Yahoo News The best Tudor movies and TV shows to watch if you like Wolf Hall
Wolf Hall is the latest in a long history of Tudor era dramas to captivate the nation
The Tudors, and particularly the life of Henry VIII, his children and his advisor Thomas Cromwell have inspired stories in film and TV for decades, the latest of which is Wolf Hall.
Starring Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis, the BBC series charts Cromwell's rise to power during Henry VIII's reign from the dissolution of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, to his wedding of Anne Boleyn and her beheading, to now, in The Mirror and The Light, his nuptials to Jane Seymour. Viewers are already in awe of the BBC show, with many remarking that season 2 is a "masterpiece".
With that in mind, what other films and shows set around the Tudor period can fans of Wolf Hall enjoy? The good news is there is a lot to choose from.
The Tudors
In the late 2000s Showtime brought the tumultuous early years of Henry VIII's reign to life on screen. The series was more of a racy soap than the period drama viewers are typically used to, which is why it went down a storm during its initial release.
The pageantry and camp nature of The Tudors made it a refreshing take on the subject, though unlike Wolf Hall it is less interested in historical accuracy of the lives of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell than it is in being pure entertainment. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was at the height of his fame when he portrayed Henry VIII, while Henry Cavill enjoyed one of his early breakout roles in the series, as did Natalie Dormer.
The Tudors is available to watch on Channel 4 and Sky Go.
Elizabeth
Though it doesn't include Thomas Cromwell, one celebrated portrayal of Tudor history is the film Elizabeth and its sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age which follows Henry VIII's daughter Queen Elizabeth I in the early days of her reign. Cate Blanchett gives a stunning portrayal of the royal in the film, and her performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and brought her worldwide acclaim.
The first movie charts the early years of Elizabeth I's reign, her ascendency to the throne after her half-sister Mary I's death and her retaining of power in the face of plots to usurp her. The sequel explores the battle between the English and Spanish Armada during Elizabeth I's reign.
Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age are available to buy and rent.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Another racy interpretation of Tudor history is Hollywood movie The Other Boleyn Girl, which depicts a plot to get Henry VIII (Eric Bana) to marry Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) by her sister Mary (Scarlett Johansson).
The film was a huge box office success, though its representation of the Boleyn sisters' relationship, and suggesting Anne considered incest in order to have a male heir, have been criticised by historians and viewers alike. Historically speaking there is no evidence of such events taking place, but the movie is one that, like The Tudors, served as an enticing watch for its scandalous nature.
The Other Boleyn Girl is available to buy and rent.
Elizabeth R
Glenda Jackson drew worldwide acclaim for her performance as Elizabeth I in the 1971 BBC drama series about the queen. The actor delivered an exceptional performance that was devoid of any vanity, as famously she had no qualms with shaving her head for the role.
Elizabeth R was famously the most expensive BBC Two drama at the time, and it was also the first to have 90-minute episodes. As well as its commendable approach to depicting history in an intriguing way, the show is noteworthy because of Jackson's definitive take on Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth R is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and Sky Go.
Shardlake
Sean Bean takes on Thomas Cromwell in the four-part Disney+ series Shardlake, which is based on the historical novels by C.J. Sansom. The story centres on disabled barrister Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) and his investigation into a mysterious murder during the dissolution of the monasteries.
While based on historical fiction, the series does present Cromwell as an intriguing villain for Shardlake to contend with as he tries to uncover the truth.
Shardlake is available to watch on Disney+.
Lady Jane
Before Prime Video gave history a fantastical twist with My Lady Jane, acclaimed theatre director Trevor Nunn told the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey in 1986. Starring Helena Bonham Carter as the Nine Days' Queen, the film charts the dangerous political landscape that Tudor England had in the wake of Henry VIII's son Edward VI's death.
The historical film was Bonham Carter's cinematic debut, and it showed her tremendous talent for acting at the age of 18. While it romanticises Lady Jane's marriage to Guildford Dudley (Cary Elwes) it is still an entrancing take on Tudor England on-screen.
Lady Jane is available on Paramount+.
