Everyone has fixated on one thing about this three-part miniseries Anne Boleyn (2021) — that Jodie Turner-Smith in the title role is Black and the historical figure she portrays is not. But I’m pretty sure that folks complaining about that haven’t watched the show because there’s plenty to discuss, pro and con, about it without even noting Turner-Smith’s or Boleyn’s skin color. Sure, it’s a factor, but not at all so massive as the internet made it seem.
Do you want to read all of this review (with over 3,600 words and almost 50 images) about Anne Boleyn (2021)? The full post is available on Patreon for our subscribers! Check it out here. We’ll make this post available to everyone one year from today. Until then, only Patreon subscribers can view it!
What is Patreon? It’s a simple way you can support our work. Pledge as little as a two dollars (or your local equivalent) each month to keep our site running, and in return, you’ll get access to subscriber-only content like this.
We’ll be back tomorrow with a post for everyone. Just as we noted in one podcast, we want to give those who subscribe regular exclusive content. We’re also thinking of how to provide exclusive content for PayPal supporters, so if you have ideas, drop us a line!
This wasn’t colorblind casting it was stunt casting. The show makers were looking to make a statement and get attention. Miss Turner-Smith’s acting chops were irrelevant. It was all about her color. Also the costumes look awful.
Thank you for this honest statement. Moreover, I think that actors, playing historical characters, should externally resemble them.
I agree. I also think it’s hypocritical to complain about things like Mary Queen of Scots not being portrayed as a redhead, not to mention things like white actors playing Asian characters, but not about this much more extreme deviation from the original historical figure.
Double standards really bother me.
Laughing Cavalier has some nice material on this.
I’m all for colour-blind testing especially if it reveals new insights. However, I was disappointed in this one. A great actress wasted. It was turgid, and the script wasn’t that good. And unfortunately it added nothing new. Wolf Hall still reigns for me.
The costumes sucked, too.
I’ll be the dissenting voice in one regard — though the costumes leave a LOT to be desired, I thought Jodie Turner-Smith was among the better Annes I’ve seen in terms of performance lately (a few weird moments in the script notwithstanding). She had a very dignified air going for her that I thought made sense for the stretch of time the series was portraying (trying to maintain her composure and power rather than go to pieces as the world turns against her), and she and the directors found a way to make her Anne sensual and alluring without going into hypersexualization or objectification at the appropriate times (for the most part).
I sincerely was curious about this film. But it was just so boring and the inaccuracy definitely killed this for me. Screw her skin tone- Anne orders the execution of a peasant woman without trial for spitting at her (as if a queen could condemn anyone to death) and Henry VIII is the sub in their word bdsm-ish relationship. Thank you, no