Airing from June to August 2013 on BBC One before reaching American audiences on Starz, “The White Queen” is an adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction novel. Ferguson takes on the role of Elizabeth Woodville, a woman of modest noble status who captures the heart of King Edward IV of England, played by Max Irons. Supported by a talented cast including James Frain, Amanda Hale, Janet McTeer, Faye Marsay, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Caroline Goodall, Ferguson leads this compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the War of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the English throne between the rival houses of York and Lancaster. Here’s a closer look at “The White Queen,” Ferguson’s portrayal of Elizabeth Woodville, and the sequel series that followed, featuring yet another gifted actress.

The series begins with Elizabeth Woodville, a young widow living with her mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg (played by Janet McTeer), and her siblings. A chance encounter in the woods with the dashing King Edward IV leads to an unexpected romance. Initially, Edward’s intentions are less than honorable, but when Elizabeth defends herself with a knife, his admiration for her is instant. Ignoring the advice of his loyal aide Richard Neville (James Frain), Edward marries Elizabeth, elevating her family’s status and granting them unprecedented power as she ascends to the role of queen.

Beyond Elizabeth’s personal saga, the series also follows the lives of Richard Neville’s daughters, Isabel and Anne (played by Eleanor Tomlinson and Faye Marsay), as well as the ambitious Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale), who is determined to see her son, Henry Tudor, crowned king. So, what unfolds after “The White Queen?”

Elizabeth and Edward have quite a lot of babies together — scholars believe they had ten children all together — with her eldest daughter being Elizabeth of York. (Don’t forget about her. We’ll be talking about her again in a minute.) Unfortunately, before the king and queen can enjoy a fully happy reign, the War of the Roses intensifies; Edward is betrayed by his own brothers George and Richard (David Oakes and Aneurin Barnard, respectively) as they all fight for the British throne, and Elizabeth and her children find themselves frequently exiled. By the end of all of this, Elizabeth’s two eldest sons are brought to the Tower of London — and in real life, those princes disappeared, leading to one of English history’s most baffling mysteries.

Alongside Elizabeth’s story, we also follow Richard Neville’s highborn daughters Isabel and Anne (Eleanor Tomlinson and Faye Marsay) as they navigate the court and future Queen Mother Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale), who’s determined to see her son Henry Tudor take the throne. So what happens after “The White Queen?”

Philippa Gregory is a particularly prolific historical fiction writer who focuses on the Plantagenets and Tudors, and considering that there’s a sequel book to “The White Queen” titled “The White Princess,” it’s not surprising that this also got a series adaptation in 2017. Rebecca Ferguson left big shoes to fill as Elizabeth Woodville (played in this series by Essie Davis), and thankfully, Jodie Comer, who plays her daughter Elizabeth of York as a grown woman, was more than up to the task. After the death of the younger Elizabeth, or Lizzie’s, secret lover — her own uncle Richard III, who doesn’t physically appear in this series — she’s forced to marry Henry Tudor (Jacob Collins-Levy), now styled as Henry VIII, under the watchful eye of his overprotective Margaret Beaufort (now played by Michelle Fairley). As the quite literal mother of the Tudor dynasty, the crown weighs heavy on Lizzie’s head, especially because she really, really hates her husband at first; ultimately, the two do form an unexpected bond, and Lizzie bears three children: first son Arthur (Billy Barratt), Prince Henry, and Princess Mary.

As Henry realizes that his mother might be responsible for the death of Lizzie’s two brothers, the bond between king and queen unexpectedly strengthened … and if you’re at all familiar with British history, you know that Lizzie is the mother of unlikely eventual monarch Henry VIII, who truly remade England in his image. In 2019, there was another “sequel” to these shows — “The Spanish Princess,” which focuses on a young Catherine of Aragon, who was married to Arthur Tudor and then Henry and is played by Charlotte Hope — but “The White Princess” is a true sequel to “The White Queen.” You can watch Ferguson, Comer, and Hope in these shows on Starz now.