The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Biography, Drama, History |
The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical romantic drama film directed by Justin Chadwick. The screenplay by Peter Morgan was adapted from Philippa Gregory’s 2001 novel of the same name. It is a fictionalised account of the lives of 16th-century aristocrats Mary Boleyn, one-time mistress of King Henry VIII, and her sister, Anne, who became the monarch’s ill-fated second wife, though much history is distorted.
Production studio BBC Films also owns the rights to adapt the sequel novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, which tells the story of Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Jane Parker.
King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon is troubled as she has not produced a living male heir to the throne, having only one surviving child, Mary. Mary Boleyn marries William Carey. After the festivities, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and his brother-in-law Thomas Boleyn plan to install Boleyn’s eldest daughter, Anne Boleyn, as the king’s mistress, with the hope that Anne will bear him a son and that she’ll be able to improve her family’s wealth and status. Anne’s mother, Lady Elizabeth Boleyn, is disgusted by the plot, but Anne eventually agrees as a way to please her father and uncle.
While visiting the Boleyn estate, Henry is injured in a hunting accident that was indirectly caused by Anne. Urged by her scheming uncle, Mary nurses Henry. Henry becomes smitten with Mary and invites her to court, to which Mary and her husband reluctantly agree, aware that the king has invited her because he desires her.
Director: Justin Chadwick
Writers: Peter Morgan (screenplay), Philippa Gregory (novel)
Stars: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey
►Cast:
| Natalie Portman | … | Anne Boleyn |
| Scarlett Johansson | … | Mary Boleyn |
| Eric Bana | … | Henry Tudor |
| Jim Sturgess | … | George Boleyn |
| Mark Rylance | … | Sir Thomas Boleyn |
| Kristin Scott Thomas | … | Lady Elizabeth Boleyn |
| David Morrissey | … | The Duke of Norfolk |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | … | William Carey |
| Oliver Coleman | … | Henry Percy |
| Ana Torrent | … | Katherine of Aragon |
| Eddie Redmayne | … | William Stafford |
| Tom Cox | … | Rider |
| Michael Smiley | … | Physician |
| Montserrat Roig de Puig | … | Lady in Waiting |
| Juno Temple | … | Jane Parker |
| Iain Mitchell | … | Thomas Cromwell |
| Andrew Garfield | … | Francis Weston (credit only) |
| Mark Lewis Jones | … | Brandon |
| Corinne Galloway | … | Jane Seymour |
| Alfie Allen | … | King’s Messenger |
| Joseph Moore | … | Young Henry |
| Tiffany Freisberg | … | Mary Talbot |
| Bill Wallis | … | Archbishop Cranmer |
| Joanna Scanlan | … | Midwife |
| Brodie Judge | … | Young Catherine |
| Oscar Negus | … | Little Henry |
| Maisie Smith | … | Young Elizabeth |
| Daisy Doidge-Hill | … | Young Anne |
| Kizzy Fassett | … | Young Mary |
| Finton Reilly | … | Young George |
| Emma Noakes | … | Maid |
| Poppy Hurst | … | Little Catherine |
| Constance Stride | … | Mary Tudor |
| Stefana Brancastle | … | Lady in Waiting |
| Victoria Bull | … | Lady-in-Waiting to Jane Boleyn |
| Christian Challis | … | King’s Guard |
| Gemma Cooper | … | French Courtier |
| Elizabeth Croft | … | Lady Duncombe |
| James Fiddy | … | Nobleman |
| Oihana Garde | … | Lady in Waiting Film (Feature) |
| Rebecca Grant | … | French Courtier |
| Helen Holman | … | Wedding Guest |
| David Jones Jr. | … | Rider |
| Marysia Kay | … | Mary Boleyn’s Maid |
| Lexie Lambert | … | Mary Boleyn’s Maid |
| Hain MacSheoinin | … | Tower of London Guard |
| Shane Nolan | … | King’s Guard |
| Benjamin O’Mahony | … | Henry Percy |
| John Paton | … | Sir John Seymour |
| Mark Smith | … | Howard Nobleman |
| Karol Steele | … | Noblewoman |
| Serena Tona | … | Wench |
| Emma West | … | Maid |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia