Creator: Michael Hirst
Starring: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Henry VIII, Natalie
Dormer as Anne Boleyn, Henry Cavill, Maria
Doyle-Kennedy, James Frain, and many more.
Multi Emmy award winner and numerous Golden Globe
nominations.
Plot
Season I
The Tudors follows the life of King Henry VIII and his
many controversial acts. Beginning in Season 1 when
Henry VIII was becoming desperate for a male heir and
growing distant from his first wife, the series moves
quickly to the period when Anne Boleyn became his
obsession. During this time Cardinal Wolsey rose to
become the power behind his throne, ruling ruthlessly
and nearly absolutely while Henry for the most part
followed the Cardinal's advice, manoeuvring through a
series of betrayals and plots against him.
When Anne Boleyn plays much harder to get than any woman
ever has Henry begins to search for a way out of his
marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he can make Anne
his wife. Needing a divorce, Henry turns to Wolsey, who
promises to help him create waves of backlash from the
church, as well as the Spanish Habsburg dynasty and its
overseas empire. Against this background, gyrate the
private lives and political intrigues of several members
of the royal court and chancery. This includes Henry's
friend and his sister Margaret's true love Charles
Brandon, the Habsburg ambassadors, greedy and
power-hungry schemers, their incidental victims and
composer Thomas Tallis.
Season II
The ten-episode second season (2008) of Showtime's hit
series The Tudors picks up the tale with King Henry VIII
(Jonathan Rhys Meyers) making his break from the Roman
Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England,
with himself as its head. Central plot points include
Henry's dismissal of Katherine of Aragon (Maria Doyle
Kennedy) as his queen; his marriage to Anne Boleyn
(Natalie Dormer), who gives birth to Elizabeth; and his
confrontations with Sir Thomas More (Jeremy Northam) and
Bishop Fisher (Bosco Hogan), who are charged with
treason for questioning Henry's rejection of papal
authority
Locations
Filming of indoor scenes is mostly done in Ardmore
Studios, Bray.
Outdoor locations in County Wicklow include Luggala
Estate near Roundwood, Powerscourt House and Gardens,
Killruddery House and Gardens, Brennanstown Riding
School in Bray, Humewood Castle in Kiltegan, Grange Farm
in Newcastle.
Dublin Castle and Christchurch in Dublin.
