If you’ve ever scrolled through Netflix or flipped through a history book, you've probably hit that moment of Tudor-mania. It’s unavoidable. But honestly, looking back at the 2008 cast of The Other Boleyn Girl, it’s kinda wild how many future A-listers were packed into one single movie. This wasn't just a period drama; it was basically a scouting report for the next decade of Hollywood and British cinema.
We’re talking Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana leading the charge. But then you look closer.
Wait, is that a young Benedict Cumberbatch? Is that Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne hanging out in the background? It’s like the casting directors had a crystal ball. Even if the film took some massive "creative liberties" with actual history (we'll get to that mess later), the sheer talent on screen is why people are still talking about it years later.
The Sisters: Portman vs. Johansson
The whole engine of this movie is the rivalry between Anne and Mary Boleyn. Natalie Portman played Anne, and Scarlett Johansson played Mary.
Natalie Portman was coming off V for Vendetta—she actually had to wear hair extensions for this role because her head was still mostly shaved. She brings this sharp, almost brittle ambition to Anne. You see it in the way she holds her neck. Portman’s Anne isn't just a victim of her family; she’s a participant. She’s "the smart one," or at least the one who thinks she can outrun a King.
Then you have Scarlett Johansson’s Mary.
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Mary is usually the forgotten sister in history books, but here, she’s the "good" one. Johansson plays her with this quiet, almost dopey sincerity that honestly makes her the only likable person in the whole family. While Anne is scheming for a crown, Mary is basically just trying to survive a house where her dad and uncle treat her like a bargaining chip.
Critics at the time were split. Some felt Johansson was a bit too "modern" for the 1500s, while others thought her restraint was the only thing that kept the movie from turning into a full-blown soap opera.
Eric Bana: The King Who Wasn't Fat (Yet)
When people think of Henry VIII, they usually think of the older, grumpy guy with the giant beard from the Holbein paintings. Eric Bana gave us the "Young Henry."
Bana’s Henry is athletic, dangerous, and—frankly—a bit of a jerk. He’s driven by this weird mix of insecurity and ego. Bana actually admitted in interviews that he didn't do much historical research. He wanted to play the character as he was written in the script: a man who was used to getting whatever he wanted and threw a tantrum when he didn't.
"I just saw him as a complex man who just happened to be the King of England," Bana said during the film's press tour.
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It worked. He managed to make Henry feel like a guy you’d meet at a party and immediately realize you should probably stay away from.
The "Before They Were Famous" Supporting Cast
This is where the cast of The Other Boleyn Girl gets really interesting for modern viewers. If you rewatch it today, you'll spend half the time pointing at the screen.
- Benedict Cumberbatch: Long before Sherlock or Doctor Strange, he was William Carey. He’s Mary’s first husband, and honestly? He gets the short end of the stick. He’s basically told to step aside so the King can sleep with his wife. It’s a thankless role, but you can see that intense Cumberbatch gaze even back then.
- Eddie Redmayne: He plays William Stafford, the man Mary eventually finds actual happiness with. He’s young, freckly, and looks about twelve years old, but he brings that soulful energy that eventually won him an Oscar for The Theory of Everything.
- Andrew Garfield: Seriously. He has a tiny role as Francis Weston. If you blink, you’ll miss the future Spider-Man hanging out in the Tudor court.
- Juno Temple: She plays Jane Parker (the sister-in-law). She’s young here, but she already has that slightly chaotic energy that made her a star in Ted Lasso.
- Jim Sturgess: He plays George Boleyn. His relationship with Anne in the movie is tragic and, well, gets pretty dark toward the end. Sturgess was the "it boy" of 2008 after Across the Universe, and he fits the "doomed brother" vibe perfectly.
The Heavy Hitters in the Background
You can't have a British period piece without Mark Rylance and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Rylance plays Thomas Boleyn, the father. It’s a chilling performance because he isn't a "villain" in the mustache-twirling sense. He’s just a man who views his daughters as assets to be traded.
Kristin Scott Thomas, playing the girls' mother, is the only one who seems to realize how badly this is all going to end. She spends most of the movie looking like she wants to scream, but she’s trapped by the era’s rules just as much as her daughters are.
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What the Cast Got Right (And What History Got Wrong)
Look, we have to talk about the "history" part. The cast of The Other Boleyn Girl did a great job with what they were given, but the script was based on Philippa Gregory’s novel, which is... let's call it "historical fan-fiction."
- The Age Gap: In the movie, Anne is the older, more experienced sister. In real life? Most historians agree Mary was actually the older one.
- The "Rape" Scene: There’s a scene where Henry forces himself on Anne. There is zero historical evidence for this. Henry wanted a legitimate heir, and raping the woman he wanted to marry would have completely undermined the "legitimacy" of any kid they had.
- The Incest: The film leans hard into the idea that Anne and her brother George actually committed incest. Again, virtually no serious historian believes this happened. It was a charge cooked up by Thomas Cromwell to make sure Anne got the axe.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
Despite the historical inaccuracies, the film works because of the chemistry. The tension between Portman and Johansson feels real. You’ve probably had a sibling rivalry, right? Maybe not one involving the King of England, but you know that "I love you but I also want to win" feeling.
The movie cost about $35 million to make and doubled that at the box office. It wasn't a massive blockbuster, but it became a staple of "afternoon cable TV" and streaming.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs:
If you’re planning a rewatch or just diving into the Tudor world, here’s how to get the most out of it:
- Watch for the Cameos: Pay attention to the background of the court scenes. Identifying Andrew Garfield and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones) is like a game of Tudor Where’s Waldo?.
- Compare Accents: Natalie Portman worked with a dialect coach for a month to get that "RP" British accent. Compare it to Johansson’s more breathy, softer take.
- Fact-Check as You Go: Keep a tab open for the Anne Boleyn Files or The Tudor Society. It makes the movie more fun when you can spot where the drama overrides the truth.
- Check out the 2003 Version: Most people don't know there was a BBC television movie of the same book five years earlier. It’s much more "stage-play" style, but it’s interesting to see a different cast (like Jared Harris as Henry) tackle the same material.
The cast of The Other Boleyn Girl basically captured a moment in time where a group of young actors were all on the verge of becoming legends. Whether you love the history or just the drama, the acting holds up even if the "facts" don't.
If you're looking for your next watch, try comparing this film to The Tudors or Wolf Hall. You'll see just how much a cast can change the "vibe" of the same historical events.