Wolf Hall: Anna Regina (BBC-2 4 Feb 2015, Jessica Raine)

In Anna Regina although he has no official title, Cromwell is increasingly relied on to run the King’s affairs.

Cromwell manoeuvres a Bill through Parliament acknowledging Henry, rather than the Pope, as head of the Church of England. This is the first step in Henry granting his own divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

Out of the blue, a major obstacle to Henry’s marriage plan arises when Harry Percy’s wife claims her own marriage is unlawful on the grounds that her husband had previously made a binding contract of marriage with Anne Boleyn. With the Cardinal now dead the Boleyn family look to Cromwell to fix Harry Percy, a task Cromwell approaches with relish, remembering how Percy helped bring the Cardinal down.

As Anne and Cromwell become allies, Anne secures him a formal position in the King’s household.

The King and his Court head to Calais to meet with the French King. At a dance, Anne flirts with the French nobility, to Henry’s evident fury. She and Henry argue violently, but when they are reconciled Henry finally pledges himself to Anne before witnesses. Henry marries Anne upon their return to England and she is crowned Queen. Even in her moment of triumph, Anne feels trapped; she knows the old noble families hate her and will never accept her.

Anne is pregnant and leaves Court to begin her confinement. She has achieved what she wanted, but it has come at a cost. She must now produce a male heir or risk suffering Katherine’s fate.

production details
UK / BBC Two / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 4 February 2015 @ 9.00pm

Writer: Peter Straughan / Director: Peter Kosminsky

Series: Wolf Hall Season 1 Episode 3 (of 6)

cast
Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell
Damian Lewis as Henry VIII
Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn
Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey
Bernard Hill as Duke of Norfolk
Anton Lesser as Thomas More
Mark Gatiss as Stephen Gardiner
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Rafe Sadler
Harry Lloyd as Harry Percy
Jessica Raine as Jane Rochford
Saskia Reeves as Johane Williamson
Charity Wakefield as Mary Boleyn
Joss Porter as Richard Cromwell
Tom Holland as Gregory Cromwell
Kate Phillips as Jane Seymour
Robert Wilfort as George Cavendish
Richard Dillane as Duke of Suffolk
Luke Roberts as Henry Norris
Will Keen as Thomas Cranmer
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Francis Weston
David Robb as Sir Thomas Boleyn
Joel MacCormack as Thomas Wriothesley
Max Fowler as Mark Smeaton
Alastair Mackenzie as William Brereton
Edward Holcroft as George Boleyn