Which actress do you think portrayed Anne's execution the best and who is your favourite Anne overall? See my PATREON site for extra perks at www.patreon.com/historycalling You can also check out my Amazon storefront at www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling
@@HistoryCalling Dorthy Tutin from "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", 1970 for BBC was the best Anne that I've seen, except for Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days".
@@HistoryCalling Oh, if you haven't seen the Six Wives series from 1970, you are in for a treat: Keith Michell is a magnificent Henry; and the casting of all the wives, in general, is very good. Production values are not the best: the series is very much like six video-taped plays; but the research, script, direction and commitment are all superb. It is one of the few works that shows Catherine of Aragon from start to finish, and it doesn't "take sides", as the series has the aim of featuring all six women in their own episodes. The unofficial follow up to the series, "Elizabeth R", with Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth, is even better. Treat yourself: track them down and watch them.
My favorite thing is Natalie Dormer stated in an interview she studied for this role and even had a history degree before she became an actor. She's a natural blonde but dyed her hair for the role even when producers told her not too because they wanted Anne blonde. She begged them to let her do Anne justice with brown hair since she already had blue eyes. She also said that during the execution scene, she cried. She was found backstage by a coworker crying and she said "It's over, but Anne will always be with me. She's with me." This is why I love Natalie Dormer and her portrayal.
She has a history degree???? source please? All I'm seeing so far is that she tried to get in for history and failed an exam which led her to drama schools. Still amazing tho! I think I have a soft spot for her. Watching the Tudors killed me in general with all the women. Then of course after I inhaled that (very late to the party), Six the Musical came out.
@@rolandconley6279 true to this. I, also, did not find anything regarding her degree. It does say she attempted history. Though knowledge does not have to be written on a piece of paper, clearly she knew what she was doing since her performance was very well played. A little freshness to Anne’s character since it’s been highly put like a villain thanks to rumors and “The other Boleyn girl”
Natalie Dormer. She is so believeable in the entire series, and portrays Anne Boleyn as a complex woman, who tries to stay on top in that very dangerous power play. Somehow her looks also fits everything from "scheming" to "dignified".
Yes, I love her performance too and on the subject of looks, I'm so glad she coloured her hair brown to play Anne. I still wish Jonathan Rhys-Meyers had gone red though, especially as in later seasons the girl playing Elizabeth was a redhead.
i saw an interview once she mentioned that she actually felt a little panic how she felt like she was anne in that situation cause she was actually scared. I need to find it.
Yes, Dormer is a great actress but she didn't play Anne as Anne actually was. Anne wasn't a schemer or social climber trying to seduce a King away from his wife. Just the opposite. She did all she could to deter Henry's pursuit of her as she was in love with Henry Percy (Dude of Northumberland)... Anne was a devote Christian woman and though she may have gotten jealous later on of Henry's conquest it was also rumored that she had a Thyroid condition that made her unbalanced at times. She never schemed to do anything. Henry schemed enough for the both of them. He wanted what he wanted and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Anne was basically forced by her father, Cardinal Wolsey, her uncle Thomas Howard to give in to the King's wishes. Anne truly thought by denying him access to her sexual favors he'd grow tired of waiting and lose interest. He didn't.
Hands down, Genvieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days". . It was her interpretation that finally made me, a fan of Katharine of Aragon, have some sympathy for Anne. It also helped that Ms. Bujold, a French Canadian, had a French accent, as Anne who had spent years in France as a Lady in Waiting would have had. She also had the darker complexion and fine eyes that Anne was described as having. She resisted Henry's advances as long as she could, as she was in love with Henry Percy. Her intelligence, spirit and wit were vividly portrayed. Ms. Bujold's interpretation is the closest to the personality of the real Anne Boleyn. In my mind, by the way, Anne Boleyn and those who died with her were the victims of trumped up charges. Henry VIII already had his eyes set on her successor.
The Tudors really didn't deserve Natalie Dormer's performance, you can tell she really cared about doing right by Anne, and I'd love to see her play Anne again in a production that cared as much as she did.
I think despite its trashy elements "The Tudors" did a wonderful job portraying Anne's complex character. Natalie's performance added to it, yes - but the role (at least in season 2) was very well written.
@@0308frank It wasn't just Natalie Dormer's acting that made The Tudors' characterization of Anne Boleyn as riveting as it is. Dormer was largely responsible for most of Anne's development in season two. She insisted on having scenes rewritten to reflect the actual historical record, on giving Anne more complexity and depth rather than another one dimensional wife who only exists to further Henry's story. She studied the contemporary sources, met with professors, historians, museum curators, and Tudor biographers to gain as much intimate knowledge of Anne as she could for the performance. Dormer also dyed her hair dark brown for the role, knowing that Anne Boleyn famously had dark hair and Dormer is a natural blonde (the show's producers did not ask that she do this). She also won several critics awards for her work in The Tudors. When OP Maddie says that The Tudors didn't deserve Natalie Dormer's performance, she's 100% right. Dormer was a fierce and luminous figure in an often lackluster, sometimes silly production. 😊
All I know is that Natalie Dormer’s performance had me sobbing like a baby. It really humanized Anne for me, reminding us that she was used as a political pawn for her family’s ambitions, was betrayed when she was no longer of use, and then met her fate with grace. Chapyus remarking on her bravery lends the most credibility to the accounts.
Almost all the people executed by Henry VIII praised him on the scaffold (if they were permitted to speak). The only plausible reason is that every one of them knew the danger to their friends and relatives if Henry was slighted and took out his anger against them. All those speeches were basically them trying to placate Henry so that he wouldn’t turn on their loved ones. It’s very sad. Every one of them if allowed freedom would have said some harsh truths about the vindictive, cruel, petty, shallow, obsessed and vain king.
It was standard scaffold etiquette at that time to praise the King (though I do think there must have been an element of not wanting to anger him too). Not everyone went quietly though. Look up information on the execution of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury for a very different type of story.
@@HistoryCalling Yes, I’ve read about her story. She must have been pretty passionate to have gone against the common practice and openly been so critical. It’s always so tantalising to only have the accounts of the time - all of which have to be read against the backdrop of societal norms, politics, family practices, people wishing to rewrite history, etc, etc. From this great distance of time we can only know so much and then no further, and never with certainty. But then, that’s half the fun in a way. We can all turn amateur detective and fill in the narrative.
Shakespeare wisely avoided any mention of Henry VIII in his plays. Both of the English monarchs he lived under had mothers who died on the executioner's block. Queen Elizabeth was the daughter of Anne Boleyn and she executed Mary Queen of Scots who was the mother of King Charles and the Stuart Dynasty.
Yes, I often wonder if the real Henry ever had nightmares about her and what he did to her, after her death. He certainly deserved to be tormented by her (and by many others too).
They say that some of the details that video likes the most are some of the things Dormer fought to have included. They wanted her to play Anne as a blubbering mess. She had to talk them into having Anne keep her dignity. They also wanted to play her as being partially guilty of the charges and Dormer and production staff had to hash it out.
Haha, you're not the first to question that assessment and of course such things are just a matter of opinion, so you can absolutely cast a vote for Marie Antoinette. I will say though that my video on her execution (specifically whether her hair turned white just beforehand) hasn't garnered anything like the attention this one has...
@@tiffanymoore3130 The Russia Czar Could Escape By Paying People 0ff. People Can Walk Into Finland And Into Freedom. Under The Palace And The City Had Many Tunnel's To Escape Both The City And Russia !
If you hate the portrayal of Anne's demeanor in The Other Boleyn Girl, look at what they did to poor George. According to the movie he was dragged kicking and screaming through an angry mob to his death, while in real life he was nothing short of amazing and calm, and the onlookers were very sympathetic.
@@HistoryCalling Glad to have inspired you, haha. Correct me if I'm misremembering, but wasn't one of the men convicted of sleeping with her not even present at court at the time of his alleged crime?
Well, we all know that every bit of The Other Boleyn Girl was utter bollocks. They couldn’t even get the birth order of the Boleyn’s right; Mary is portrayed as the youngest, when she was in fact the oldest. When you can’t even get that right, you can’t get anything right.
Natalie Dormer is by far my favorite. The scene where she watches the men get beheaded and the gut wrenching sobbing just tear through me. I cry every time I watch that scene. Natalie did an amazing job and will forever be Anne Boleyn to me.
I know exactly the scene you mean and she had me in tears too, even though I knew she would never have been left alone like that during her imprisonment.
I thought showing her dad in the tower listening to her sob and then his conversation with Charles Brandon when he was released was absolutely ridiculous and on par with the character he played in the Tudors. No idea what actually happened but that guy was the worst father.
As others have noted, Genevieve Bujold portrayal of Anne Boleyn was riveting. The movie was released in 1969 and it still haunts me. Definitely worth watching, also for Richard Burton's performance as King Henry.
You know another Anne Boleyn moment that I thought Natalie Dormer did really well was the famous “I have a little neck” line. Just the way she actually seems to find it funny. It’s not a moment of disconnected hysteria or weakness, but it is a moment of exhaustion and perhaps some relief. Like she’s thinking, “If I am going to die, I am going to laugh first.”
Natalie Dormer was the best without a doubt. I cringed when I watched the other Boleyn girl as it is so full of historical inaccuracies. From Mary who wasn't actually at the execution at any point and time. Anne being a crying mess and then there was the cold demeanour of Anne ladies. Sources describe them as crying as Anne had finally won their sympathy at her plight yet that didn't happen on that movie. And don't even get me started on how they portrayed George execution.
Yes, I think that movie squandered the talents of its excellent cast. I've always been surprised that actors of the calibre of Portman/Johansson/Bana and even a young Benedict Cumberbatch signed up for it, but it was much earlier in their careers and maybe it looked better on the page. People who don't know the real history probably enjoy it more as well, as they aren't cringing like you and I! :-)
Personally Scarlett was the only thing I really liked about the movie along with the costumes. I felt like she played her character well and ever since then I've wanted to see her in more biography/historical dramas. (I know biography and history are pretty much the same thing. Its just that when I think of history, I think of centuries ago whereas biography, I think of more recent times or mid to late 1900s.)
I personally liked the movie. Not because of the auccuracy, but because of the acting. I am really interested in history and I knew, that the movie was not perfect, but it made me fall in love with Anne and I return to the movie sometimes and watch it again. Eventho I have also watched The Tudors and I think they portrait it better.
@@nessyness5447 I know the Tudors was not historically accurate. In my comment I never said it was the most truthful instead I said it was the best performance. I have studied enough history and seen enough documentaries to know what went down on the day both George and Anne were executed. I can pick holes in Natalie Dormer storyline better than anyone in my house hold but that won't change the fact that I still think her performance was 100 times better than Natalie Portman. And that would be totally down to the script and how she was told to portray Anne. Anne was a strong woman and to play her as a blubbering mess was just an insult to her memory
Natalie Dormer’s Anne was really solidified as iconic for me when she was executed. She portrayed the real Anne in that moment so well and presented who Anne really was. That makes her performance and Anne Boleyn herself iconic.
Genevieve Bujold is my favorite Anne! I think she captured her grace, her strength, and her vulnerability beautifully. Her final speech to Henry in Anne of a Thousand Days is of course inaccurate, but it feels like what she might have said if she had the chance. Natalie Dormer is my second fave, though I think it’s just the occasional silliness of the script that knocks her down a peg, not her performance.
Yes, the script is a little awkward at times. There were instances when they included things the real Anne had written, but not said (something about being loving and kind to Henry - I can't remember the whole quote off the top of my head) and though ND did the best she could to deliver it in a natural sounding way, it sounded clunky because it was meant to be read. Even in Tudor times, I don't think people dropped rhyming couplets into conversation any more than we do today :-)
@@MaeveLaRenarde "Anne of the thousand days" is not THAT inaccurate, specially not for a Hollywood movie. I mean look at "Young Bess", "Lady Jane", "Elizabeth" or "The other Boleyn Girl"... "Anne ottd" is still one of the most accurate Tudor movies.
I’ve also read that one of the reasons the headsman tried to distract Anne was so that her neck would be in the correct position which had to be slightly turned so that the blow would be more precise making it less painful and quicker. After she turned her head he quickly tiptoed into position and struck. I noticed that’s how it was brilliantly acted out in wolf hall. Hard to say which of these exceptional ladies portrayed Anne Boleyn best. All actresses who play Anne somehow are always compared to Genevieve Bujold, who is brilliant, but still hard to say who was the best.
I read that her speech was so that her surviving relatives wouldn’t suffer any repercussions. Her calling Henry VIII out on the scaffold could’ve been a disaster, particularly for then Princess Elizabeth.
Every one executed by Henry said that so that he would leave their surviving family alone. Cromwell is another example and the fact that his son Gregory and adopted son Richard prospered after his death shows that it's a good idea
It’s hard to understand Anne’s praises of Henry VIII but the truth is if she had not Henry would have slaughtered or made paupers of her family after her death.
Yes, I think she was protecting her family and also wouldn't have wanted to commit any further 'sin' by saying anything confrontational right before she died, having already made her last confession and taken communion.
One that a lot of people seem to overlook is Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of Anne in 2003's Henry Vlll. It's a shame as I found she put on a stunning performance.
HBC has experience in the Tudor movies. She also played Lady Jane Grey in the 80’s. She’s amazing and that was the first movie I remember seeing her in.
@@Cantetinza17 Hopefully you'll be able to get a hold of it. It's a good watch with brilliant portrayals from Ray Winston, Charles Dance, Sean bean (My first ever crush) and Emily Blunt. I think it was a mini series divided into 2 or 3 parts. I hope you find it.
Ann Boleyn wrote a poem the night before her execution. The words to this poem are extremely melancholy & you can feel her pain with every word. "Oh Death, Rock Me to Sleep." Please, look up her poem, you will not regret it, I promise you.
Thank you for the suggestion. I read it, and it truly is as you say. Can you imagine what she must have felt, knowing there was nothing she could do? Like being tied to train tracks and knowing there's nothing you can do to stop the coming freight train.
I'm a History Major and a Tudor enthusiast. When you think you've read and researched everything about the Tudors, it's very exciting to read there might be something new. I will look into this.
“O death, rock me asleep, Bring me to quiet rest, Let pass my weary guiltless ghost Out of my careful breast. Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy. My pains who can express? Alas, they are so strong; My dolour will not suffer strength My life for to prolong. Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy. Alone in prison strong I wait my destiny. Woe worth this cruel hap that I Should taste this misery! Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy. Farewell, my pleasures past, Welcome, my present pain! I feel my torments so increase That life cannot remain. Cease now, thou passing bell; Rung is my doleful knell; For the sound my death doth tell Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy.”
