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Original poster

To think Wolf Hall / Damian Lewis is the best ever portrayal of Henry VIII?

84 replies

Bluelane · 26/11/2024 08:39

Just that really. You can feel the tension, impulsiveness, and danger every time he’s on screen. You can feel the threat that must have felt by those around him at the time, it feels really accurate. Amazing writing / acting, such a contrast to the pantomime villain we often get.

OP posts:
fourquenelles · 28/11/2024 10:01

soupfiend · 28/11/2024 07:50

Henry VIII?

How old are you??!!

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That would be telling Wink

Silenus · 28/11/2024 08:46

Sourisblanche · 28/11/2024 08:32

Sitting behind HenryVIII at Lords gave me a much needed giggle this morning!

When we lived in the US, we knew people who refused to believe DL wasn’t American after he was in Homeland. Such an amazing actor.

Helen McCrory joked on Desert Island Discs after lockdown that she’d only just found out that DL wasn’t American after they’d had to spend so much time together during Covid.

Sourisblanche · 28/11/2024 08:32

Sitting behind HenryVIII at Lords gave me a much needed giggle this morning!

When we lived in the US, we knew people who refused to believe DL wasn’t American after he was in Homeland. Such an amazing actor.

soupfiend · 28/11/2024 07:50

fourquenelles · 27/11/2024 21:03

Sat behind him at Lord's many many moons ago. Sounded a bit "Sloane Ranger" ish for those who remember them but not overly high pitched.

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Henry VIII?

How old are you??!!

Catsmere · 28/11/2024 05:03

Never seen anyone to equal Keith Michell in The Six Wives of Henry VIII (the series, not the film). And Wolfe Morris as the utterly repellent Cromwell.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 27/11/2024 22:34

Oh god I was going to save this for when my paid subscriptions had come to an end, but I need to see this now, thanks to this thread.

I adore DL, especially when he is playing evil arseholes. He was good in Band of Brothers, but he is sooo good in Homeland and even better in Billions although it's cheesy trash and you knew that as soon as he left the show.

He dominates every scene he is in, with his eyes alone 😳.

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/11/2024 22:27

I'm re-watching series 1 and finding myself almost physically sick at the menace as Cromwell deals with the Barton girl and Margaret Pole and Bishop Fisher. And Thomas More before he signed his death warrant and was threatening Cromwell. Difficult times to live in, adn the dangers so well portrayed.

WestwardHo1 · 27/11/2024 22:15

I have to admit I have not read the books, though I studied England during the Reformation for A Level many moons ago. I'm constantly wondering while watching it at Cromwell's motivation - loyal servant or self promoter? Did he find himself up to his neck too late and there was no way out except forwards? He must have known that people close to Henry ended up dead.

Mark Rylance is mesmerising. For a small man, he exudes utter charisma. He has the most interesting face I've ever seen and when he smiles, it's like the sun coming out. It's been a decade long crush.

As for Henry's/DL's high voice - shudder. Like Voldemort 😁

ProvincialLady24 · 27/11/2024 21:52

He's not physically fat and disgusting enough, but otherwise he is perfect.

Allswellthatendswelll · 27/11/2024 21:52

Such a good portrayal. You really see how a young, charming prince turns into a paranoid monster but they are still the same man all the way through.

I am finding TMATL almost unbearable to watch, as I found the book to read. It's the tension as the noose is silently tightening around Cromwell!

fourquenelles · 27/11/2024 21:16

BalloonSlayer · 27/11/2024 21:10

@Fourquenelles I think @soupfiend was talking about Henry VIII

Nope didn't sit behind him! 😂

Original poster
Bluelane · 27/11/2024 21:12

Amazing actor, but I think we can all agree Mark Rylance’s finest performance is Flop in Bing.

OP posts:
BalloonSlayer · 27/11/2024 21:10

@Fourquenelles I think @soupfiend was talking about Henry VIII

fourquenelles · 27/11/2024 21:03

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:57

Im sure I read somewhere that in real life apparently he had quite a high voice, not like you would imagine.

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Sat behind him at Lord's many many moons ago. Sounded a bit "Sloane Ranger" ish for those who remember them but not overly high pitched.

