Cleopatra was unique in comparison to past Ptolemaic rulers in that she was the first to be fluent in Egyptian. Additionally, she and the Ptolemys were not only Greeks — their founder Ptolemy was one of Alexander the Great’s generals — but were incestuously produced Greeks, per Medical Bag. This helped maintain continuity with the preexisting Pharaonic power systems, while the family otherwise maintained an existence insulated from their subjects. Therefore, it is unlikely that the real Cleopatra would have been as fair-skinned or as free of genetic disease as Elizabeth Taylor.

Similarly, it is unlikely that Ancient Egypt would have been as relatively devoid of African, Arabic, and Levantine people as the film might imply. In regard to Cleopatra’s clothes and cosmetics in the film, they are depicted with then-modern tailoring and application in spite of historical inspiration (via Egyptian Streets). 

Inaccuracies aside, the film is a stunning piece of art and, script-wise, is fairly accurate in its presentation of historical events. It is simply worth baring in mind that the aesthetic liberties made by the directors give the film a far more romanticized atmosphere than it probably should have.