I loved Wolf Hall. I haven’t seen The Tudors but Wolf Hall felt like it had fewer modern cultural references. I’m not a Tudor scholar by any account but it just felt very realistic overall. And after seeing Clair Foy in The Crown, I think she’s brilliant.
I'm a huge fan of Natalie Dormer she's such a great actress loved her Tudors and Got I think Natalie has that theatre background which makes her so wonderful
@@realreactionsrealrapping693 have you seen the Penny Dreadful spin off City of Angels plus Natalie Dormer was Captain America she flirted with Captain
Imagine her last thought was for her little girl, she was a Christian so believed in Heaven , Hope she was reunited there with her brother , baby (ies) she lost and eventually Elizabeth 1 ,bet she was really proud of her .
There’s a song by Karliene called Elizabeth’s Lullaby that’s from the perspective of Queen Anne before her fall began, the hopes and dreams she had for her daughter. It’s part of an entire group of songs about Anne Boleyn, like “I Will Be No Mistress.” I hate that Elizabeth had to grow up the way she did, and no wonder she didn’t want to marry! But I’m sure Anne would have been exceedingly proud. 😊
As a fan of The Tudors and Natalie Dormer, I am biased towards her performance. And as someone who majored in Creative Writing and minored in history, I think the way The Tudors chose a blend of two accounts of her speech was very in keeping with the overall flavor of the show, which blended fact and legend in so many ways.
I loved the portrayal of Anne by all three actresses. The script for "the other Boleyn girl" is rubbish. My favorite though is Genevieve Bujold in "anne of a thousand days." I like to imagine that the real Anne had that enormous amount of spirit!
Henry allowed Anne the alms she was to give the executioner, supposedly for him to aim true and minimize her pain and suffering, along with her words of forgiveness to him as it was customary for the executioner to ask forgiveness of the condemned for being the assigned executioner. But I don't remember reading anywhere that Anne gave alms to people on her way to the scaffold.
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, like yourself I've heard of people paying and forgiving the executioner but the detail about the alms for the poor still eludes me. There are so many inventions around the Tudors however, perhaps this is just another one of them.
I’ve read it several times from different books, articles and from the movies and tv shows. I read that it was the last thing people did on the way to their executions. Don’t ask me to quote the sources because I’ve read so much on the internet and other sources, I cannot remember them.
Anne Askew was last to be burnt at stake in 1546 as she asked for divorce from her husband ending up being tried for Hersey they tortured Anne 3times on rake dislocated every joint in her body ripped and snapped all the ligaments, muscles and tendons that on day of execution she was in such excruciating agonising pain couldn't walk or move they had to take her on stool then dragged her on to pit tied her so tightly at ankles, hips, waist and neck this is were contradiction takes place some say they kicked the stool from under her she strangled before burning to death, in the Tudors female person gave executioner pouched necklace of gunpowder to put round her neck other story is they deliberately to prolong her anguish and suffering by deliberately using wrong twigs so she burned extremely slowly. She apparently had connection or was friends with Henry's wife Catherine Parr or Catherine a Staunch Catholic had her condemned because Anne was Calvinist Preacher she didn't like it. He to start with seemed decent man very handsome athletic sporty type and very devout Staunch Catholic even on his death bed he remained Staunch Catholic went to Mass and Prayers several times day I believe first head injury totally buggered him subsequent head injuries turned this man into pure Devil in disguise like Jekyll and Hyde especially last very deeply worrying head injury he suffered falling of horse he was in coma for several days wen he regained consciousness he raimed bed bound for weeks he was no longer same person he suffered very violent mood swings, temper tantrums, gluttonous urges to over eat, excruciatingly painful Migraines, memory problems etc to me this is Traumatic Brain Injury most likely had severe Brain Hemorrhage and Brain contusions with swelling hence deep coma he was in and some Historians believe he was left Epileptic and had worse Brain damage than others thought were mild to severe. Anyone interested look up inside the body Henry 8th on channel 4 UK TV absolutely fascinating to watch so detailed the Tudor era was nasty era to live in right up to 1950s life was tough thanks to UA-cam we get to semi relive the past and enjoy these old programs even old music and other stuff thanks for the video enjoyed it
I think it's done a day before the exicutioner beheads someone. Usually it is done so he can have a razor sharp edge on the sword. Anne Boleyn was beheaded in one stroke. Could you imagine traveling back in time with a Lynx S.A. 50 caliber rifle and shattering the sword using an armor piercing round. They would have heard thunder and thought it was a sign from God to spare her.
Yes, I think she did a good job of fleshing Anne out into a three dimensional character and showing her strengths and flaws. A gripe I often have about other portrayals of her is that she so often comes off as completely unlikable and you're left wondering why Henry ever fell in love with her. ND didn't have that problem.
@@HistoryCalling Agree. In just reading about her, I think Anne was really quirky and likeable. Some portray her as arrogant and rude, which, aren't we all at times?
I agree. She was a woman with flaws, like the rest of the human race, but she obviously had many attractive qualities as well which enabled her to hold Henry's attention for so long.
This came from an interview: Hirst, too, recalls the heightened emotions of shooting that scene (the execution scene): “That was an amazing day. Extraordinary day. After, I went in to congratulate her (Dormer). She was weeping and saying, `She’s with me Michael. She’s with me.’”
Yes, she was incredible. Katherine Howard's execution will be in the next video and she did well all things considered too, but she wasn't as composed as Anne, poor thing (poor both of them actually).
Executions could be a mess back then, the dude would constantly mess up, and at times it took more than 1 swing to decapitate. This guy was a renowned professional though, who came all the way from France and was paid very well.
@@molasorrosalom4846 tbh, just the idea that there had to be renowned people in a job like killing and mutilating, is depressing. I am so thankful to be living in a time were death penalty and sentences consisting on physical harm are illegal in most civilized countries
@@molasorrosalom4846 compared to a time were executing someone because of a suppossed adultery( that was not even true) was considered normal and proper of a developed country...we definitely live in much more civilized times.
Natalie Dormer hands down. Although I realize there are historical inaccuracies in The Tudors, I absolutely ADORED her in the role of Anne Boleyn. I loved the entire series The Tudors from the stunningly beautiful costumes, stage settings, scenery and...I thought ALL the actors in The Tudors did a bang-up job. Historically accurate or not, they DID get alot of things right. I've watched The Tudors more than once just to experience the beautiful costumes & palace decors. Oh &.....my friends & I appreciated the eye candy of Jonathan Rhys Meyers & Henry Cavill as well LOL! 🍬 👀 Talk about a bang-up cast including Peter O'Toole & Maria Doyle Kennedy. I thought each character was cast with the perfect actor. It seems people either loved or hated The Tudors series however, I loved it! 👏 Joely Richardson is also one of my favorite actors. I swear that woman can portray ANYTHING. She's VERY talented! If you haven't seen Joely Richardson in the true Lifetime movie "Lies My Mother Told Me," check it out! She is SO GOOD in that movie, stars in it alongside a much-then-younger Hayden Panettiere, & it's a true story! 👏 I found the movie free here on UA-cam. It has dancing stars around it or whatever because of copyright laws, but that didn't bother me a bit. If you want to see it in best quality, I think it's available to rent on UA-cam. Otherwise, I'm sure it's available on lots of other viewing sources. Anyway, as for Anne Bolyn, I'm team Natalie 100%. She's also drop dead beautiful.
Wait... what?! Henry Cavill is in The Tudors?! How did I not know this. I own the boxed set, just have not yet sat down to binge watch it, after all these years. I guess I need to finally make time for it!
The problem with "The Other Boleyn Girl" is it's an adaptation of a Phillipa Gregory book, which gives it a foundation in sand. Reading Phillipa Gregory is like being sucked dry by a pond of leeches, you gain nothing of historical importance and slowly lose reason.
I love your metaphor here. It made me smile. I might have to use it some time (not necessarily in relation to Phillipa Gregory's work, but just in life). Yes, PG's work is not history, it's historical fiction. Sadly, many people can't tell the difference and aren't prepared to do even minimal research themselves to discover how fictionalised her accounts are. I suppose we have to concede that that in itself isn't her fault, but I do take issue with her insistence at times that her work is historically accurate and based on solid research. Assuming her Wikipedia entry is correct, her PhD is in English Lit, not history and that shows in her work in my opinion. Though both subjects are in the humanities, they imbue and require different skill sets.
But her easy to read romantic souffle of history might open the door to an interest in the real thing in some readers. Real hardcore history can be offputting, so if the historical fiction writers make people dig a bit deeper, then that is a good thing, I think.
It’s,,,not that deep. It’s historical FICTION. It’s not her fault people can’t tell the difference between actual history and entertainment. It’s also not her fault if they don’t want to do their own research and look up the real history behind events. Some things are for entertainment and a basic foundation so that people can delve into subjects deeper if they wish to.
I think The Tudors was pretty much awful in every way, but there’s no denying that Natalie Dormer’s performance in the execution scene was superb. It’s just a pity the whole of the rest of the scene was such sentimentalised rubbish. After that, I rate Claire Foy, but would agree that it was a mistake for the camera to cut away from her while she spoke, and for her to speak so quietly. But I think this is the best execution scene as a whole. I actually love The Other Boleyn Girl, even though it’s tosh from an historical point of view. But, given the type of film it was, I think it needed an emotional Anne on the scaffold. So Natalie Portman’s performance at Anne’s execution may not have fitted historical fact, but I think it fitted the character as she had been portrayed in the film.
I might have to do a review video of The Tudors you know, as even though it finished such a long time ago, I think it's still a lot of people's first point of reference for Tudor history and (just personally) I think it's neither as good as some people believe, or as bad as others accuse it of being. I'll add it to my list :-)
@@molasorrosalom4846 It was glamorized, made steamy, and modernized. For instance, men of the time always wore caps but this production showed them bareheaded in keeping with modern tastes. The actor who portrayed Henry the VIII never aged much nor grew fat nor was he shown with a stinking, ulcerous leg. He looked nothing like the real Henry. There was an abundance of anachronisms., for example at one point Anne was shown in a carriage. Carriages of that sort, with springs, didn't exist back then. She would have been riding a horse or been carried on a litter or she would have been in a wagon-type vehicle. The series was basically "sexy-fied" and geared toward millennial tastes.
@@francine8806 the ulcerous leg is actually referred to a lot during season 3 and 4. The actress who plays Anne if Cleaves mentions that it stinks, we see his physicians trying to treat it Henry in bed crying out in pain because of it, katherine parr treats it and talks to him about theology to take his mind off it. We also see him hobbling around with a cane a lot. He is also shown as bigger when with his last two wives and kicks off when shortly before he dies he has his portrait done andche isn't happy that it shows him as older and fat
Well said. I haven’t seen wolf hall so I can’t comment on clair’s performance. I agree that for the other Boleyn girl that the performance fits the movie. It did well in theaters if I remember correctly. I think the combination of music surrounding the death scene and my love for Dormer’s acting during the scene is why it’s my favorite. But I’m definitely going to watch wolf hall because the Tudor era fascinates me. I don’t know if you watch the Spanish princess but it is really making me angry what they did to history. I know it’s for entertainment but did they really have to twist everything so much it’s just absurd?
While I love Natalie Dormer's performance, especially of Anne Boleyn in her final days, I think the best portrayal of her is by Genevieve Bujold in Anne of a Thousand Days. Her whole performance was beautiful and in my opinion the perfect Anne. The other that I think deserves mention is Helena Bonham Carter in Henry VIII. I'd love to see a Part 2 video comparing these against the two clear winners (and the one clear loser despite Natalie Portman's obvious talent).
As someone with a history degree and a minor in writing (focused on screenwriting), I absolutely love the idea behind these videos. Comparisons of hollywood's versions of historic events to what actually happened (or as close to the truth as one can get) is exactly what it's like to sit and watch tv/movies with me 😂 You can see the struggle filmmakers or screenwriters have with balancing fact from entertainment. I also am a fan of how you use multiple, sometimes contrasting, primary sources to give us the most fleshed out description available. I can't wait to see if you make more!!
You really must have hated The other Boleyn girl. I did, if was horrendous I threw my remote at the tv. Disgraceful portrayal of a badly written fictional account.
I agree, Natalie is my favorite Anne. I do think with "Wolf Hall" you very much have the question of perspective to take into account. Since the series is adapted from the book, which portrays the events specifically through Thomas Cromwell's eyes, it was likely a choice to show that moment as his interpretation of her actions, rather than what actually happened. This presents an acting challenge for Foy, who was not given many opportunities in the script to show the depth of Anne and had mostly to take the brash, defensive parts of her as seen by Cromwell. He likely sees a coldness in her, or convinces himself of that, as the whole thing is business to him. Which, of course, backfires in the long run. (Ooooh can you do a Cromwell video??)
Hi, thank you for your comment. I love your interpretation of WH. I don't come from a film studies background myself, so while I had considered that they cut away from Anne during the execution to show Cromwell's POV because the show is about him (even though I didn't like that they did it mid-speech), I hadn't really thought about the fact that she's portrayed as quite cold because we're getting Cromwell's impression of her. Yes, I can add Cromwell to the list for future videos. It may be a little while though as I'm doing a few more on the 6 wives at the moment as they're very popular and grow the channel the fastest.
Definitely. Every historical account is very clear that she did a full song and dance routine on the scaffold. Honestly, amazing. Where did she find the energy?
if only queen ann could have a glimpse of todays history and realize how much she is still loved. history and actions prove what a true tyrant henry was.
He was a hideous monster, to be honest and fair. Like one of the worst men to ever rule anywhere, in my humble opinion. And this garbage about “Anne was hated” isn’t happening. She wasn’t liked by all, but loved by many more than you’re aware of.
Favorite Anne: Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of a Thousand Days." It portrays the poignant and ill-fated love affair between Anne and Henry Percy. On Henry VIII's instructions, Wolsey broke it up, and Anne "punished" both of them for separating her from the man she really loved. As for Anne's being the most "infamous" execution: I'd say Elizabeth I beheading Queen Mary of Scotland is more historically relevant, or even the Roundheads executing Charles I. Anne wasn't even royal by birth.
Id love a take where the "fu all" speech as an inner monologue before she makes peace and has a moment of dignity. No doubt she felt that way- but her daughter was in the balance and instead she gave the finger to henry by being graceful in a scenario where many "great men" could not.
@@joycegibbs5267 Yes..absolutely. She has the talent..the shape..the pasion..the strengh and the sweetness. Everything a talented actress should have! She even gaves Anne the proudness of a real Queen.