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:57

MagdaLenor · 27/11/2024 20:45

Damian Lewis is excellent. Mercurial, paranoid, spoilt, narcissistic, charming.
I like the soft voice, it's actually quite frightening.

Im sure I read somewhere that in real life apparently he had quite a high voice, not like you would imagine.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 27/11/2024 20:52

LakieLady · 27/11/2024 20:13

Mark Rylance is simply a brilliant actor - spellbinding without being show-offy. He almost under-acts, but I find I can't take my eyes off him when he's on the screen.

I'd love to see him on the stage, see if he has the same presence IRL.

He and DL together are so good, I almost forget it's not real.

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I've described this before, but anyway here goes. I had the opportunity to see MR as Iago at the Shakespeare Globe (2018?). I am not the world's greatest Shakespeare fan, but give it a go periodically because I know I should! Production starts, going well, lots of clowning around. Slightly surprising. 1/3 of the way through MR leans in to the audience for a soliloquy (do not be upset if I misquote) - The Moor I do but hate him. MR then moves the audience physically as he drops and raises his voice/tone. The whole Shakespeare Globe audience moving (seats or not) in/out to hear him, to catch the venom. Breathtaking.

MagdaLenor · 27/11/2024 20:45

Damian Lewis is excellent. Mercurial, paranoid, spoilt, narcissistic, charming.
I like the soft voice, it's actually quite frightening.

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:40

canyon2000 · 27/11/2024 20:23

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Sid James!

Oh now you're talking!

Silenus · 27/11/2024 20:38

LakieLady · 27/11/2024 20:13

Mark Rylance is simply a brilliant actor - spellbinding without being show-offy. He almost under-acts, but I find I can't take my eyes off him when he's on the screen.

I'd love to see him on the stage, see if he has the same presence IRL.

He and DL together are so good, I almost forget it's not real.

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He’s astonishing onstage, but something like his Rooster Byron in Jerusalem has a completely different physicality to his Cromwell — boozy, leery, gabby, faded daredevil type. I once saw him out of character, walking into a play at the RSC. He looked short, slight and watchful. Hat tipped back on his head.

canyon2000 · 27/11/2024 20:23

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Sid James!

socialdilemmawhattodo · 27/11/2024 20:22

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:06

No he is in old age (for him) during this period, he was 47 when he had Edward and he died 9 years later, his young days are long gone even by the time he is with Anne Boleyn

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Yes many did live long beyond that. It was that ulcerated leg that must have done it for him.

Lost a para. Essentially I dont mind too much if physical representation is not quite there. Apart from the representation of OJ Simpson by Otis (?). That didnt work for me.

DL and MR have the ability to drive the representation through their personalities and movements.

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:21

Uricon2 · 27/11/2024 20:13

He still wasn't what he became by Catherine Howard I don't think. He had so much wrong with him (known and very interestingly speculative) that his degeneration was very marked.

I do agree that Holbein flattered him and he wouldn't have compared well to DL.

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No he certainly got worse but Jane was also nursing him too.

LakieLady · 27/11/2024 20:13

Musntapplecrumble · 26/11/2024 23:51

Agree, especially that you don't know what version of Henry DL will portray from one scene to the next...but LOVE Mark Rylance's performance. Surely he is Hilary Mantel's Cromwell come to life!😍

Mark Rylance is simply a brilliant actor - spellbinding without being show-offy. He almost under-acts, but I find I can't take my eyes off him when he's on the screen.

I'd love to see him on the stage, see if he has the same presence IRL.

He and DL together are so good, I almost forget it's not real.

Uricon2 · 27/11/2024 20:13

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:06

No he is in old age (for him) during this period, he was 47 when he had Edward and he died 9 years later, his young days are long gone even by the time he is with Anne Boleyn

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He still wasn't what he became by Catherine Howard I don't think. He had so much wrong with him (known and very interestingly speculative) that his degeneration was very marked.

I do agree that Holbein flattered him and he wouldn't have compared well to DL.

soupfiend · 27/11/2024 20:09

Uricon2 · 27/11/2024 20:06

Ray Winston was the strangest approach to Henry that I ever hope I see.

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Have you ever seen Charles Laughton?