In early 18th-century England, a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne, and her closest friend, Lady Sarah (Academy Award Winner Rachel Weisz), governs the country while tending to Anne's ill health and volatile temper.
When new servant Abigail (Academy Award Winner Emma Stone) arrives, Sarah takes Abigail under her wing as she cunningly schemes to return to aristocratic roots, setting off an outrageous rivalry to become the Queen's favourite.