Fascinating production, thank you! Natalie Dormer by far is my favorite actress portraying Anne! When she cried from the tower window, I cried for a week. Jodhi May portrays my second favorite Anne from BBC's "The other Boleyn Girl" (Philippa Lowthorpe, 2003) Helene Bonham Carter is my third favorite, in "Henry VIII"
Really, Henry was a monster. I cannot believe Anne praised him on the scaffold and I can only think, there must have been people who felt like laughing, even though they would not have dared do so. I do understand why she did so, however. It was the custom then, as well as her being concerned with the fate of her remaining family. It was not unknown that Henry would kill people who were merely associated with those who incurred his wrath, whether by familial relationship or acquaintance. I know that there is absolutely no correlation, one being a 16th century monarch and the other a modern dictator, but the person who it brings to mind is Stalin. Stalin was EXTREMELY dangerous to know, in fact you would have to be unbelievably cautious in order to save your own life. Henry threatened his own daughter and two of his other wives. He turned on his best friend whom he had known since childhood. He also put it into law that it was treason to call him a tyrant, even though he was one. This only got worse as he aged. I fully agree with Antonia Fraser's verdict at the end of her book, "Never had hell welcomed such a sinner." (I'm paraphrasing).
Back in the 70’s, PBS or Masterpiece Theater had The Six Wives of Henry VIII featuring Keith Michell. Anne was played by Dorothy Tutin. That entire series followed by Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth R remains to this day as stellar in my book.
I remember "Six Wives" as well, a superb series! Anne's execution was well-played as well, the simple bare stage, stark shadowy lighting, and no dialog at all. Pure tragedy. Dorothy Tutin WAS Anne Boleyn!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I think that’s why I enjoyed the series so much. Because the sets were realistic enough to look like the 16th century and the series relied on the acting ability/professionalism of the actors rather than special effects. Back in the ‘80’s, the National Theatre Company of Great Britain came to Chicago, for a three-part series: The Duchess of Malfi, The Cherry Orchard, and The Real Inspector Hound. I had tickets for the first two. Enthralled would be an understatement. The first time that I saw true ensemble acting despite Ian McKellan being the star draw. In the 70’s (yes, I’m that old) Masterpiece Theatre’s first production was “The First Churchills”. Brits have an uncanny ability to ensure their actors look like the historical figures they’re portraying.
@@thepupmommy Hey, I remember the 1970s myself! I'm 71. And I certainly remember the glory days of "Masterpiece Theater!" Unfortunately it's lost it's luster and they've had little recently we've cared to watch, "All creatures Great And Small" being the exception.
I can't believe you left out Genevieve Bujold's portrayal in Anne Of The Thousand Days where she was nominated for an Academy Award. By far it is my favorite portrayal of Anne Boleyn but I have no idea of how accurate the execution scene was.
I would love to have included her, but unfortunately the execution scene was scooted over quite quickly and didn't really provide me with enough material to work with for a comparison video like this. I agree though that's it's an excellent movie, with an excellent leading lady who more than earned her Oscar nomination.
I've never cared much for Anne Boleyn, but after some reading and research, turns out, I feel she was illegally executed. In short, she was beheaded, because Henry VIII's unwillingness to realize his own faults to sire an heir (boy) himself. That and his persistent adultery, which ironically, is what allowed him to charge forward in his charges against Anne Boleyn that ultimately left her dead. Ideologies then assumed women were largely at fault, and naturally, Boleyn was blamed unjustly, and for what? Because she was a woman, and that is the truth.
Henry had those charges against Anne made up because he wanted an excuse to get rid of her and couldn't divorce her on the same grounds as he divorced Catherine of Aragon. He would have killed CoA as well if she herself wasn't from another powerful royal family.
@@tsunamis82 They were just scapegoats and victims, same as Anne. Henry didn't execute Anne for adultery and treason. He murdered her for not giving him a son and because he was bored of her and wanted a new piece of ass. In the end, karma got King Henry. All of his male children died young and even his daughters never gave him any grandchildren to continue his line, which died with Elizabeth. Asides from not trusting men, remaining unmarried and childless was probably Elizabeth's way of giving King Henry the finger for what he did to her mother. That and neglecting to maintain his grave after he died.
I only watched the tudors, and as much as I love Anne, I tried to understand Henry’s position. Henry suffered so much to get his marriage with Katherine of A annulled and to marry Anne. He had to break with pope in rome, promoting english revolution, dividing country’s faith between catholic and protestant, and getting one of his dearest mentor and friend executed for this reason, Sir Thomas More. Meanwhile, Anne most of time being paranoid of her position when Henry having more mistresses, and keep pushing Henry to settle Elizabeth marriage with French. Anne also keep being paranoid even after Katherine and Mary exiled and was mad when Henry pointed Mary as lady in waiting for Elizabeth. If only Anne were being compassionate to Henry’s closest people; the duke of Suffolk, Mary her step daughter, Katherine of Aragon, Cromwell and More (for example), probably she would like to have her head saved. It’s true that Henry ordered her death so he could be with Jane (and probably tired of Anne’s constant complaints), but it was Henry’s closest friends who murmured gossip to him and set her up because they started to hate Anne. It was not all Henry.
@@lizziecota8563 I rediscovered it a few years ago, and was fortunate enough to buy a limited edition Blu ray from Twilight Time. They did a beautiful restoration. Sadly, the company has gone out of business.
I was thinking the exact same thing the whole way through this and wish Anne of the 1000 days had been included. A very interesting video though all the same.
Natalie Dormer was my favourite. I liked her portrayal of Anne throughout the series. It’s interest to hear the primary sources for historical accuracy and interesting that films like The Other Boleyn girl chose to embellish facts like Mary being present at the execution.
I know, I'm late to the game... but, I have to say, My favorite Anne has been Emma Connell, in the Channel 5 doc presented by Dr Suzannah Lipscomb. Its overly dramatized at times, but I like the combination of dramatics and historical information provided more than the dramatic writing. I have always been fascinated with The Cousins War and the Tudors; and, after finding your channel, it has become my background playlist, replacing Frasier ...haha. Your voice fills my house while I go about daily chores. Thank you.
The ladies in waiting that she had with her where all assigned to her by her uncle and each was to report back exactly what was said done and her mood.
I found Natalie Dormer's portrayal the best. No matter the depiction a very horrifying event, well done by all who portrayed her. Of all the wives I believe the luckiest to have been Anne of Cleves amazing grace she received in life to have been relieved from her station to safety and reputation for the most part intact.
But she was forbidden to ever have contact with her family even after Henry's death, and since she was considered by the court to be of "no account" she basically lived in, albeit rich, exile.
Natalie Dormer is a phenomenal actress and I loved her portrayal of Anne Boleyn. You can tell she really cared about her role and really brought her to life beautifully.
Unfortunately that movie went through the execution scene very fast and so there wasn't as much for me to discuss and compare as there was for these three. I love her performance though. A well earned Oscar nomination.
oh WOW!!! how have i not found your channel before this? i absolutely loved this!!! i’ve been fascinated by anne boleyn for years (but i just got back into her history recently) and i genuinely feel very connected to her (even writing a historical fiction novel about her haha). this was such an interesting video!! thank you for making this!!
Tudors is my favorite show EVER! ❤️ I’ve watched it all the way through more times than I can count, and it really has all the credit for my love and curiosity of history. I’ve never seen Wolf Hall, but now I MUST 🙌🏻😍 Thanks for the video… this was great! 👍🏼
I loved Claire Foy throughout Wolf Hall. I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl, but it played like a romance novel to me. I confess to having avoiding watching the Tudors because of the ridiculous casting of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII, but you have made me intrigued enough to give it a look!
I might do an overview of The Tudors at some point. My general comment on it is that it's neither as accurate or as inaccurate as many people believe, so I think you would enjoy it (though I agree that JRM really ought to have dyed his hair red).
It was quite jarring to see a dark haired Henry in The Tudors but it's an intense story. I was really interested in the Wolf Hall series because of other attention paid to a lot of historical details. It's interesting that they deviated from reality in the execution scene.
I'm brazilian and I found it kind of hilarious how I could recognise the flourishes of old portuguese accounts even translated into english lol. Honestly, I think Natalie Dormer is the one who made Anne feel the most "real" to me.
@@sottosopravoce I can try my best, not being an historian myself. Whenever we read old Portuguese accounts in school, such as Pero Vaz de Caminha's letter to the then king Dom Manuel I describing the land they had found (the land being Brazil), they are always more poetic and elaborate than the accounts I've read from other countries that enagaged in the exploration and conquest of the Americas around the same time, given that these letters were meant to be more like a report on the expedition. The spanish accounts come close in terms of employing a fair degree of poetic liberty, but there are particular linguistic flourishes in the portuguese texts that I recognise more easily, given that it's my native language. Being a bit more knowledgeable in language and literature than I am when it comes to history, you can really see the influence of earlier portuguese literature in the accounts, and it's a trend that continues for a while. There's an abundance of dramatic speeches, like when the portuguese witness here describes Anne's final moments, and a tendency to go into almost excessively detailed descriptions. When you read something like "Os Lusíadas", by Luís de Camões, which is not far from this time-wise, you can see those same tendencies in his writing. The difference being, of course, that "Os Lusíadas" is an epic poem based on the Eneid, not an account on the execution of an english queen or a report from the "new world". I honestly don't know if portuguese writers at this time couldn't help but make things sound more epic and dramatic or if they did it on purpose so it would make a more interesting story in their eyes, but there's definitely a fair bit of poetic liberty taken even in official documents from this time. Basically, this has been a very long way of saying that the portuguese, at least at this point in time, had quite a flair for the dramatic, lol.
For me the best actress to portray Anne Boleyns execution was Natalie Dormer in the Tudors. The reason I say this is because I've researched extensively about this for many years of not only Anne Boleyn but the other 5 wives of Henry the VIII. In my opinion this was,the best portrayal of Anne Boleyn's final moments because it was consistent with Anne Boleyn's personality throughout all the Shows of the Tudors. I would like to thank the maker of this video for the explanations she has provided us with because of her clarity in explaining everything throughout this video. Well done and keep up the excellent work not only for this video but also for all the videos that she has made. I'm very much looking forward to seeing all the videos that you have made.
Yes, she was excellent too and absolutely earned the Oscar nomination. Had they just spent a little more time on the execution scene (it was quite rushed in that production) I would have loved to have included it here.
Same here. I know The Tudors had its flaws too (the main one for me being that most of the cast were too young and good looking to be portraying their historical counterparts!), but on the whole, it was more accurate than many people give it credit for.
If you read the book you would be particularly outraged as well. And it’s definitely fictionalize drama but that movie massacred her book which was actually pretty good.
@@simonbrushes If the writing is good, I might enjoy it, the same way as I enjoy AU fanfictions - while I generally prefer sticking to the source material, a good plot twist and good storytelling can sway me. -That said: I have seen the earlier, low-budget BBC adaptation, and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to a new version. Oh, the silly me...
My favorite depiction of Anne Boleyn was by Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days". I think that she didn't win the Oscar for her role was a miscarriage of justice. Although not historically accurate (really none are) I also liked the film better than the others. Presenting historical events in a modern film drama is always going to involve compromises with facts. In point of fact, facts from five or six hundred years ago are not really all that well known. Slavish portrayal of history even if it is known isn't likely to produce a memorable drama.
Anne Boleyn is one of my favorite historical women. She was railroaded and used as a scapegoat. I love reading the letters her and Henry wrote to one another. Her story is one that unfortunately repeats itself over and over again. A bright, vivacious, witty, intelligent and lovely young woman is used as a pawn by the males of her family to gain them titles, lands and wealth. And when she fails to do one thing that is no fault of hers she isn’t just put aside, she is MURDERED! Absolutely infuriating. After reading several accounts of her execution (each varied and bias) I feel that The Tudor’s got something’s pretty accurate. Anne’s composure and dignity is most certainly at the forefront of those scenes. While no one can actually know how events proceeded down to the smallest detail, from what I’ve studied of Anne, I believe she was most likely exhausted but definitely held it together to have her say.
Yes, she did an incredible job at maintaining her composure. She probably had more strength (mentally) than Henry would have had under similar circumstances. I might do a video at some point about the men in her family, particularly her father, as I suspect they weren't manipulating her as much as is commonly supposed. I believe Thomas Boleyn actually tried to dissuade Henry for marrying her for instance. It would be an interesting topic to delve into I think.
I'm glad that you mentioned 'Anne of the Thousand Days' towards the end. Genevieve Bujold's depiction of Anne as a feisty, challenging wife and Queen has stuck in my memory ever since I saw the film as a young man, together with her bravery on the scaffold. I have no idea if the peripheral details of the execution were correct, but GB's performance was absolutely gripping imho. The fact that she spoke with a slight French accent also somehow added reality since Anne herself had spent so much time in France when younger.
I've only seen The Tudors version and it left an impression on me like nothing I'd witnessed before. Her calmness and bravery were something that I couldn't comprehend.
Serial murderer is an interesting choice of words. It is true that he had two of his six wives executed. Anne Boleyn's was almost certainly unjust, as Henry was becoming nervous without a legitimate male heir, and felt he needed to rid himself of Anne in order to try again with someone else. This was truly a terrible and unjust thing. Katherine Howard, on the other hand, was either framed very well, or was quite guilty of her crime. The evidence that was there, whether real, or falsified, was too great to ignore. Henry may have enjoyed her youth and beauty, but could not risk his line of succession being compromised by an illegitimate heir. The circumstances left little choice but to have her tried for treason. Most historians agree that she made some very serious mistakes, but she was also quite young and in over her head. While politics of the tome often resulted in accusations of treason, and execution if convicted, the circumstances surrounding his wives alone, cannot justify calling him a serial murderer. He was certainly not a great guy, but even the deaths that occurred in relation to the trials of his wives were not a direct result of his doing, but rather those around him. All of that relates to the intrigue and politics of court. Anyone could be at risk of being associated with the latest scandal, and anyone's enemy with the slightest bit of influence had some level of power to associate them with it. That is not necessarily the fault of the king. I will also mention that Henry VIII was the second king of the Tudor dynasty. While his father's claim to the throne may have been questionable, and obtained by war and marriage, few today would call Henry VIII's rein illegitimate, and there is no reason to put his title in quotes. Also, prior to his physical health issues, which lead to severe mental health issues, he was, by and large, considered a good king, the death of Anne Boleyn notwithstaning.
There were many reasons why he was a serial murderer ... take a look, for instance, at "Inside the Body of Henry VIII" here on UA-cam, or better still read David Starkey's multiple books on Henry in all his life chapters. He was an extremely complex narcissist for certain.
I have seen all three that you spoke of, and as far as I am concerned Natalie Dommer's portrayal is the best. As for the role of Henry, they should have had the actor who portrayed Buckingham play Henry not the SHORT skinny one they picked. Though his acting was good, he just wasn't Henry the VIII.
Yes, I thought the actor playing Buckingham looked a better fit in terms of age and looks. Nothing against JRM either though and I did come to appreciate his performance, even if I was always a little grumpy that he didn't dye his hair red. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The is a really boring reason why JRM was picked as Henry. Basically the people who made The Tudors wanted someone who didn't look like the Holbein painting of Henry. The famous one when he is married to Jane and by then had started gaining weight and was balding. They wanted someone young and skinny as Henry was before his jousting accident to focus people more on his personality than the stereotypical look of Henry VIII. Originally The Tudors was only meant to run for 2 series max but because of its popularity it was commissioned for more. I think Damien Lewis in Wolf Hall probably was a better Henry, calm but a slight edge of menace to him.
@@msemerlissane Then you never watched the series 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' with Keith Michell starring as Henry. He was young when they filmed the series but they aged him as they went through the many wives. He did an excellent job, and he was quite believable as the King. Just as Glenda Jackson was when she played Elizabeth I. These two actors were the best that it is hard for me to watch others playing these roles. Watch both series, they were done in the 70's but were excellent to say the least.
The best portrayal of Queen Anne's death was in the Six Wives of Henry VIII from the 1970s. She was played by Dame Dorothy Tutin, and throughout that series, she was captivating--as one would imagine that the actual Queen Anne would have been. I hope that IF you haven't seen this you will take the time to see the entire show. It is a classic. The follow up series Elizabeth R was also excellent.
I've never seen it, but a few people here have recommended it, so I'll see if I can find it somewhere. I have seen Elizabeth R and I agree it's superb.
On the edge of my seat before you even start young lady. Can’t wait as this is going to be so much interesting. Hollywood v History a great title. Must get my evening cereal to settle down into this assume will be most interesting history lesson. I’ve watched all 3 of the mentioned, and always though Wolf Hall to be nearer the true.
My favorite is Claire Foy. She did such a magnificent job portraying Anne Boleyn's arrogance and high-mightiness throughout the series, I felt no pity for her at all when she was beheaded.
There's nothing in the contemporary historical record, outside of Eustace Chapyus who HATED Anne and had ulterior motives, that indicates she was arrogant or high and mighty. And yet even he wrote a kind account of her execution. A lot of what has been written about her is either fictionalized or was published decades/centuries after her death by Catholic sympathizers who were bent on smearing the Boleyn name and reputation.
@@CarlosSDCA She didn't deserve her unjust end but shocking downfalls were how that world operated. You got rid of your enemies before they got you, Anne herself tried this very route with Mary, Henry's daughter. The court wasn't a place for fairplay or "Nice" people, Anne included.
I loved Natalie Dormer in The Tudors but Anne of a Thousand Days is a classic. I read Antonia Fraser's book about Henry VIII and he was brutal about the necessity of a son. That is exactly why Anne Boleyn lost her head. However as it turned out she gave birth to one of the greatest queens in history.
I know. I'm just sad she didn't get to see Elizabeth grow up. Antonia Fraser's stuff is always good I find. I use her Six Wives book to help me with the videos on Henry's queens.
@@HistoryCalling Me too. Elizabeth 1st was such a great queen. She would have made both her parents proud. Too bad Henry was so obsessed with a son that he couldn't see what a gem he had in a daughter. It was just a different time.
Henry paid the executioner who came from France, the equivalent of 50k to carry out the task. Anne was beheaded with one stroke of the sword. Henry didn't even arrange for a coffin for her burial, so her remains were placed in an oak chest by her maids. The irony is that Henry laid in an unmarked grave for 200 years, after his painful death. His vicious soul would've hated that.
@@molasorrosalom4846 He had designed a magnificent tomb for himself but after his death, there was no money for its' construction. He remained in a modest plot. In 1649, the vault was opened and the body of the executed Charles I was placed next to Henry’s coffin. In the same century, the body of a stillborn child of the future Queen Anne was also interred in the vault. The coffins remained undisturbed until the tomb was rediscovered in 1813 during excavations for a passageway to a new royal vault. He was reburied next to Jane Seymour, Charles 1st and an infant prince in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Serves the thug right.
I loved Natalie Dormer as Anne, but I didn't like the actor for Henry. Great actor but in no shape or form did he resemble Henry. Too short, too thin, and no red hair. Really! Henry was a imposing figure. The Tudors was enjoyable but so many historical mistakes.
I know. I really wish he'd dyed his hair red, at the very least. I know there's a trend at the moment to throw historical accuracy out the window when it comes to casting, but (perhaps because I'm an historian) I firmly believe that authenticity matters. I just find it so distracting when I see actors portraying historical figures when I know they look nothing like them. The exception might be when it's pretty much farce, like The Great about Catherine the Great. They were up front right at the start of every episode that it only 'an occasionally true story' and so I didn't mind the random casting.
@@HistoryCalling talk about the casting these days with historical accuracy being thrown out of the window - I’m with you on that one, I hate it! It really puts me off if they are completely different to what historical records tell us :(
is amazing the amount of details english history have noted in every event, i believe we also had many details of every happening in Portugal, but the big earthquake destroyed much of it, today what is left are 62miles of documents about any event in portuguese history guarded at the Tombo Tower, this gives us a idea of how much we had before that earthquake.
I feel for you. There was a huge fire in the Public Record Office in Dublin in 1922 and many of Ireland's historical records were lost too. Historians of Ireland still wince when we talk about it.
Bravo! This was actually the first video of yours I watched; I'd been viewing Nick Hodges' "History Buffs" and always enjoy watching historians pick apart cinematic gaffes. Sadly, I neglected to give this a thumbs up on my first viewing, but I've rectified that now. I recently watched "Anne of the Thousand Days" and was impressed with Bujold's performance; the execution scene included her being distracted by the executioner but left out the blindfold, as you know. It was this introduction to your series that made me a fan and subscriber. Thank you as always.
I just finished watching "The Tudors" for the millionth time & yes, I believe Natalie Dormer's Anne is amazing. Could we possibly get a History vs. Hollywood comparison of the Execution of Sir Thomas More? (Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons" vs. Anton Lesser in "Wolf Hall" vs. Jeremy Northam in "The Tudors")
Thank you for such a wonderfully intricate review of these three portrayals. I have great difficulty choosing between the performances of Natalie Dormer and Claire Foy, as I think each actress brings to the scene a different and potentially equally valid interpretation of Anne in the moment. Both are exceptional, and their complete immersion into Anne brings the scene to horrible life. When I watched The Tudors, I stopped with the episode before Anne's execution. I simply couldn't watch it, and It was several years before I could return to it. The emotional impact of both the Dormer and Foy scenes is deep.
You're welcome. I found watching ND do the execution scene awfully sad too. I still tear up if I watch it the whole way through (so you can imagine what doing the research for this video was like!)
@@HistoryCalling You were definitely committed to rewatch! I have watched both scenes (ND and CF) only once because I find them so emotionally draining (the lead up to the arrest and the aftermath). I've seen The Other Boleyn Girl, but, uh, that one didn't even leave an impression! ;-) I wonder -- how did Wolf Hall and its sequels (books, then series) change your mind about Cromwell, if it did? I had always loathed him for the role he played in Anne's demise, but Mantel really humanized him for me. Maybe it was just Mark Rylance, though, because I find myself unable to read the last book. Whenever I picture Cromwell now, it's Rylance with those sad eyes....
Natalie Dormer was fantastic as Anne, you could tell she really connected and cared for her. I don't agree with a lot of the ways Anne was written in the tudors, but Natalie knocked the portrayal out of the park.
I like that The Tudors showed Elizabeth. That was probably what was on Anne’s mind. Making sure nothing she said or did hurt Elizabeth’s future or fate.
Very interesting video. I'm glad someone else has noticed this tendency for dramas to dress the Tudor females in headdresses that are little more than Alice bands with a bit of chiffon attached. Of the three dramas featured, Wolf Hall was regarded as being the most heavyweight so I was a bit disappointed that they didn't go for more full on authenticity in scenes like the execution.
I have now watched "The Other Boleyn Girl", seen several clips from "The Tudors" and "Anne of a Thousand Days". And I have changed my thinking. Natalie Dormer is closer to the way that I have always thought of Henry's second wife. So, I find Ms. Dormer's portrayal very good, loved Genevieve Bujold's portrayal as the most vivacious and Ms. Portman portrayed a very overly emotional person.
Anne Boleyn is my first cousin, 13 times removed I have been on a deep dive trying to learn as much as I can about her. Thank you so much for your video!
Oh wow, that's amazing. I've seen some other people on here saying they are descended from Mary Boleyn, so assuming you're all correct, some of your distant cousins are floating around the comments section :-)
Which actress do you think portrayed Anne's execution the best and who is your favourite Anne overall? See my PATREON site for extra perks at www.patreon.com/historycalling You can also check out my Amazon storefront at www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling
natalie dormer 💜
Ditto :-)
@@HistoryCalling Dorthy Tutin from "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", 1970 for BBC was the best Anne that I've seen, except for Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days".
I don't think I've seen that portrayal (Tutin) actually. I'll look for it on UA-cam.
@@HistoryCalling Oh, if you haven't seen the Six Wives series from 1970, you are in for a treat: Keith Michell is a magnificent Henry; and the casting of all the wives, in general, is very good. Production values are not the best: the series is very much like six video-taped plays; but the research, script, direction and commitment are all superb. It is one of the few works that shows Catherine of Aragon from start to finish, and it doesn't "take sides", as the series has the aim of featuring all six women in their own episodes. The unofficial follow up to the series, "Elizabeth R", with Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth, is even better. Treat yourself: track them down and watch them.
My favorite thing is Natalie Dormer stated in an interview she studied for this role and even had a history degree before she became an actor. She's a natural blonde but dyed her hair for the role even when producers told her not too because they wanted Anne blonde. She begged them to let her do Anne justice with brown hair since she already had blue eyes. She also said that during the execution scene, she cried. She was found backstage by a coworker crying and she said "It's over, but Anne will always be with me. She's with me." This is why I love Natalie Dormer and her portrayal.
I didn't know that last part, to say Natalie Dormer is stunning is ti put it quite mildly.
I wonder why they didn't do brown contacts. Anne was well known for having very dark eyes
She has a history degree???? source please? All I'm seeing so far is that she tried to get in for history and failed an exam which led her to drama schools. Still amazing tho! I think I have a soft spot for her. Watching the Tudors killed me in general with all the women. Then of course after I inhaled that (very late to the party), Six the Musical came out.
@@rolandconley6279 true to this. I, also, did not find anything regarding her degree. It does say she attempted history. Though knowledge does not have to be written on a piece of paper, clearly she knew what she was doing since her performance was very well played. A little freshness to Anne’s character since it’s been highly put like a villain thanks to rumors and “The other Boleyn girl”
Natalie Dormer will always be my Anne Boleyn. ❤️🌹
Natalie Dormer. She is so believeable in the entire series, and portrays Anne Boleyn as a complex woman, who tries to stay on top in that very dangerous power play. Somehow her looks also fits everything from "scheming" to "dignified".
Yes, I love her performance too and on the subject of looks, I'm so glad she coloured her hair brown to play Anne. I still wish Jonathan Rhys-Meyers had gone red though, especially as in later seasons the girl playing Elizabeth was a redhead.
i saw an interview once she mentioned that she actually felt a little panic how she felt like she was anne in that situation cause she was actually scared. I need to find it.
@@GettinSpooky This is a joke and disrespectful to Anne Boleyn and those in a similar circumstance. ACT IT. Please don't pretend to live it. 🙄
Yes, Dormer is a great actress but she didn't play Anne as Anne actually was. Anne wasn't a schemer or social climber trying to seduce a King away from his wife. Just the opposite. She did all she could to deter Henry's pursuit of her as she was in love with Henry Percy (Dude of Northumberland)... Anne was a devote Christian woman and though she may have gotten jealous later on of Henry's conquest it was also rumored that she had a Thyroid condition that made her unbalanced at times. She never schemed to do anything. Henry schemed enough for the both of them. He wanted what he wanted and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Anne was basically forced by her father, Cardinal Wolsey, her uncle Thomas Howard to give in to the King's wishes. Anne truly thought by denying him access to her sexual favors he'd grow tired of waiting and lose interest. He didn't.
Hands down, Genvieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days". . It was her interpretation that finally made me, a fan of Katharine of Aragon, have some sympathy for Anne. It also helped that Ms. Bujold, a French Canadian, had a French accent, as Anne who had spent years in France as a Lady in Waiting would have had. She also had the darker complexion and fine eyes that Anne was described as having. She resisted Henry's advances as long as she could, as she was in love with Henry Percy.
Her intelligence, spirit and wit were vividly portrayed. Ms. Bujold's interpretation is the closest to the personality of the real Anne Boleyn.
In my mind, by the way, Anne Boleyn and those who died with her were the victims of trumped up charges. Henry VIII already had his eyes set on her successor.
The Tudors really didn't deserve Natalie Dormer's performance, you can tell she really cared about doing right by Anne, and I'd love to see her play Anne again in a production that cared as much as she did.
They didn't deserve Natalie Dormers performance, or they didn't deserve how Anne Boleyn actually went to her death?
I agree with this so much!
I think despite its trashy elements "The Tudors" did a wonderful job portraying Anne's complex character. Natalie's performance added to it, yes - but the role (at least in season 2) was very well written.
Agreed, Dormer did the best job. Plus, you get to see her boobs. In real life, Henry would have seen them, so it’s important that we do too.
@@0308frank It wasn't just Natalie Dormer's acting that made The Tudors' characterization of Anne Boleyn as riveting as it is. Dormer was largely responsible for most of Anne's development in season two. She insisted on having scenes rewritten to reflect the actual historical record, on giving Anne more complexity and depth rather than another one dimensional wife who only exists to further Henry's story. She studied the contemporary sources, met with professors, historians, museum curators, and Tudor biographers to gain as much intimate knowledge of Anne as she could for the performance. Dormer also dyed her hair dark brown for the role, knowing that Anne Boleyn famously had dark hair and Dormer is a natural blonde (the show's producers did not ask that she do this). She also won several critics awards for her work in The Tudors.
When OP Maddie says that The Tudors didn't deserve Natalie Dormer's performance, she's 100% right. Dormer was a fierce and luminous figure in an often lackluster, sometimes silly production. 😊
All I know is that Natalie Dormer’s performance had me sobbing like a baby. It really humanized Anne for me, reminding us that she was used as a political pawn for her family’s ambitions, was betrayed when she was no longer of use, and then met her fate with grace. Chapyus remarking on her bravery lends the most credibility to the accounts.
Most of his wives were. If I was jayne seymour I'd be. Terrified to marry him whilst his 2nd wife is getting her head chopped off.
