The Many Cinematic Lives of Anne Boleyn
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 11:30AM 
479 years ago on May 19th the second and most famous of Henry VIII's six wives, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded. But almost 5 centuries after her death, her life continues to fascinate storytellers. It seems that every couple of years there's a new interpretation of the events that conspired in England all those years ago. The latest version of King Henry and his many wives is Hilary Mantel's award-winning books Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Both books have already been adapted to a miniseries that just aired on PBS over the past month and is currently playing on Broadway in a production that originally was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company and played the West End (and recently received 8 Tony nominations including Best New Play). And while Mantel's books and the subsequent adaptations of her work focus on the events from Thomas Cromwell's point of view, there's no doubt that the reason we're still telling this tale is because of that woman that inspired a king to leave his wife and create an entirely new religion just to be with her: Anne Boleyn. (Even the Broadway production's marketing puts Lydia Leonard in her Tony-nominated performance as the one time queen front and center.)
Inspired by the current influx of entertainment based on Boleyn and her exploits at court, for the anniversary of her infamous death, let's take a look at three famous actresses that have played Boleyn over the years...
The Private Lives of Henry VIII (1933)
Anne Boleyn played by Merle Oberon
Director Alexander Korda's take on Henry VIII was the first British film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture and Charles Laughton's Best Actor Oscar for his robust (okay, kinda grotesque) portrayal of the king was the first award every given to a non-Hollywood production. But the film, which tries to cover all 6 wives (well, except first wife Catherine of Aragon - a title card informs us she was "of no interest"...) all in the span of an hour and half. The film had originally been developed for stars Laughton and his wife (and future Bride of Frankenstein) Elsa Lanchester and would've focused solely on his fourth (and shortest marriage) to Anne of Cleves. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the most interesting part of Henry's story, Anne Boleyn, is only covered within the first 15 minutes of the film and even more surprising that future Hollywood star Merle Oberon is barely in the film at all. We see Oberon's Boleyn only in the tower as she prepares for her execution. Anne Boleyn has gained a reputation over the years for being a power-hungry manipulator that skillfully, yet forcibly, worked her way to the top (in Wolf Hall the other characters continually mention that Anne always gets what she wants). But Oberon shows a softer, more gentle woman. She seems very deep in thought in her scenes and delivers her lines almost in a whisper. It's hard too see the usual, fiery Anne Boleyn in her work. But as she contemplates the fate that has befallen her, it's easy to see how her Anne was perhaps more of a pawn in the game instead of an active player.
It was the first major film role for Oberon, who would go on to receive a Best Actress nomination only two years later for 1935's The Dark Angel and is perhaps best known for her work as Cathy in Wuthering Heights (1939). It's said that her relationship and later marriage with director Korda was what helped advance her career to Hollywood stardom as he allowed her to be loaned out to the Hollywood studios. And even with her small amount of screentime, there's something magnetic about her presence when she appears. It's that certain something extra that makes you take notice and remember, a quality that defines a legend, whether she's a Hollywood actress like Merle Oberon or a queen of England.
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Anne Boleyn played by Geneviève Bujold
In the '60s, it seemed that the Academy was obsessed with films about English history with movies like Becket (1964) and 1966's A Man for All Seasons (another film about Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic church, this time with Sir Thomas More at the center) winning Oscars and scoring multiple nominations. But although A Man for All Seasons won Best Picture and Becket received 12 (!) nominations, the years have not been as kind to the films and they now seem like dated Oscar-bait. And I suppose Anne of the Thousand Days, which was nominated for 10 awards including Best Picture, could be included alongside those relics. But despite it's epic runtime and stodgy, stage-bound direction, what saves it for me is Geneviève Bujold self-assured Oscar nominated (and Golden Globe-winning) performance as Anne.
Apparently when the film was pitched to Richard Burton (who plays Henry in the film) then wife Elizabeth Taylor told producer Hal B. Wallis that she had to play the part of Anne Boleyn. Luckily Burton talked her out of it (although she does make an uncredited cameo as a masked courtier that interrupts Irene Papas' Catherine of Aragon in prayer) because I can't imagine the film working without Bujold.
