'W.E.' Director Madonna: 'I Like to Nurture'

Wallis Simpson captured the heart of King Edward VIII, and their scandalous love affair resulted in the king of England abdicating the throne. Now, Madonna is focusing on this passionate tale in her new period film, W.E., and the Material Mom-turned-director tells ET of her role behind the camera, "I'm very hands-on; I like to be involved in every aspect. I like to nurture."

"I was struck by the huge sacrifice that Edward made," she told our Christina McLarty at the film's New York City premiere. "I wanted to understand why he made it; what was it about Wallis Simpson that captured him and inspired him; and understand the nature of their love story and to really examine the nature of love in general."

In theaters nationwide February 3, W.E. tells the tale only touched upon in The King's Speech through the lens of the 1998 Manhattan auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Abbie Cornish plays Wally Winthrop, a transplanted Southerner trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage, whose obsession with the love story of chic, charismatic American Wallis Simspon (Andrea Riseborough) and her affair with King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy) helps her to find the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.