The Spanish Princess has subverted the narrative of people of color in Western period dramas

The Mary Sue

Showrunners Emma Frost and Matthew Graham wanted to dispel the myth that minorities were absent in British history, so they cast Lina de Cardonnes as Catherine of Aragon's lady in waiting. "Most period dramas, be they historical or fantasy, do not deal with race or attempt to include meaningful racial diversity. My fear was that Lina would be visible but mostly pushed into a supporting role," says Princess Weekes of the Starz series. "Thankfully, I was so so wrong. While Lina’s race is never ignored, she is given ample amounts to do in the story. She’s the most important of Catherine’s ladies, and while Lina is supportive of Catherine and her goals, the story also allows her to have her own passions and motivation."