A relatively unknown stage actress from Montreal, Bujold had made a few French-language and Canadian films before starring as Anne, but her limited previous film work didn't prevent her from more than holding her own against Burton. With complete control and remarkable ease, Bujold commands the screen. Spitting out insults at Burton's Henry, their courtship has an intense dynamic as it's mostly made of him pursuing as she refuses his advances. Until she discovers by playing the game the allure of power and how yielding it effectively is the greatest talent she has.
The classically trained Bujold uses technique to show the strength in stillness as she uses her voice to command (and her accent with its tinge of French works perfectly with the character as the real Anne Boleyn spent her formative years in the French court). And her crowning achievement is her monologue in the tower after she's been found guilty of adultery, incest, and witchcraft as she counts the days she and Henry were together ("And of those thousand, one when we were both in love. Only one."). If only she had given birth to a male heir that lived, perhaps then Henry would not have sought to replace her. In a (historically inaccurate) final showdown with Henry, Bujold dares you to look away as she rages against Burton. It's said that an unexpected visit on set from Taylor (who heard rumors of her husband and Bujold) the day that scene was filmed was the fuel that gave Bujold her inner fire and fury. Wherever that poise and confidence came from, it was enough to rank Bujold as the only actress to receive an Oscar nomination for playing Anne Boleyn (and as one of my favorite portrayals of the ill-fated queen).
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Anne Boleyn played by Natalie Portman
Like Wolf Hall this film was also based on a popular novel that looked at Henry and Anne's story from another character's perspective, this time Anne's older sister Mary who was originally Henry's mistress. But unlike Mantel's acclaimed novel and critically praised adaptations, the film version of Philippa Gregory's novel plays fast and loose with the actual history and ends up becoming more of a bodice-ripping soap opera (and a surprisingly boring one at that). Despite big-name actors like Portman and Scarlett Johansson as Mary, the February release date of the film was certainly a sign of how well the finished film turned out to be.
After reading the book, I was convinced that whoever played Anne in a film version would get an Oscar nomination for their performance - the role of Anne Boleyn is just too rich not to be an acting showcase. But sadly Portman is not up to the challenge (although she is certainly not helped by the inane dialogue and underdeveloped story). Her early flirtation with Eric Bana's Henry comes across as forced and limp. And when she is sent away to the French court as punishment for not properly wooing the king (a historical inaccuracy as Anne was an attendant in the French court long before she met Henry), she returns 3 months later as a seductive temptress that Henry can't resist. But the sudden transformation is unconvincing as Portman always feels like she's trying too hard to be the vixen and comes across as a child play acting the part. And anytime that Portman is asked to show authority or stand up against anyone, she acts like a spoiled brat not getting her way, throwing childish temper tantrums instead of commanding respect and sovereignty. Her Anne is not a woman that would make a man break laws of god and men to be with her. And the film does not ever seem to be on Anne's side at all. There is no mention of the other men she allegedly had affairs with (most scholars believe she was innocent of all the crimes brought against her), but in this version she is more than willing to sleep with her own brother to secure a male heir. But perhaps the film's greatest misstep is in making Anne Boleyn's motivation to rise in rank as simple sibling rivalry with Mary. It seems like a pretty petty reason for someone to have such lofty ambitions especially since Johansson's Mary is a simpering dolt with no drive (or personality) at all.
Looking at the film now it's more interesting to see the other actors (Benedict Cumberbatch, Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne, Andrew Garfield - he's in the credits, although I have no idea where he was in the film, and Game of Thrones' Alfie Allen) before they became more well-known. As the actual stars of the film are never able to show why Anne Boleyn has remained a fixture in entertainment all these years later, her story a staple of historical drama. But that certainly hasn't stopped filmmakers from creating their own take on her tale as the legend and intrigue of Anne Boleyn seems to never fade...
Other Notable Annes: Vanessa Redgrave makes a silent cameo appearance as Boleyn in A Man for All Seasons. Before Natalie Dormer appeared on Game of Thrones, she was already versed in palace intrigue as Boleyn in Showtime's series The Tudors. And Helena Bonham Carter played her in a 2003 BBC/PBS production of Henry VIII.
