Anne Boleyn star Mark Stanley has defended the casting of Jodie Turner-Smith as the doomed Queen after she became the first black actress to play the historic role.
The actor, who plays King Henry VIII in the three-part drama, insisted such colourblind casting needs to be the way forward to improve representation, and said Jodie s performance was more about capturing the energy of the Queen.
It comes after fans were left unimpressed and bored on Tuesday night when they tuned into Anne Boleyn s first episode, with many quick to point out historical inaccuracies in the Channel 5 drama. Moving forward : Anne Boleyn star Mark Stanley has defended the casting of Jodie Turner-Smith as the doomed Queen after she became the first black actress to play the historic role
Yet despite viewers praising Jodie for her brilliant portrayal, show watchers were left unimpressed by the historical inaccuracies during the first instalment.
Jodie Turner-Smith shared a tender onscreen kiss with love rival Jane Seymour, played by Lola Petticrew, during the first episode of her new drama Anne Boleyn on Tuesday night.
The opening instalment also involved racy sex scenes between Anne, played by Jodie, 34, and Henry VIII, played by Mark Stanley, with one moment seeing the doomed queen strangle her husband before putting on a passionate display.
During the first episode, it sees a pregnant Anne blindsided by the realisation that Henry has an eye on one of her ladies, Jane Seymour, who eventually goes on to succeed her as the Queen of England.
Jodie Turner-Smith has reflected on being the first black actress to be cast as Anne Boleyn in Channel 5 s forthcoming three-part drama.
Speaking to Radio Times on Tuesday, The Queen and Slim star, 34, admitted that she knew it might be a stretch for some viewers to see her as the doomed second wife of Henry VIII, but said she was sure others were finally ready to see her in the role.
Jodie is the first black actress to portray Anne, and she follows in the footsteps of Natalie Dormer, Claire Foy and Natalie Portman by playing the historic part. I am aware it s going to be a stretch for some people : Jodie Turner-Smith reflected on being the first black actress to be cast as Anne Boleyn in a new interview on Tuesday
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Talking about the new show stills and the anniversary of Anne Boleyn s death, Jodie said: There s so much about Anne’s legend that people believe – whether it s that she was a witch, she had six fingers, or that she had an incestuous relationship with her brother – we ve seen all these things portrayed in popular culture. I think that for the most part we ve seen (Anne’s) story told through the lens of the other people around her.
Historic: Henry VIII s second wife Anne Boleyn was famously beheaded on 19 May in 1536 for high treason after failing to produce a male heir (Jodie pictured as Anne, right, in still)