?
Madfabulous won't satisfy everyone who wants a full-throttle queer period romp. The film is more measured than that, and some viewers will feel the restraint as a missed opportunity. But for anyone drawn to biographical stories about people who couldn't compromise on identity—even when the price was everything—this one earns its runtime.
Callum Scott Howells is a genuine reason to show up. The production design is another. And Henry Paget himself—a man who spent everything he had just to be seen—is the kind of subject that doesn't come along often.
108 minutes. Worth your time.