Do you have a favorite performance or film about Anne Boleyn and why do you think her story has been told so many times? Let us know before you lose your head...
Reader Comments (21)
Genevieve Bujold's is without question the outstanding characterization of the three. Those 60's historical pageants can be a slog at times but for a history buff/film fan/star gazer they can also be heaven. Anne of the Thousand Days and the others were stretched out to roadshow length, if that hadn't been a requirement they probably would have been cut to have a peppier rhythm and not feel so ponderous at times as they do now.
Merle is lovely as always and gives a gentle reading but she's in and out so fast she doesn't have time to make much of the part. It's true that Laughton is grotesque at times but then Henry VIII was certainly that by the end of his life. I didn't know that the film was originally planned to simply focus on Henry and Anne of Cleves though that would explain why Elsa's is wife with the most dimension.
The Other Boleyn Girl stinks on ice! It plays so fast and loose with the facts and is so dull on top of it I could barely finish it. When it was over the only one I could remember from it was Kristen Scott Thomas's sharp work as Lady Boleyn, Anne's mother.
While it was never released theatrically as far as I know the 70's BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry the VIII contains an excellent portrayal by Dorothy Tutin of the ill-fated Anne. That's actually a great starting place to get an idea of who all the wives were since each get their own episode for their story to be told.
joel6 -- i've never understood when historical dramas play fast and loose with facts which are already dramatic. It's not like ALL of history needs embellishments. Sometimes history is weirder and more dramatic than a screenwriter can come up with.
anyway...
Bujold is a reall fascinating actress in the right part but it doesn't seem like she's had anything like the right part to stay in play since, what, 88? (Dead Ringers). But she was so great in CHOOSE ME (1984) as well.
Nathaniel I'm completely with you on the rejiggering of history. There are times in history that are so incredible it's hard to believe they are true and yet script writers are constantly reworking the stories often to their detriment. It's maddening.
With Bujold, I don't know what happened there she seemed poised to be an enormous star. Perhaps she was too selective or maybe she just preferred to work internationally rather then be constrained by Hollywood. She was wonderful in Choose Me and she also had a good role, which she was marvelous in, in the very strange House of Yes in 1997. Looking at her filmography she took a 5 year break after 2006 and has worked only sporadically since hopefully someone like Francois Ozon will rediscover her as he did with Charlotte Rampling and recharge her career.
I really love Bujold. She was a major player in the 70s, appearing in huge pulpy blockbusters--Earthquake and Coma, critical darlings--Obsession, and starstudded fare--Alex and the Gypsy, Swashbuckler, Another Man, Another Chance, and Murder by Decree. But it appears that many have regrettably forgotten her. She should have been Oscar-nominated for Dead Ringers. She definitely should have gotten more plum roles.
King of Hearts (1966): If you like or love Bujold and haven't seen this movie, I hope you can find it. I have adored her since seeing it at a revival house when I was a wee lad.
Build certainly is a sparkling presence. She reminds me that passion doesn't have to be played as dark and draggy, and that lightness and quickness are artistic skills that aren't synonymous with superficial and rushed.
I was surprised to realize that I've seen her in 14 movies, although I still haven't seen her recent well-reviewed "Still Mine" with James Cromwell.
Whenever I read actresses saying that they want to play Anne Boleyn, I think why? Yes, it seems like a part that has all the elements of a juicy role, but I have nagging doubts about it actually being a good role. It seems to suck up all an actress can give to it without giving anything back. It's like every writer has a take on it, and the actor has to enliven the take.
Out of all the Boleyn portrayals, Bujoid got the closest. Her's is the best representation. I may not have cared for The Other Boleyn Girl, but it is beautiful. Those costumes were amazing! As for Private Life of Henry, the most interesting part for me was Katherine Howard. She is hardly ever spoken of in pop culture and out of all the wives she appears in them the most. Imagine if they made a movie about her someone like Sairsare Ronon would get another Oscar nomination.
Bujold autocorrected to Build. Autocorrect, the hubris vanquisher.
