Entertainment

Veteran Cast Brings Sex, Intrigue To 'The Tudors'

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The reign of the Tudors was never quite like this: The most famous British monarch of the 1500s is getting a sexy makeover in Showtime's new drama "The Tudors," which debuts with online episodes starting March 19.

With a cast lead by Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII, the show follows the life and loves of the ruler who scandalized his court and ultimately broke from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church to found the Church of England. The show is no history lesson, though: The focus will be on the comings, goings, and occasional beheadings of the king's mistresses and wives.

Rhys Meyers first gained international attention for his starring role in Todd Haynes' "Velvet Goldmine" opposite Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Toni Collette. Rhys Meyers' performance as ex-glam rocker Brian Slade garnered him a London Film Critics Circle Award nomination.

In 2006, the young Irish actor received a Golden Globe Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie" and an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of the young Elvis Presley in the television miniseries "Elvis." Rhys Meyers was most recently seen in "Mission: Impossible III" and opposite Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's "Match Point."

Drawing courtiers' eyes and royal attention, Henry's mistress and second queen Anne Boleyn is brought to life by actress Natalie Dormer. A native of Reading, England, Dormer had her breakthrough screen debut opposite Heath Ledger in the period comedy "Casanova." Along with experience in British theatre, she lists appearances in such television series as "Rebus" and "Distant Shores" among her credits.

Multiple Golden Globe nominee Sam Neill stars as Cardinal Wolsey, the minister who tries to secure a divorce from the pope which would allow the king to wed a mistress. Neill was born in Northern Ireland before his family returned to New Zealand when he was 7 years old. Among his many credits are two "Jurassic Park" movies, "Event Horizon," "The Horse Whisperer," "Wimbledon" and the Australian TV mini-series "Mary Bryant."

Actor Jeremy Northam portrays Thomas More, an official who comes into conflict with the headstrong monarch. Northam made his American film debut in "The Net," but has appeared frequently in British period films such as "Carrington," "Emma," "The Winslow Boy," "An Ideal Husband," "Enigma," and as famed actor and singer Ivor Novello in Robert Altman's Oscar-winning "Gosford Park."

Maria Doyle Kennedy stars as Katherine of Aragon, wife of Henry's brother and then first wife of the young king. Doyle Kennedy made her big-screen debut in 1991 in Alan Parker's "The Commitments." Among her feature film credits are "The General" and "Tara Road." Her career in television includes "Oliver Twist," the British version of "Queer As Folk," and 2006's "Hide and Seek." Doyle Kennedy also has a parallel career as a recording artist and live performer, recording two albums with "The Black Velvet Band" before releasing her highly acclaimed solo album, "Charm," in 2001.

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