Anne Boleyn (TV series)

Anne Boleyn is a three-episode British psychological thriller made for Channel 5. Jodie Turner-Smith plays the title character. The story takes place during the last five months of Anne Boleyn’s life, ending with her beheading for treason in 1536. Eve Hedderwick Turner wrote the series, Lynsey Miller directed it, and historian Dan Jones served as an executive producer.

The show follows Anne as she tries to have a male heir and push back against the society she was born into, examining her life through a feminist lens. Ben Frow of Channel 5 first mentioned the project at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in summer 2020. It was officially announced in October 2020 as a “convention-defying” series from Fable Pictures. Faye Ward and Hannah Farrell produced it.

Jodie Turner-Smith was announced as the star in October 2020, along with Paapa Essiedu, Amanda Burton, Thalissa Teixeira, Barry Ward, and Jamael Westman. Mark Stanley joined the cast as Henry VIII the following month. Filming took place over six weeks in Yorkshire, finishing in December 2020. Locations included Castle Howard, Bolton Castle, Bolton Abbey, Oakwell Hall, St Michael’s Church, Harewood House, and Ripley Castle.

The first episode aired in the UK on Channel 5 on 1 June 2021. Sony Pictures Television co-financed the project with Channel 5 and handled international distribution. In the United States, it was released on AMC+, and in Canada on Crave.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 53% approval rating from 20 critics, with an average score of 6.2 out of 10. The critics’ consensus says: “Though the show around her isn't quite up to snuff, there's no denying the pleasure of Jodie Turner-Smith's powerful turn as the one-and-only Anne Boleyn.” *The Guardian* and *The Independent* each gave it three out of five stars. Lucy Mangan of *The Guardian* said the series “works” but criticized its “silly surplus of metaphors” and portrayal of Henry. Adam White of *The Independent* called it a “soapy romp” that suited the story. Turner-Smith’s performance was widely praised. Beth Webb of *Empire* called the series “a showcase of Jodie Turner-Smith's resilience as a performer” and noted that the “small but well-assembled supporting cast elevates her performance.”

There was criticism over race-swapping historical characters, as some black actors played white historical figures, including Boleyn herself.