Anne Boleyn is a great part and Genvieve Bujold set the standard that has held up until this year when I saw Claire Foy in Wolf Hall. I wouldn't say that Foy is better in the part, just that she is Bujold's equal in terms of acting the part in a believably powerful manner.
Since I'm Canadian and grew up in Montreal I'm a fan of Bujold, and it's nice to see that she has fans on this blog. I share your hope that she is re-discovered by a current director.
When I saw "The Other Boleyn Girl" I found both Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson totally underwhelming. I was infuriated that they had ever been cast in those parts. People call Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, and Helena Bonham Carter "corset queens" with a certain derision but it takes a certain kind of gravity, and gracefulness to do well in historical parts.
Genvieve Bujold, Vanessa Redgrave, and Glenda Jackson were the best at it in the 70's, and it's films like "The Other Boleyn Girl" that prove just how difficult it can be.
Bujold is definitely the most memorable of the three offered. It was no small feat for any actress to hold their own against Burton, especially in the 60's when he finally mastered the art of film acting.
Natalie Dormer from The Tudors would be my other choice. She has the advantage of getting to develop Boleyn over the course of many episodes, but by the end of those episodes, I found myself regretting her absence.
In an unrelated note (sort of), I'd like to put a plug in for Bujold in Still Mine. I was blown away by how well she inhabited the life of the character, and how comfortable she appeared to be in her own skin. It was one of the best performances by an actress in 2013 but was sadlly overlooked.
LadyEdith -- you're so right about the 'corset queen' thing. So many actors cannot ably do period. It's a very specific skill and you're right that gravitas is the key component
Bujold is still the best Anne
I think that it is just marvelous that, in this season, Wolf Hall is produced both on TV and Broadway. I mean, how often does that happen?
and the sexy hot Eric Bana is so underrated.
To me, Natalie Dormer is Anne Boleyn. But all of this Bujold appreciation is fantastic. Like joel6 I think she's aces in House of Yes, and not nearly enough people know about King of Hearts. It's lovely.
A Man For All Seasons is a mere relic now? In your airy little head it might be...
tom - that miniseries with helena bonham carter was about all 6 wives and emily blunt actually played catherine howard. but she's always seemed like anne boleyn-lite to me. they were second cousins and the only 2 of his wives to be put to death through beheading. but howard was so young and not as ambitious as anne, definitely used by her family for advancement and unlike anne there's no doubt she cheated on henry.
i'm really enjoying the bujold lovefest. i can still remember seeing her in "anne..." for the first time and audibly saying several times, "god, she's so good". but her career is definitely...interesting. apparently she wanted out of her contract with universal in the '70s and they sued her. and i don't think mainstream success was ever on her mind. she was supposed to be the captain on Star Trek:Voyager but dropped out without finishing the pilot because she didn't like the schedule and refused to do interviews...
I second LadyEdith on Claire Foy - she's so good in WOLF HALL that she in my opinion stole the show from Mark Rylance.
Paul - I'm glad someone else remembered KING OF HEARTS! My parents loved that movie and played it a lot when I was growing up - I never really cared for it, but I do remember being quite taken with Bujold.
I remember knowing Bujold's name but the first thng I saw her in was Coma. She fills the screen any time she is in frame, everyone else has to fight to be noticed (watch Irons struggle to keep up with her in Dead Ringers). I rememeber the fuss over Star Trek I have a copy of Thousand Days that I need to watch. Personally, I love Dormer's interpretation. There is an energy under her work that lifts the performance regardless of the role or story.
Wolf Hall is a BBC series (broadcast by PBS in the US)! Just wanted to point that out :-)
Dormer is very much a small screen actress. Catch her in Silk or even Elementary. I'm very surprised no one has built a series around her as of yet although the first season of Tudors felt more like the Anne Boleyn story than the Henry Tudor story.
Of the list, Claire and Genevieve are the one who best portrayed Anne traits and personality, Genevieve IS anne.
Natalie Portman is probably the one who most resembles her, though.
Some people cited Natalie Dormer in the comments, and to me she is... meh. A very stereotypical mean girl, and i can't take the Tudors characterization seriously. They look and dress nothing like the Tudors, it seems like i'm watching a vogue parade with a lot of hot people prone to have sex with each other.