The Tudors

Series 4 Images

Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)

The young Henry VIII was an artist, musician, theologian and sportsman, but the failure of his first wife Katherine of Aragon to produce a male heir brought out his darker side. Through the years he transformed from a renaissance Prince into an overweight tyrant.

Katherine Howard (Tamzin Merchant)

Katherine had been chosen for Henry VIII to rejuvenate the overweight King. She had been raised in a house for wayward ladies and, unbeknownst to the King, came to Whitehall with a dubious sexual past. To Henry's sadness, she was executed on charges of adultery.

Anne of Cleves (Joss Stone)

Henry's advisers thought it would be politically astute to make an alliance with the Protestant stronghold of Germany. Anne was chosen as a suitable princess. Henry found it difficult to like her, but was unable to extricate himself from the marriage. She became his fourth wife.

Princess Mary (Sarah Bolger)

Mary grew up quickly in the court, sometimes acting as her father's hostess at parties and royal social events. Catholic, well educated and increasingly confident, the future "Bloody Mary" would eventually become the Queen of England.

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (Henry Cavill)

Charles distinguished himself in the 1513 campaign in France. He died in 1545, a year after commanding an English army against the French. Through Frances, a daughter of his marriage to Henry’s sister Mary Tudor, Charles was grandfather to Lady Jane Grey who reigned for nine days in 1553.

Edward Seymour (Max Brown)

As brother to the King's third wife, Jane Seymour, Edward had much to gain from Henry VIII. Upon the eventual death of Henry, Edward's young nephew, Prince Edward Tudor, became King Edward VI of England, with Edward effectively ruling as Lord Protector.

Thomas Seymour (Andrew McNair)

The initial object of Catherine Parr's affections, Thomas Seymour was also brother to the King's third wife, Jane Seymour and Edward Seymour, his eventual political rival. Thomas would eventually marry the King's sixth wife Catherine after Henry VIII's death in 1547.

Queen Catherine (Joely Richardson)

Catherine was Henry VIII's sixth and final marriage. She came close to being tried for treason when she was accused of being a committed Protestan, but convinced Henry that she was loyal. After Henry's death she married Thomas Seymour, but died in childbirth soon after.