See the first teaser of Jodie Turner-Smith playing Anne Boleyn
Jodie Turner-Smith has grown — deservedly — comfortable with a crown. The actress, whose turn as Queen in Melina Matsoukas’s Queen and Slim earned her widespread critical acclaim, is taking it back a few centuries to play the infamous Tudor queen Anne Boleyn in the three-part psychological drama Anne Boleyn for Channel 5.
Boleyn is one of the most popular and debated figures in all of British history: the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 and the second wife of King Henry VIII. Her spectacular death by beheading serves as only one of several colourful moments in her complicated marriage —she was also delightfully accused of treason and, mayhaps, witchcraft.
“We can only infer who she was, because she left no paper trail that would hint at her imagination. She’s endlessly fascinating for that reason,” Turner-Smith told Elle. Turner-Smith hopes to “tell the story of the woman who sits at the centre of the myth and make that story an accessible one—one that’s not entirely about class, but about humanity. Because whether a woman is a queen or a housekeeper, she is not exempt from any of the challenges and trials that women face in navigating their bodies, love, or the patriarchy.” She added: “There’s an opportunity to tell a real human story and for it to feel that much more accessible because a Black woman is playing her.”
Turner-Smith will be the first Black woman to take on the role; previous actresses who played Anne Boleyn include Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Natalie Portman, and Claire Foy.
The Channel 5 series will focus primarily on Boleyn's final months, during which she fights for the future of her young daughter — the future Queen Elizabeth I. Beyond that, we don’t know too many plot details.
Your first look at our Queen Jodie Turner-Smith as Anne Boleyn, coming soon to @channel5_tv#AnneBoleyn #JodieTurnerSmith #Channel5 @MissJodie pic.twitter.com/n8UHymFgW7
— Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) April 7, 2021
According to Variety, the Tudor tale is set to debut later this year in the UK; the “coming soon” note at the end of the teaser implies we won’t have to wait long.
In need of some at-home inspiration? Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for skincare and self-care, the latest cultural hits to read and download, and the little luxuries that make staying in so much more satisfying.
Plus, sign up here to get Harper’s Bazaar magazine delivered straight to your door.
You Might Also Like
