Catherine the Great (2019)

Apparently, the Empress of Russia (also known as Princess Sophie Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst and Catherine the Great) is so great, she’s often been depicted on the big and small screens — from Lucie Höflich in Katharina die Große (1920) to Elle Fanning in The Great (2020-2023). Tallulah Bankhead portrayed her in A Royal Scandal (1945), as did Jeanne Moreau in Great Catherine (1968) and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Catherine the Great (1995). Of course, we’d be remiss not to add Dame Helen Mirren to this list since her turn as the titular Catherine the Great (2019) earned her Golden Globe and Satellite Award nominations for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Film. Throughout the period piece, Catherine rubs elbows (and other body parts) with the likes of Prince Grigory Orlov (Richard Roxburgh), Prince Platon Zubov (Raphael Acloque), Count Alexander Dmitriev-Mamonov (Andrew Rothney), aristocrat Alexander Vasilchikov (Sam Palladio), statesman Pyotr Zavadovsky (Thomas Doherty), and military commander Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke). What can we say? She puts the head into head of state! As such, we get to see the bare back and buns on Mr. Palladio in episode 2. The same can be said of the naked Mr. Clarke in bed. Better yet, Mr. Rothney flashes his abs, sack, shaft and ass as he cavorts in episode 3. By episode 4, Catherine’s personal secretary Count Valerian Zubov (Adam El Hagar) exposes his torso and tush. Alas, he doesn’t show off his dictation. Nevertheless, this mini-series is bound to make home viewers maxi-aroused!