Which is what great actresses/actors do. Superb performance.
Historically Anne Boleyns father did not actually want the match. So how much her family used her as a pawn is debatable.
Natalie Dormer 😍😢
you are pathatic
Almost all the people executed by Henry VIII praised him on the scaffold (if they were permitted to speak).
The only plausible reason is that every one of them knew the danger to their friends and relatives if Henry was slighted and took out his anger against them. All those speeches were basically them trying to placate Henry so that he wouldn’t turn on their loved ones. It’s very sad. Every one of them if allowed freedom would have said some harsh truths about the vindictive, cruel, petty, shallow, obsessed and vain king.
It was standard scaffold etiquette at that time to praise the King (though I do think there must have been an element of not wanting to anger him too). Not everyone went quietly though. Look up information on the execution of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury for a very different type of story.
@@HistoryCalling Yes, I’ve read about her story. She must have been pretty passionate to have gone against the common practice and openly been so critical. It’s always so tantalising to only have the accounts of the time - all of which have to be read against the backdrop of societal norms, politics, family practices, people wishing to rewrite history, etc, etc. From this great distance of time we can only know so much and then no further, and never with certainty.
But then, that’s half the fun in a way. We can all turn amateur detective and fill in the narrative.
@@HistoryCalling I'd be giving him a right mouthful. There's nothing to lose, except your head, of course.
Shakespeare wisely avoided any mention of Henry VIII in his plays. Both of the English monarchs he lived under had mothers who died on the executioner's block. Queen Elizabeth was the daughter of Anne Boleyn and she executed Mary Queen of Scots who was the mother of King Charles and the Stuart Dynasty.
Agreed Brams! I certainly believe that if the condemned could have said what they really felt about Henry VIII, they would have.
Natalie Dormer is my favorite Anne. I particularly loved what they did with Henry being confronted by her spirit at the end of the series.
Yes, I often wonder if the real Henry ever had nightmares about her and what he did to her, after her death. He certainly deserved to be tormented by her (and by many others too).
God I loved that sequence where his first 3 wives appear to Henry
They say that some of the details that video likes the most are some of the things Dormer fought to have included. They wanted her to play Anne as a blubbering mess. She had to talk them into having Anne keep her dignity. They also wanted to play her as being partially guilty of the charges and Dormer and production staff had to hash it out.
That was my favorite part. Ironic that she was sympathetic about Katherine Howard and they were both cousins and the only 2 to be executed
Oh, that's really interesting. I hadn't read that. If true, good on ND. It's a great performance and I think Anne's calmness was the right decision.
"Most famous execution in history"
*Marie Antoinette wants to know your location*
Haha, you're not the first to question that assessment and of course such things are just a matter of opinion, so you can absolutely cast a vote for Marie Antoinette. I will say though that my video on her execution (specifically whether her hair turned white just beforehand) hasn't garnered anything like the attention this one has...
The Romanovs are highly displeased.
@@tiffanymoore3130
The Russia Czar Could Escape By Paying People 0ff. People Can Walk Into Finland And Into Freedom.
Under The Palace And The City Had Many Tunnel's To Escape Both The City And Russia !
@@michaelkush1385 they found their bodies and the csars maternal cousin provided DNA. They didn’t escape unfortunately they were shot down
Most famous in *English* history
If you hate the portrayal of Anne's demeanor in The Other Boleyn Girl, look at what they did to poor George. According to the movie he was dragged kicking and screaming through an angry mob to his death, while in real life he was nothing short of amazing and calm, and the onlookers were very sympathetic.
Hmm, you put me in the mood to do a video on George's execution and those of the other men...
@@HistoryCalling Glad to have inspired you, haha. Correct me if I'm misremembering, but wasn't one of the men convicted of sleeping with her not even present at court at the time of his alleged crime?
Yeah George was pitiful there
The Other Boleyn Girl was trash start to finish.
Well, we all know that every bit of The Other Boleyn Girl was utter bollocks. They couldn’t even get the birth order of the Boleyn’s right; Mary is portrayed as the youngest, when she was in fact the oldest. When you can’t even get that right, you can’t get anything right.
Natalie Dormer is by far my favorite. The scene where she watches the men get beheaded and the gut wrenching sobbing just tear through me. I cry every time I watch that scene. Natalie did an amazing job and will forever be Anne Boleyn to me.
I know exactly the scene you mean and she had me in tears too, even though I knew she would never have been left alone like that during her imprisonment.
Wasn't that heartbreaking. And her father, such a coward ran without a second thought.
I thought showing her dad in the tower listening to her sob and then his conversation with Charles Brandon when he was released was absolutely ridiculous and on par with the character he played in the Tudors. No idea what actually happened but that guy was the worst father.
As others have noted, Genevieve Bujold portrayal of Anne Boleyn was riveting. The movie was released in 1969 and it still haunts me. Definitely worth watching, also for Richard Burton's performance as King Henry.
She was amazing. She is my favourite. Unforgettable performance. Richard Burton was a wonderful Henry.
THAT Is my favorite Anne portrayal!
Anne of a Thousand Days!
Yes, she is my favourite.
The scene of the toddler Elizabeth practicing her regal walk at the end - whew! Made me shed a few tears. Great film (Anne of a Thousand Days - 1969).
You know another Anne Boleyn moment that I thought Natalie Dormer did really well was the famous “I have a little neck” line. Just the way she actually seems to find it funny. It’s not a moment of disconnected hysteria or weakness, but it is a moment of exhaustion and perhaps some relief. Like she’s thinking, “If I am going to die, I am going to laugh first.”
That is a very famous line that all Anne Boleyn characters use.
Wow...
That is my favorite delivery of that line in all of the movies that have portrayed her. I cackled.
I thought that the "little neck" line was delivered in real life by Thomas More, not Anne.
@@nicchiavella2466 Correct, but the delivery changes depending on the actress. Dormer's was fantastic.
Natalie Dormer was the best without a doubt. I cringed when I watched the other Boleyn girl as it is so full of historical inaccuracies. From Mary who wasn't actually at the execution at any point and time. Anne being a crying mess and then there was the cold demeanour of Anne ladies. Sources describe them as crying as Anne had finally won their sympathy at her plight yet that didn't happen on that movie. And don't even get me started on how they portrayed George execution.
Yes, I think that movie squandered the talents of its excellent cast. I've always been surprised that actors of the calibre of Portman/Johansson/Bana and even a young Benedict Cumberbatch signed up for it, but it was much earlier in their careers and maybe it looked better on the page. People who don't know the real history probably enjoy it more as well, as they aren't cringing like you and I! :-)
Personally Scarlett was the only thing I really liked about the movie along with the costumes. I felt like she played her character well and ever since then I've wanted to see her in more biography/historical dramas. (I know biography and history are pretty much the same thing. Its just that when I think of history, I think of centuries ago whereas biography, I think of more recent times or mid to late 1900s.)
I personally liked the movie. Not because of the auccuracy, but because of the acting. I am really interested in history and I knew, that the movie was not perfect, but it made me fall in love with Anne and I return to the movie sometimes and watch it again. Eventho I have also watched The Tudors and I think they portrait it better.
You said that as if the tudors was not also highly historically inaccurate
@@nessyness5447 I know the Tudors was not historically accurate. In my comment I never said it was the most truthful instead I said it was the best performance. I have studied enough history and seen enough documentaries to know what went down on the day both George and Anne were executed. I can pick holes in Natalie Dormer storyline better than anyone in my house hold but that won't change the fact that I still think her performance was 100 times better than Natalie Portman. And that would be totally down to the script and how she was told to portray Anne. Anne was a strong woman and to play her as a blubbering mess was just an insult to her memory
Natalie Dormer’s Anne was really solidified as iconic for me when she was executed. She portrayed the real Anne in that moment so well and presented who Anne really was. That makes her performance and Anne Boleyn herself iconic.
Yes, I think she got the closest to the real Anne in that scene out of anyone I've seen.
Genevieve Bujold is my favorite Anne! I think she captured her grace, her strength, and her vulnerability beautifully. Her final speech to Henry in Anne of a Thousand Days is of course inaccurate, but it feels like what she might have said if she had the chance. Natalie Dormer is my second fave, though I think it’s just the occasional silliness of the script that knocks her down a peg, not her performance.
Yes, the script is a little awkward at times. There were instances when they included things the real Anne had written, but not said (something about being loving and kind to Henry - I can't remember the whole quote off the top of my head) and though ND did the best she could to deliver it in a natural sounding way, it sounded clunky because it was meant to be read. Even in Tudor times, I don't think people dropped rhyming couplets into conversation any more than we do today :-)
While I agree she physically was a good Anne the movie was just horribly inaccurate
@@MaeveLaRenarde "Anne of the thousand days" is not THAT inaccurate, specially not for a Hollywood movie. I mean look at "Young Bess", "Lady Jane", "Elizabeth" or "The other Boleyn Girl"... "Anne ottd" is still one of the most accurate Tudor movies.
Same
A great performance, yes, but honestly a very historically inaccurate script.
I’ve also read that one of the reasons the headsman tried to distract Anne was so that her neck would be in the correct position which had to be slightly turned so that the blow would be more precise making it less painful and quicker. After she turned her head he quickly tiptoed into position and struck. I noticed that’s how it was brilliantly acted out in wolf hall. Hard to say which of these exceptional ladies portrayed Anne Boleyn best. All actresses who play Anne somehow are always compared to Genevieve Bujold, who is brilliant, but still hard to say who was the best.
So sad that she was gaslighted into believing the king was a good man until her death. No good man beheads his wives.
I can't say if she really believed that or not, but you're right that he certainly wasn't a good person (at least not by this point in his life).
I read that her speech was so that her surviving relatives wouldn’t suffer any repercussions. Her calling Henry VIII out on the scaffold could’ve been a disaster, particularly for then Princess Elizabeth.
Every one executed by Henry said that so that he would leave their surviving family alone. Cromwell is another example and the fact that his son Gregory and adopted son Richard prospered after his death shows that it's a good idea
as it was said, it was customary to offer praise and blessings to the King to protect any surviving relatives from persecution
I think she did it to try to protect her little child, Elizabeth. She knew Henry was a demon by that time
It’s hard to understand Anne’s praises of Henry VIII but the truth is if she had not Henry would have slaughtered or made paupers of her family after her death.
Probably did, anyway.
You're right to an extent. See next week's video for what happened to her cousin (Katherine Howard) and sister-in-law (Jane Boleyn).
Yes, I think she was protecting her family and also wouldn't have wanted to commit any further 'sin' by saying anything confrontational right before she died, having already made her last confession and taken communion.
@@HistoryCalling Looking forward! Thx!
Yes, and she had her daughter Elizabeth left to his tender care.
One that a lot of people seem to overlook is Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of Anne in 2003's Henry Vlll. It's a shame as I found she put on a stunning performance.
Oh she absolutely did. She's always great in anything she does. :-)
HBC has experience in the Tudor movies. She also played Lady Jane Grey in the 80’s. She’s amazing and that was the first movie I remember seeing her in.
I will have to watch that one.
@@Cantetinza17 Hopefully you'll be able to get a hold of it. It's a good watch with brilliant portrayals from Ray Winston, Charles Dance, Sean bean (My first ever crush) and Emily Blunt. I think it was a mini series divided into 2 or 3 parts. I hope you find it.
@@HistoryCalling I love that she is so diverse in her roles too.
Ann Boleyn wrote a poem the night before her execution. The words to this poem are extremely melancholy & you can feel her pain with every word.
"Oh Death, Rock Me to Sleep."
Please, look up her poem, you will not regret it, I promise you.
Thank you for the suggestion. I read it, and it truly is as you say. Can you imagine what she must have felt, knowing there was nothing she could do? Like being tied to train tracks and knowing there's nothing you can do to stop the coming freight train.
Going now
@@mememe217 ?
I'm a History Major and a Tudor enthusiast. When you think you've read and researched everything about the Tudors, it's very exciting to read there might be something new. I will look into this.
“O death, rock me asleep,
Bring me to quiet rest,
Let pass my weary guiltless ghost
Out of my careful breast.
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.
My pains who can express?
Alas, they are so strong;
My dolour will not suffer strength
My life for to prolong.
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.
Alone in prison strong
I wait my destiny.
Woe worth this cruel hap that I
Should taste this misery!
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.
Farewell, my pleasures past,
Welcome, my present pain!
I feel my torments so increase
That life cannot remain.
Cease now, thou passing bell;
Rung is my doleful knell;
For the sound my death doth tell
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.”
I loved Wolf Hall. I haven’t seen The Tudors but Wolf Hall felt like it had fewer modern cultural references. I’m not a Tudor scholar by any account but it just felt very realistic overall.
And after seeing Clair Foy in The Crown, I think she’s brilliant.
I'm a huge fan of Natalie Dormer she's such a great actress loved her Tudors and Got I think Natalie has that theatre background which makes her so wonderful
Yes, she is a great actress. I'd love her to play a Queen who doesn't get horribly killed though (thinking of Margaery Tyrell here as well).
Yes i loved her in GOT. But didnt like her in the Tudors at all.
@@realreactionsrealrapping693 have you seen the Penny Dreadful spin off City of Angels plus Natalie Dormer was Captain America she flirted with Captain
I definitely love her acting and I wish to see her in a lead role in a historical movie.
Imagine her last thought was for her little girl, she was a Christian so believed in Heaven , Hope she was reunited there with her brother , baby (ies) she lost and eventually Elizabeth 1 ,bet she was really proud of her .
Yes, it's very sad that she didn't get to see what a well regarded Queen Elizabeth would become.
There’s a song by Karliene called Elizabeth’s Lullaby that’s from the perspective of Queen Anne before her fall began, the hopes and dreams she had for her daughter. It’s part of an entire group of songs about Anne Boleyn, like “I Will Be No Mistress.”
I hate that Elizabeth had to grow up the way she did, and no wonder she didn’t want to marry! But I’m sure Anne would have been exceedingly proud. 😊
As a fan of The Tudors and Natalie Dormer, I am biased towards her performance. And as someone who majored in Creative Writing and minored in history, I think the way The Tudors chose a blend of two accounts of her speech was very in keeping with the overall flavor of the show, which blended fact and legend in so many ways.
I've always loved Anne of a 1000 Days. It's the movie that got me interested in the Tudor Period of history.
Me to.
Yes, that is my favorite version also.
Same here. It left a deep impression.
I loved the portrayal of Anne by all three actresses. The script for "the other Boleyn girl" is rubbish. My favorite though is Genevieve Bujold in "anne of a thousand days." I like to imagine that the real Anne had that enormous amount of spirit!
