Dec 30 2008
Better Boleyn: Battle of the Natalies
Anne Boleyn. So controversial, so tragic. We all know her story. I even inadvertently sat upon the very place of her beheading whilst in London.
Why is it that we’re so fascinated with Anne, even today? The controversy is still rather thrilling, and the historical and religious impact of the king’s will to divorce his wife to marry her is completely undeniable. Modern perceptions of Anne Boleyn also paint her as cunning and intelligent, if not almost forgivable. Then there are her clothes.
As a lady of court and later the king’s lover and then wife, Anne Boleyn would have had continual access to only the best garments of her time. Only one famous contemporary portrait of Anne exists (unknown artist), though it seems as though later eras might have influenced what we perceive as Tudor-era fashion today. Therefore–I propose a battle of the Boleyns, between two modern portrayals–Natalie Dormer (The Tudors) and Natalie Portman (The Other Boleyn Girl).
From a costuming/adoring fan perspective, Dormer’s version wins overall due to the variety of clothing used. Granted, the show has more air time than the movie, but Dormer’s version of Anne displays clothing for every season and occasion. Regarding accuracy, however, the show indulged, taking advanced embroidery from later portraits of Anne, which were actually painted in style and fashion contemporary to the Elizabethan artists who painted her.
What are your thoughts?
I’m always one for acuracy. I absolutely loved the wardrobe in The Other Boleyn Girl. I find that the costumes for the men in Tudors is closer to the original. What do you think?