Yes, I think she must have had great spirit too, to attract and hold a man like Henry for as long as she did.
Henry allowed Anne the alms she was to give the executioner, supposedly for him to aim true and minimize her pain and suffering, along with her words of forgiveness to him as it was customary for the executioner to ask forgiveness of the condemned for being the assigned executioner. But I don't remember reading anywhere that Anne gave alms to people on her way to the scaffold.
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, like yourself I've heard of people paying and forgiving the executioner but the detail about the alms for the poor still eludes me. There are so many inventions around the Tudors however, perhaps this is just another one of them.
I’ve read it several times from different books, articles and from the movies and tv shows. I read that it was the last thing people did on the way to their executions. Don’t ask me to quote the sources because I’ve read so much on the internet and other sources, I cannot remember them.
Anne Askew was last to be burnt at stake in 1546 as she asked for divorce from her husband ending up being tried for Hersey they tortured Anne 3times on rake dislocated every joint in her body ripped and snapped all the ligaments, muscles and tendons that on day of execution she was in such excruciating agonising pain couldn't walk or move they had to take her on stool then dragged her on to pit tied her so tightly at ankles, hips, waist and neck this is were contradiction takes place some say they kicked the stool from under her she strangled before burning to death, in the Tudors female person gave executioner pouched necklace of gunpowder to put round her neck other story is they deliberately to prolong her anguish and suffering by deliberately using wrong twigs so she burned extremely slowly. She apparently had connection or was friends with Henry's wife Catherine Parr or Catherine a Staunch Catholic had her condemned because Anne was Calvinist Preacher she didn't like it. He to start with seemed decent man very handsome athletic sporty type and very devout Staunch Catholic even on his death bed he remained Staunch Catholic went to Mass and Prayers several times day I believe first head injury totally buggered him subsequent head injuries turned this man into pure Devil in disguise like Jekyll and Hyde especially last very deeply worrying head injury he suffered falling of horse he was in coma for several days wen he regained consciousness he raimed bed bound for weeks he was no longer same person he suffered very violent mood swings, temper tantrums, gluttonous urges to over eat, excruciatingly painful Migraines, memory problems etc to me this is Traumatic Brain Injury most likely had severe Brain Hemorrhage and Brain contusions with swelling hence deep coma he was in and some Historians believe he was left Epileptic and had worse Brain damage than others thought were mild to severe.
Anyone interested look up inside the body Henry 8th on channel 4 UK TV absolutely fascinating to watch so detailed the Tudor era was nasty era to live in right up to 1950s life was tough thanks to UA-cam we get to semi relive the past and enjoy these old programs even old music and other stuff thanks for the video enjoyed it
I think it's done a day before the exicutioner beheads someone. Usually it is done so he can have a razor sharp edge on the sword. Anne Boleyn was beheaded in one stroke. Could you imagine traveling back in time with a Lynx S.A. 50 caliber rifle and shattering the sword using an armor piercing round. They would have heard thunder and thought it was a sign from God to spare her.
Natalie Dormer really dove into the person Anne Boleyn was. It's like I could see how Anne felt.
Yes, I think she did a good job of fleshing Anne out into a three dimensional character and showing her strengths and flaws. A gripe I often have about other portrayals of her is that she so often comes off as completely unlikable and you're left wondering why Henry ever fell in love with her. ND didn't have that problem.
@@HistoryCalling Agree. In just reading about her, I think Anne was really quirky and likeable. Some portray her as arrogant and rude, which, aren't we all at times?
I agree. She was a woman with flaws, like the rest of the human race, but she obviously had many attractive qualities as well which enabled her to hold Henry's attention for so long.
This came from an interview: Hirst, too, recalls the heightened emotions of shooting that scene (the execution scene): “That was an amazing day. Extraordinary day. After, I went in to congratulate her (Dormer). She was weeping and saying, `She’s with me Michael. She’s with me.’”
Dormer is an amazing actress that I think gets passed up way too much. I love that she gets historical/royal type roles though. She plays them so well
That had to be so terrifying, not knowing how quick or skillful it would be. I WOULD be a mess. Ann was a queen and kept her dignity throughout.
Yes, she was incredible. Katherine Howard's execution will be in the next video and she did well all things considered too, but she wasn't as composed as Anne, poor thing (poor both of them actually).
Executions could be a mess back then, the dude would constantly mess up, and at times it took more than 1 swing to decapitate.
This guy was a renowned professional though, who came all the way from France and was paid very well.
@@molasorrosalom4846 tbh, just the idea that there had to be renowned people in a job like killing and mutilating, is depressing. I am so thankful to be living in a time were death penalty and sentences consisting on physical harm are illegal in most civilized countries
@@nessyness5447
You think we're living in "civilized" times?
@@molasorrosalom4846 compared to a time were executing someone because of a suppossed adultery( that was not even true) was considered normal and proper of a developed country...we definitely live in much more civilized times.
Natalie Dormer hands down. Although I realize there are historical inaccuracies in The Tudors, I absolutely ADORED her in the role of Anne Boleyn. I loved the entire series The Tudors from the stunningly beautiful costumes, stage settings, scenery and...I thought ALL the actors in The Tudors did a bang-up job. Historically accurate or not, they DID get alot of things right. I've watched The Tudors more than once just to experience the beautiful costumes & palace decors. Oh &.....my friends & I appreciated the eye candy of Jonathan Rhys Meyers & Henry Cavill as well LOL! 🍬 👀
Talk about a bang-up cast including Peter O'Toole & Maria Doyle Kennedy. I thought each character was cast with the perfect actor. It seems people either loved or hated The Tudors series however, I loved it! 👏
Joely Richardson is also one of my favorite actors. I swear that woman can portray ANYTHING. She's VERY talented! If you haven't seen Joely Richardson in the true Lifetime movie "Lies My Mother Told Me," check it out! She is SO GOOD in that movie, stars in it alongside a much-then-younger Hayden Panettiere, & it's a true story! 👏 I found the movie free here on UA-cam. It has dancing stars around it or whatever because of copyright laws, but that didn't bother me a bit. If you want to see it in best quality, I think it's available to rent on UA-cam. Otherwise, I'm sure it's available on lots of other viewing sources. Anyway, as for Anne Bolyn, I'm team Natalie 100%. She's also drop dead beautiful.
Wait... what?! Henry Cavill is in The Tudors?! How did I not know this. I own the boxed set, just have not yet sat down to binge watch it, after all these years. I guess I need to finally make time for it!
Natalie Dormer is probably my favourite portrayal of Anne, but Genevieve Bujold is right up there. Her performance gives me goosebumps.
Ditto :-)
The problem with "The Other Boleyn Girl" is it's an adaptation of a Phillipa Gregory book, which gives it a foundation in sand. Reading Phillipa Gregory is like being sucked dry by a pond of leeches, you gain nothing of historical importance and slowly lose reason.
I love your metaphor here. It made me smile. I might have to use it some time (not necessarily in relation to Phillipa Gregory's work, but just in life). Yes, PG's work is not history, it's historical fiction. Sadly, many people can't tell the difference and aren't prepared to do even minimal research themselves to discover how fictionalised her accounts are. I suppose we have to concede that that in itself isn't her fault, but I do take issue with her insistence at times that her work is historically accurate and based on solid research. Assuming her Wikipedia entry is correct, her PhD is in English Lit, not history and that shows in her work in my opinion. Though both subjects are in the humanities, they imbue and require different skill sets.
But her easy to read romantic souffle of history might open the door to an interest in the real thing in some readers. Real hardcore history can be offputting, so if the historical fiction writers make people dig a bit deeper, then that is a good thing, I think.
It’s,,,not that deep. It’s historical FICTION. It’s not her fault people can’t tell the difference between actual history and entertainment. It’s also not her fault if they don’t want to do their own research and look up the real history behind events. Some things are for entertainment and a basic foundation so that people can delve into subjects deeper if they wish to.
@@XoAngelFanyXo "not that deep" ...proceeds to defend the author as though they or her work are on trial😆😆😆😆
@@catgladwell5684 Ooh romantic soufflé sounds nice!
I think The Tudors was pretty much awful in every way, but there’s no denying that Natalie Dormer’s performance in the execution scene was superb. It’s just a pity the whole of the rest of the scene was such sentimentalised rubbish.
After that, I rate Claire Foy, but would agree that it was a mistake for the camera to cut away from her while she spoke, and for her to speak so quietly. But I think this is the best execution scene as a whole.
I actually love The Other Boleyn Girl, even though it’s tosh from an historical point of view. But, given the type of film it was, I think it needed an emotional Anne on the scaffold. So Natalie Portman’s performance at Anne’s execution may not have fitted historical fact, but I think it fitted the character as she had been portrayed in the film.
What was wrong with the Tudors?
I might have to do a review video of The Tudors you know, as even though it finished such a long time ago, I think it's still a lot of people's first point of reference for Tudor history and (just personally) I think it's neither as good as some people believe, or as bad as others accuse it of being. I'll add it to my list :-)
@@molasorrosalom4846 It was glamorized, made steamy, and modernized. For instance, men of the time always wore caps but this production showed them bareheaded in keeping with modern tastes. The actor who portrayed Henry the VIII never aged much nor grew fat nor was he shown with a stinking, ulcerous leg. He looked nothing like the real Henry. There was an abundance of anachronisms., for example at one point Anne was shown in a carriage. Carriages of that sort, with springs, didn't exist back then. She would have been riding a horse or been carried on a litter or she would have been in a wagon-type vehicle. The series was basically "sexy-fied" and geared toward millennial tastes.
@@francine8806 the ulcerous leg is actually referred to a lot during season 3 and 4. The actress who plays Anne if Cleaves mentions that it stinks, we see his physicians trying to treat it Henry in bed crying out in pain because of it, katherine parr treats it and talks to him about theology to take his mind off it. We also see him hobbling around with a cane a lot. He is also shown as bigger when with his last two wives and kicks off when shortly before he dies he has his portrait done andche isn't happy that it shows him as older and fat
Well said. I haven’t seen wolf hall so I can’t comment on clair’s performance. I agree that for the other Boleyn girl that the performance fits the movie. It did well in theaters if I remember correctly. I think the combination of music surrounding the death scene and my love for Dormer’s acting during the scene is why it’s my favorite. But I’m definitely going to watch wolf hall because the Tudor era fascinates me. I don’t know if you watch the Spanish princess but it is really making me angry what they did to history. I know it’s for entertainment but did they really have to twist everything so much it’s just absurd?
Dormer was the best Anne but another good performance was Anne of a thousand days. Genevieve Bujold.
They're my two favourites as well.
@@HistoryCalling Bujold is my fav. Amazing acting and very beautiful as Anne.
Yes, you made me wanna see that movie again. The set, wardrobe and acting were top tier.
@@MicaRayan thanks for the heads up just finally got to watch it again and wow.
While I love Natalie Dormer's performance, especially of Anne Boleyn in her final days, I think the best portrayal of her is by Genevieve Bujold in Anne of a Thousand Days. Her whole performance was beautiful and in my opinion the perfect Anne. The other that I think deserves mention is Helena Bonham Carter in Henry VIII. I'd love to see a Part 2 video comparing these against the two clear winners (and the one clear loser despite Natalie Portman's obvious talent).
As someone with a history degree and a minor in writing (focused on screenwriting), I absolutely love the idea behind these videos. Comparisons of hollywood's versions of historic events to what actually happened (or as close to the truth as one can get) is exactly what it's like to sit and watch tv/movies with me 😂 You can see the struggle filmmakers or screenwriters have with balancing fact from entertainment. I also am a fan of how you use multiple, sometimes contrasting, primary sources to give us the most fleshed out description available. I can't wait to see if you make more!!
You really must have hated The other Boleyn girl. I did, if was horrendous I threw my remote at the tv. Disgraceful portrayal of a badly written fictional account.
@@julz3tt3 oh absolutely 😭 I tried my best to go through it imagining it was a completely made up story so it wouldn’t drive me up a wall
I agree, Natalie is my favorite Anne. I do think with "Wolf Hall" you very much have the question of perspective to take into account. Since the series is adapted from the book, which portrays the events specifically through Thomas Cromwell's eyes, it was likely a choice to show that moment as his interpretation of her actions, rather than what actually happened. This presents an acting challenge for Foy, who was not given many opportunities in the script to show the depth of Anne and had mostly to take the brash, defensive parts of her as seen by Cromwell. He likely sees a coldness in her, or convinces himself of that, as the whole thing is business to him. Which, of course, backfires in the long run. (Ooooh can you do a Cromwell video??)
Hi, thank you for your comment. I love your interpretation of WH. I don't come from a film studies background myself, so while I had considered that they cut away from Anne during the execution to show Cromwell's POV because the show is about him (even though I didn't like that they did it mid-speech), I hadn't really thought about the fact that she's portrayed as quite cold because we're getting Cromwell's impression of her. Yes, I can add Cromwell to the list for future videos. It may be a little while though as I'm doing a few more on the 6 wives at the moment as they're very popular and grow the channel the fastest.
Good point.
I think Claire Foy was most accurate, even if Dormer was more mesmerizing.
I would disagree the cloths are just all wrong
@@karahershey I mean moreso her demeanor and the words especially were spot on.
I’m sure the most accurate is from SIX
I really must see that at some point.
Six fan I see
I must check this out
Definitely. Every historical account is very clear that she did a full song and dance routine on the scaffold. Honestly, amazing. Where did she find the energy?
if only queen ann could have a glimpse of todays history and realize how much she is still loved. history and actions prove what a true tyrant henry was.
He was a hideous monster, to be honest and fair. Like one of the worst men to ever rule anywhere, in my humble opinion. And this garbage about “Anne was hated” isn’t happening. She wasn’t liked by all, but loved by many more than you’re aware of.
Anne was a w0re that didn't care what happened to Henry's daughter or Henry's wife, the true queen but ok
Yes..and didn't she get the justified last laugh. HERdaughter went on to become one of the greatest English monarchs in history. I love that fact
@Savannah Loughlin well yea
.good point
I guess for a usurper and illegitimate kid, Elizabeth did.ok.
Favorite Anne: Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of a Thousand Days." It portrays the poignant and ill-fated love affair between Anne and Henry Percy. On Henry VIII's instructions, Wolsey broke it up, and Anne "punished" both of them for separating her from the man she really loved. As for Anne's being the most "infamous" execution: I'd say Elizabeth I beheading Queen Mary of Scotland is more historically relevant, or even the Roundheads executing Charles I. Anne wasn't even royal by birth.
Id love a take where the "fu all" speech as an inner monologue before she makes peace and has a moment of dignity. No doubt she felt that way- but her daughter was in the balance and instead she gave the finger to henry by being graceful in a scenario where many "great men" could not.
She rose above it and showed all that she was the more powerul. Stronger and better than Henry where it really matters: Personal Character.
And, after she gave him a finger, she STILL had ten! Lol
Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the thousand days" was the best. In all details and acting she was perfect as Anne.
Anne of the Thousand Days was my first Anne, I love them all but Genevieve Bujold is my favorite too💕
@@traceyleeherrera5247 you have a very good taste..Tracey. Genevieve was the best. A great actress.
oh, that's an AMAZING film. They certainly don't make them like that any more. Fantastic acting by Bujold.
@@joycegibbs5267 Yes..absolutely. She has the talent..the shape..the pasion..the strengh and the sweetness. Everything a talented actress should have! She even gaves Anne the proudness of a real Queen.
Fascinating production, thank you!
Natalie Dormer by far is my favorite actress portraying Anne! When she cried from the tower window, I cried for a week.
Jodhi May portrays my second favorite Anne from BBC's "The other Boleyn Girl" (Philippa Lowthorpe, 2003)
Helene Bonham Carter is my third favorite, in "Henry VIII"
Really, Henry was a monster. I cannot believe Anne praised him on the scaffold and I can only think, there must have been people who felt like laughing, even though they would not have dared do so. I do understand why she did so, however. It was the custom then, as well as her being concerned with the fate of her remaining family. It was not unknown that Henry would kill people who were merely associated with those who incurred his wrath, whether by familial relationship or acquaintance. I know that there is absolutely no correlation, one being a 16th century monarch and the other a modern dictator, but the person who it brings to mind is Stalin. Stalin was EXTREMELY dangerous to know, in fact you would have to be unbelievably cautious in order to save your own life. Henry threatened his own daughter and two of his other wives. He turned on his best friend whom he had known since childhood. He also put it into law that it was treason to call him a tyrant, even though he was one. This only got worse as he aged. I fully agree with Antonia Fraser's verdict at the end of her book, "Never had hell welcomed such a sinner." (I'm paraphrasing).
The best Anne was Anne of the thousand days, best one of the lot of them
Genevieve was awesome, no argument here. Knocked it out of the park.
Back in the 70’s, PBS or Masterpiece Theater had The Six Wives of Henry VIII featuring Keith Michell. Anne was played by Dorothy Tutin. That entire series followed by Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth R remains to this day as stellar in my book.
I remember "Six Wives" as well, a superb series! Anne's execution was well-played as well, the simple bare stage, stark shadowy lighting, and no dialog at all. Pure tragedy. Dorothy Tutin WAS Anne Boleyn!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I think that’s why I enjoyed the series so much. Because the sets were realistic enough to look like the 16th century and the series relied on the acting ability/professionalism of the actors rather than special effects. Back in the ‘80’s, the National Theatre Company of Great Britain came to Chicago, for a three-part series: The Duchess of Malfi, The Cherry Orchard, and The Real Inspector Hound. I had tickets for the first two. Enthralled would be an understatement. The first time that I saw true ensemble acting despite Ian McKellan being the star draw. In the 70’s (yes, I’m that old) Masterpiece Theatre’s first production was “The First Churchills”. Brits have an uncanny ability to ensure their actors look like the historical figures they’re portraying.
@@thepupmommy Hey, I remember the 1970s myself! I'm 71. And I certainly remember the glory days of "Masterpiece Theater!" Unfortunately it's lost it's luster and they've had little recently we've cared to watch, "All creatures Great And Small" being the exception.
I can't believe you left out Genevieve Bujold's portrayal in Anne Of The Thousand Days where she was nominated for an Academy Award. By far it is my favorite portrayal of Anne Boleyn but I have no idea of how accurate the execution scene was.
I would love to have included her, but unfortunately the execution scene was scooted over quite quickly and didn't really provide me with enough material to work with for a comparison video like this. I agree though that's it's an excellent movie, with an excellent leading lady who more than earned her Oscar nomination.
YES!
@@HistoryCalling So glad you liked this one! Bujold was Anne incarnate.
@@HistoryCalling Genevieve won the Golden Globe but she completely deserved the Oscar. Her acting..her poise..her voice..her beauty are perfect.
@@jamiewarren8766 I completely agree with you Jamie.
And the Crown goes to... Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days."
I've never cared much for Anne Boleyn, but after some reading and research, turns out, I feel she was illegally executed. In short, she was beheaded, because Henry VIII's unwillingness to realize his own faults to sire an heir (boy) himself. That and his persistent adultery, which ironically, is what allowed him to charge forward in his charges against Anne Boleyn that ultimately left her dead. Ideologies then assumed women were largely at fault, and naturally, Boleyn was blamed unjustly, and for what? Because she was a woman, and that is the truth.
Henry had those charges against Anne made up because he wanted an excuse to get rid of her and couldn't divorce her on the same grounds as he divorced Catherine of Aragon. He would have killed CoA as well if she herself wasn't from another powerful royal family.
I agree with you. Horrible that her 'lovers' were tortured then killed.
@@tsunamis82 They were just scapegoats and victims, same as Anne. Henry didn't execute Anne for adultery and treason. He murdered her for not giving him a son and because he was bored of her and wanted a new piece of ass. In the end, karma got King Henry. All of his male children died young and even his daughters never gave him any grandchildren to continue his line, which died with Elizabeth. Asides from not trusting men, remaining unmarried and childless was probably Elizabeth's way of giving King Henry the finger for what he did to her mother. That and neglecting to maintain his grave after he died.
I only watched the tudors, and as much as I love Anne, I tried to understand Henry’s position. Henry suffered so much to get his marriage with Katherine of A annulled and to marry Anne. He had to break with pope in rome, promoting english revolution, dividing country’s faith between catholic and protestant, and getting one of his dearest mentor and friend executed for this reason, Sir Thomas More. Meanwhile, Anne most of time being paranoid of her position when Henry having more mistresses, and keep pushing Henry to settle Elizabeth marriage with French. Anne also keep being paranoid even after Katherine and Mary exiled and was mad when Henry pointed Mary as lady in waiting for Elizabeth. If only Anne were being compassionate to Henry’s closest people; the duke of Suffolk, Mary her step daughter, Katherine of Aragon, Cromwell and More (for example), probably she would like to have her head saved.
It’s true that Henry ordered her death so he could be with Jane (and probably tired of Anne’s constant complaints), but it was Henry’s closest friends who murmured gossip to him and set her up because they started to hate Anne.
It was not all Henry.
Ann of a Thousand Days has been my favorite for many, many years. I'm curious to know what you thought of Genevieve Bujold's performance.
Oh she was excellent. If only they'd covered the execution in more detail, I would have included her here.
@@HistoryCalling Oh OK! Now I see your point, and I agree with you. Thank you.
Robyn Martinez. Genevieve is my fav too. The best Anne I have ever seen.
My favorite performance by ANY actor, anywhere.
@@isoldejaneholland8370 Yes she was amazing in that role. I still watch 'Anne of the Thousand Days'' once a year!
Genevieve Bujold hands down. No other portrayal compares to hers.
She did do a brilliant job. A well deserved Oscar nomination.
Yes to Genevieve Bujold! One of my favorite movies of all time. :)
@@Boxermom0317 I first saw it when I was 14 or so and to me she completely embodied Anne in every way.
@@lizziecota8563 I rediscovered it a few years ago, and was fortunate enough to buy a limited edition Blu ray from Twilight Time. They did a beautiful restoration. Sadly, the company has gone out of business.
I was thinking the exact same thing the whole way through this and wish Anne of the 1000 days had been included. A very interesting video though all the same.
The condemned would 'tip' the swordsman so there'd be a clean blow.
This guy was a professional tbough, specifically hired and came all the way from France to do the job.
@@molasorrosalom4846 And was apparently worth the money. One quick stroke. Wish poor Margaret Pole had been as lucky.
Natalie Dormer was my favourite. I liked her portrayal of Anne throughout the series. It’s interest to hear the primary sources for historical accuracy and interesting that films like The Other Boleyn girl chose to embellish facts like Mary being present at the execution.
I know, I'm late to the game... but, I have to say,
My favorite Anne has been Emma Connell, in the Channel 5 doc presented by Dr Suzannah Lipscomb. Its overly dramatized at times, but I like the combination of dramatics and historical information provided more than the dramatic writing. I have always been fascinated with The Cousins War and the Tudors; and, after finding your channel, it has become my background playlist, replacing Frasier ...haha.
Your voice fills my house while I go about daily chores. Thank you.
The ladies in waiting that she had with her where all assigned to her by her uncle and each was to report back exactly what was said done and her mood.
Same with William Kingston, everyone that was anywhere near her in the tower was to spy on her. Some would’ve reported to Cromwell, some to Norfolk.
To say Chapuys hated Anne's guts is an understatement.
Haha, yes it is a bit.
Is this comment meant to give insight to your immense knowledge..? methinks it’s just to show off..🤔
@@Ionabrodie69 who cares? It's in the video and this person was just making an additional statement. Why you gotta be rude
Genevieve bujold in Anne of a thousand days portrayed an excellent Anne Boleyn
I found Natalie Dormer's portrayal the best. No matter the depiction a very horrifying event, well done by all who portrayed her. Of all the wives I believe the luckiest to have been Anne of Cleves amazing grace she received in life to have been relieved from her station to safety and reputation for the most part intact.
But she was forbidden to ever have contact with her family even after Henry's death, and since she was considered by the court to be of "no account" she basically lived in, albeit rich, exile.
Or Catherine Parr who outlived him & went onto marry again.
Peace ☮️ out
SW England 🇬🇧
Natalie Dormer is a phenomenal actress and I loved her portrayal of Anne Boleyn. You can tell she really cared about her role and really brought her to life beautifully.
Natalie Dormer is my favorite Anne - and the first scene she shot in The Tudors was Anne's execution!
You left out the best depiction of Anne Boleyn: Genevieve Bujold!
Unfortunately that movie went through the execution scene very fast and so there wasn't as much for me to discuss and compare as there was for these three. I love her performance though. A well earned Oscar nomination.
oh WOW!!! how have i not found your channel before this? i absolutely loved this!!! i’ve been fascinated by anne boleyn for years (but i just got back into her history recently) and i genuinely feel very connected to her (even writing a historical fiction novel about her haha). this was such an interesting video!! thank you for making this!!
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it :-)
Tudors is my favorite show EVER! ❤️ I’ve watched it all the way through more times than I can count, and it really has all the credit for my love and curiosity of history. I’ve never seen Wolf Hall, but now I MUST 🙌🏻😍 Thanks for the video… this was great! 👍🏼
Watch Anne of A Thousand Days with Sir Richard Burton as King Henry VIII.
What about Genevieve Bujold’s version in Anne of a Thousand Days? I always found her take very good.
I loved Claire Foy throughout Wolf Hall. I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl, but it played like a romance novel to me. I confess to having avoiding watching the Tudors because of the ridiculous casting of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII, but you have made me intrigued enough to give it a look!
I might do an overview of The Tudors at some point. My general comment on it is that it's neither as accurate or as inaccurate as many people believe, so I think you would enjoy it (though I agree that JRM really ought to have dyed his hair red).
It was quite jarring to see a dark haired Henry in The Tudors but it's an intense story. I was really interested in the Wolf Hall series because of other attention paid to a lot of historical details. It's interesting that they deviated from reality in the execution scene.
I'm brazilian and I found it kind of hilarious how I could recognise the flourishes of old portuguese accounts even translated into english lol. Honestly, I think Natalie Dormer is the one who made Anne feel the most "real" to me.
Oh wow, that's brilliant. :-)
Fascinating! Could you elaborate?
@@sottosopravoce I can try my best, not being an historian myself. Whenever we read old Portuguese accounts in school, such as Pero Vaz de Caminha's letter to the then king Dom Manuel I describing the land they had found (the land being Brazil), they are always more poetic and elaborate than the accounts I've read from other countries that enagaged in the exploration and conquest of the Americas around the same time, given that these letters were meant to be more like a report on the expedition. The spanish accounts come close in terms of employing a fair degree of poetic liberty, but there are particular linguistic flourishes in the portuguese texts that I recognise more easily, given that it's my native language. Being a bit more knowledgeable in language and literature than I am when it comes to history, you can really see the influence of earlier portuguese literature in the accounts, and it's a trend that continues for a while. There's an abundance of dramatic speeches, like when the portuguese witness here describes Anne's final moments, and a tendency to go into almost excessively detailed descriptions. When you read something like "Os Lusíadas", by Luís de Camões, which is not far from this time-wise, you can see those same tendencies in his writing. The difference being, of course, that "Os Lusíadas" is an epic poem based on the Eneid, not an account on the execution of an english queen or a report from the "new world". I honestly don't know if portuguese writers at this time couldn't help but make things sound more epic and dramatic or if they did it on purpose so it would make a more interesting story in their eyes, but there's definitely a fair bit of poetic liberty taken even in official documents from this time. Basically, this has been a very long way of saying that the portuguese, at least at this point in time, had quite a flair for the dramatic, lol.
@@biwitchedd Really Interesting. Thank you.
For me the best actress to portray Anne Boleyns execution was Natalie Dormer in the Tudors. The reason I say this is because I've researched extensively about this for many years of not only Anne Boleyn but the other 5 wives of Henry the VIII. In my opinion this was,the best portrayal of Anne Boleyn's final moments because it was consistent with Anne Boleyn's personality throughout all the Shows of the Tudors. I would like to thank the maker of this video for the explanations she has provided us with because of her clarity in explaining everything throughout this video. Well done and keep up the excellent work not only for this video but also for all the videos that she has made. I'm very much looking forward to seeing all the videos that you have made.
Geneviève Bujold, especially the last lines of the film as baby Elizabeth walks through the garden
I know, that's just heart-breaking.
My favorite is Genevieve Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days.
Yes, she was excellent too and absolutely earned the Oscar nomination. Had they just spent a little more time on the execution scene (it was quite rushed in that production) I would have loved to have included it here.
Definitely, Natalie Dormer. The inaccuracies in The Other Boleyn Girl made it a difficult watch for me.
Same here. I know The Tudors had its flaws too (the main one for me being that most of the cast were too young and good looking to be portraying their historical counterparts!), but on the whole, it was more accurate than many people give it credit for.
I couldn't even finish the cringe
If you read the book you would be particularly outraged as well. And it’s definitely fictionalize drama but that movie massacred her book which was actually pretty good.
@@simonbrushes If the writing is good, I might enjoy it, the same way as I enjoy AU fanfictions - while I generally prefer sticking to the source material, a good plot twist and good storytelling can sway me. -That said: I have seen the earlier, low-budget BBC adaptation, and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to a new version. Oh, the silly me...
My favorite depiction of Anne Boleyn was by Genevieve Bujold in "Anne of the Thousand Days". I think that she didn't win the Oscar for her role was a miscarriage of justice. Although not historically accurate (really none are) I also liked the film better than the others. Presenting historical events in a modern film drama is always going to involve compromises with facts. In point of fact, facts from five or six hundred years ago are not really all that well known. Slavish portrayal of history even if it is known isn't likely to produce a memorable drama.
Anne Boleyn is one of my favorite historical women. She was railroaded and used as a scapegoat. I love reading the letters her and Henry wrote to one another. Her story is one that unfortunately repeats itself over and over again. A bright, vivacious, witty, intelligent and lovely young woman is used as a pawn by the males of her family to gain them titles, lands and wealth. And when she fails to do one thing that is no fault of hers she isn’t just put aside, she is MURDERED! Absolutely infuriating. After reading several accounts of her execution (each varied and bias) I feel that The Tudor’s got something’s pretty accurate. Anne’s composure and dignity is most certainly at the forefront of those scenes. While no one can actually know how events proceeded down to the smallest detail, from what I’ve studied of Anne, I believe she was most likely exhausted but definitely held it together to have her say.
Yes, she did an incredible job at maintaining her composure. She probably had more strength (mentally) than Henry would have had under similar circumstances. I might do a video at some point about the men in her family, particularly her father, as I suspect they weren't manipulating her as much as is commonly supposed. I believe Thomas Boleyn actually tried to dissuade Henry for marrying her for instance. It would be an interesting topic to delve into I think.
@@HistoryCalling That would be super fascinating !
My preference will always be Anne of a Thousand Days! It was awesome. The Tudors’ Anne would come in second.
They may have confused anne paying the executioner with giving alms.
Possibly, yes. Thanks for watching and commenting :-)
Or even with her "giving trinkets" to her ladies.
I love how a man did this but the woman he did it to is eternal and there’s multiple accounts of who she was.
I'm glad that you mentioned 'Anne of the Thousand Days' towards the end. Genevieve Bujold's depiction of Anne as a feisty, challenging wife and Queen has stuck in my memory ever since I saw the film as a young man, together with her bravery on the scaffold. I have no idea if the peripheral details of the execution were correct, but GB's performance was absolutely gripping imho. The fact that she spoke with a slight French accent also somehow added reality since Anne herself had spent so much time in France when younger.
French was the language of all the european courts.
I've only seen The Tudors version and it left an impression on me like nothing I'd witnessed before. Her calmness and bravery were something that I couldn't comprehend.
The fact that this particular "King" was a serial murderer always stays with my impression of who he really was.
Serial murderer is an interesting choice of words. It is true that he had two of his six wives executed. Anne Boleyn's was almost certainly unjust, as Henry was becoming nervous without a legitimate male heir, and felt he needed to rid himself of Anne in order to try again with someone else. This was truly a terrible and unjust thing.
Katherine Howard, on the other hand, was either framed very well, or was quite guilty of her crime. The evidence that was there, whether real, or falsified, was too great to ignore. Henry may have enjoyed her youth and beauty, but could not risk his line of succession being compromised by an illegitimate heir. The circumstances left little choice but to have her tried for treason. Most historians agree that she made some very serious mistakes, but she was also quite young and in over her head.
While politics of the tome often resulted in accusations of treason, and execution if convicted, the circumstances surrounding his wives alone, cannot justify calling him a serial murderer. He was certainly not a great guy, but even the deaths that occurred in relation to the trials of his wives were not a direct result of his doing, but rather those around him. All of that relates to the intrigue and politics of court. Anyone could be at risk of being associated with the latest scandal, and anyone's enemy with the slightest bit of influence had some level of power to associate them with it. That is not necessarily the fault of the king.
I will also mention that Henry VIII was the second king of the Tudor dynasty. While his father's claim to the throne may have been questionable, and obtained by war and marriage, few today would call Henry VIII's rein illegitimate, and there is no reason to put his title in quotes. Also, prior to his physical health issues, which lead to severe mental health issues, he was, by and large, considered a good king, the death of Anne Boleyn notwithstaning.
There were many reasons why he was a serial murderer ... take a look, for instance, at "Inside the Body of Henry VIII" here on UA-cam, or better still read David Starkey's multiple books on Henry in all his life chapters.
He was an extremely complex narcissist for certain.
I have seen all three that you spoke of, and as far as I am concerned Natalie Dommer's portrayal is the best. As for the role of Henry, they should have had the actor who portrayed Buckingham play Henry not the SHORT skinny one they picked. Though his acting was good, he just wasn't Henry the VIII.
Yes, I thought the actor playing Buckingham looked a better fit in terms of age and looks. Nothing against JRM either though and I did come to appreciate his performance, even if I was always a little grumpy that he didn't dye his hair red. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Agreed! Buckingham looked MUCH more like Henry probably did!
I wish they had just swapped the actors, and have the Buckingham actor play King Henry, and John Rhys Meyers play Busckingham.
The is a really boring reason why JRM was picked as Henry. Basically the people who made The Tudors wanted someone who didn't look like the Holbein painting of Henry. The famous one when he is married to Jane and by then had started gaining weight and was balding.
They wanted someone young and skinny as Henry was before his jousting accident to focus people more on his personality than the stereotypical look of Henry VIII.
Originally The Tudors was only meant to run for 2 series max but because of its popularity it was commissioned for more. I think Damien Lewis in Wolf Hall probably was a better Henry, calm but a slight edge of menace to him.
@@msemerlissane Then you never watched the series 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' with Keith Michell starring as Henry. He was young when they filmed the series but they aged him as they went through the many wives. He did an excellent job, and he was quite believable as the King. Just as Glenda Jackson was when she played Elizabeth I. These two actors were the best that it is hard for me to watch others playing these roles. Watch both series, they were done in the 70's but were excellent to say the least.
The best portrayal of Queen Anne's death was in the Six Wives of Henry VIII from the 1970s. She was played by Dame Dorothy Tutin, and throughout that series, she was captivating--as one would imagine that the actual Queen Anne would have been. I hope that IF you haven't seen this you will take the time to see the entire show. It is a classic. The follow up series Elizabeth R was also excellent.
I've never seen it, but a few people here have recommended it, so I'll see if I can find it somewhere. I have seen Elizabeth R and I agree it's superb.
She really was wonderful-I loved that series
On the edge of my seat before you even start young lady. Can’t wait as this is going to be so much interesting. Hollywood v History a great title. Must get my evening cereal to settle down into this assume will be most interesting history lesson. I’ve watched all 3 of the mentioned, and always though Wolf Hall to be nearer the true.
My favorite is Claire Foy. She did such a magnificent job portraying Anne Boleyn's arrogance and high-mightiness throughout the series, I felt no pity for her at all when she was beheaded.
Arrogant people deserve to be killed? You are something else.
There's nothing in the contemporary historical record, outside of Eustace Chapyus who HATED Anne and had ulterior motives, that indicates she was arrogant or high and mighty. And yet even he wrote a kind account of her execution. A lot of what has been written about her is either fictionalized or was published decades/centuries after her death by Catholic sympathizers who were bent on smearing the Boleyn name and reputation.
Traits from Cromwell's perspective as WH is his from his pov. I agree she played the role well.
@@CarlosSDCA She didn't deserve her unjust end but shocking downfalls were how that world operated. You got rid of your enemies before they got you, Anne herself tried this very route with Mary, Henry's daughter. The court wasn't a place for fairplay or "Nice" people, Anne included.
A very fair appraisal of all three portrayals of Anne Boleyn and the numerous historical sources and their accuracy. I found this most interesting.
I loved Natalie Dormer in The Tudors but Anne of a Thousand Days is a classic. I read Antonia Fraser's book about Henry VIII and he was brutal about the necessity of a son. That is exactly why Anne Boleyn lost her head. However as it turned out she gave birth to one of the greatest queens in history.
I know. I'm just sad she didn't get to see Elizabeth grow up. Antonia Fraser's stuff is always good I find. I use her Six Wives book to help me with the videos on Henry's queens.
@@HistoryCalling Me too. Elizabeth 1st was such a great queen. She would have made both her parents proud. Too bad Henry was so obsessed with a son that he couldn't see what a gem he had in a daughter. It was just a different time.
Henry paid the executioner who came from France, the equivalent of 50k to carry out the task. Anne was beheaded with one stroke of the sword. Henry didn't even arrange for a coffin for
her burial, so her remains were placed in an oak chest by her maids. The irony is that Henry laid in an unmarked grave for 200 years, after his painful death.
His vicious soul would've hated that.
I thought he was buried next to Jane? The one who bore him a son.
@@molasorrosalom4846 He had designed a magnificent tomb for himself but after his death, there was no money for its' construction. He remained in a modest plot.
In 1649, the vault was opened and the body of the executed Charles I was placed next to Henry’s coffin. In the same century, the body of a stillborn child of the future Queen Anne was also interred in the vault. The coffins remained undisturbed until the tomb was rediscovered in 1813 during excavations for a passageway to a new royal vault.
He was reburied next to Jane Seymour, Charles 1st and an infant prince in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Serves the thug right.
@@robjones2408
Wow, didn't know all of that, thanks
I loved Natalie Dormer as Anne, but I didn't like the actor for Henry. Great actor but in no shape or form did he resemble Henry. Too short, too thin, and no red hair. Really! Henry was a imposing figure. The Tudors was enjoyable but so many historical mistakes.
I know. I really wish he'd dyed his hair red, at the very least. I know there's a trend at the moment to throw historical accuracy out the window when it comes to casting, but (perhaps because I'm an historian) I firmly believe that authenticity matters. I just find it so distracting when I see actors portraying historical figures when I know they look nothing like them. The exception might be when it's pretty much farce, like The Great about Catherine the Great. They were up front right at the start of every episode that it only 'an occasionally true story' and so I didn't mind the random casting.
@@HistoryCalling talk about the casting these days with historical accuracy being thrown out of the window - I’m with you on that one, I hate it! It really puts me off if they are completely different to what historical records tell us :(
From what I remember the actor who portrayed Henry refused to wear a fat suit. They did want him to but he refused.
is amazing the amount of details english history have noted in every event, i believe we also had many details of every happening in Portugal, but the big earthquake destroyed much of it, today what is left are 62miles of documents about any event in portuguese history guarded at the Tombo Tower, this gives us a idea of how much we had before that earthquake.
I feel for you. There was a huge fire in the Public Record Office in Dublin in 1922 and many of Ireland's historical records were lost too. Historians of Ireland still wince when we talk about it.
My friend would love to trace her family history but her parents left Kashmir and there's no way of finding any records.
Bravo! This was actually the first video of yours I watched; I'd been viewing Nick Hodges' "History Buffs" and always enjoy watching historians pick apart cinematic gaffes. Sadly, I neglected to give this a thumbs up on my first viewing, but I've rectified that now. I recently watched "Anne of the Thousand Days" and was impressed with Bujold's performance; the execution scene included her being distracted by the executioner but left out the blindfold, as you know. It was this introduction to your series that made me a fan and subscriber. Thank you as always.
I just finished watching "The Tudors" for the millionth time & yes, I believe Natalie Dormer's Anne is amazing.
Could we possibly get a History vs. Hollywood comparison of the Execution of Sir Thomas More? (Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons" vs. Anton Lesser in "Wolf Hall" vs. Jeremy Northam in "The Tudors")
Thank you for such a wonderfully intricate review of these three portrayals. I have great difficulty choosing between the performances of Natalie Dormer and Claire Foy, as I think each actress brings to the scene a different and potentially equally valid interpretation of Anne in the moment. Both are exceptional, and their complete immersion into Anne brings the scene to horrible life. When I watched The Tudors, I stopped with the episode before Anne's execution. I simply couldn't watch it, and It was several years before I could return to it. The emotional impact of both the Dormer and Foy scenes is deep.
You're welcome. I found watching ND do the execution scene awfully sad too. I still tear up if I watch it the whole way through (so you can imagine what doing the research for this video was like!)
@@HistoryCalling You were definitely committed to rewatch! I have watched both scenes (ND and CF) only once because I find them so emotionally draining (the lead up to the arrest and the aftermath). I've seen The Other Boleyn Girl, but, uh, that one didn't even leave an impression! ;-) I wonder -- how did Wolf Hall and its sequels (books, then series) change your mind about Cromwell, if it did? I had always loathed him for the role he played in Anne's demise, but Mantel really humanized him for me. Maybe it was just Mark Rylance, though, because I find myself unable to read the last book. Whenever I picture Cromwell now, it's Rylance with those sad eyes....
Anne of a thousand days is my favorite
Natalie Dormer was fantastic as Anne, you could tell she really connected and cared for her. I don't agree with a lot of the ways Anne was written in the tudors, but Natalie knocked the portrayal out of the park.
I like that The Tudors showed Elizabeth. That was probably what was on Anne’s mind. Making sure nothing she said or did hurt Elizabeth’s future or fate.
I'm surprised you didn't add "Anne Of The Thousand Days" to this list
I would have loved to, but they covered the execution scene very quickly and there wasn't as much for me to discuss for a comparative video like this.
@@HistoryCalling VERY POOR EXCUSE. SHE WAS THE BEST ❗️
This is such a brilliant video. I love history. Was one of my favourite subjects in school. Really enjoyed this. You now have a new subscriber. 😊
Thanks Billie Jo. I'm really glad you liked it :-)
Very interesting video. I'm glad someone else has noticed this tendency for dramas to dress the Tudor females in headdresses that are little more than Alice bands with a bit of chiffon attached.
Of the three dramas featured, Wolf Hall was regarded as being the most heavyweight so I was a bit disappointed that they didn't go for more full on authenticity in scenes like the execution.
Yes, what is up with the headbands?! In reality they wore full hoods, possibly because shampoo had yet to be invented and also for modesty.
@@HistoryCalling exactly - there was a rigid dress code and they'd have been hauled off to the tower just for wearing such flimsy immodest headwear!
@@HistoryCalling and possibly also warmth : wasn’t there a mini ice-age on the way?
I have now watched "The Other Boleyn Girl", seen several clips from "The Tudors" and "Anne of a Thousand Days". And I have changed my thinking. Natalie Dormer is closer to the way that I have always thought of Henry's second wife. So, I find Ms. Dormer's portrayal very good, loved Genevieve Bujold's portrayal as the most vivacious and Ms. Portman portrayed a very overly emotional person.
Anne Boleyn is my first cousin, 13 times removed I have been on a deep dive trying to learn as much as I can about her. Thank you so much for your video!
Oh wow, that's amazing. I've seen some other people on here saying they are descended from Mary Boleyn, so assuming you're all correct, some of your distant cousins are floating around the comments section :-)