Wolf Hall (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wolf Hall |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on | Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel |
| Written by | Peter Straughan |
| Directed by | Peter Kosminsky |
| Starring |
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| Composer(s) | Original music by Debbie Wiseman Tudor music by Claire van Kampen |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Colin Callender |
| Producer(s) | Mark Pybus |
| Cinematography | Gavin Finney |
| Running time | 60–65 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Company Pictures |
| Release | |
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| Original release | 21 January – 25 February 2015 |
Wolf Hall is a popular British TV show that first aired in January 2015 on BBC Two. This six-part series is based on two books by Hilary Mantel: Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. It tells the story of Thomas Cromwell, a clever lawyer who rose to great power in the court of Henry VIII, a famous English king. The show covers Cromwell's journey from his humble beginnings to becoming a key figure in the king's life, including his role in the king's marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Wolf Hall was also shown in the United States on PBS and in Australia on BBC First in 2015. The show was a big hit with critics and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film. It was also nominated for many other awards, including eight Emmy Awards. A second series, based on the third book in the trilogy, is planned.
Contents
What is Wolf Hall About?
The story of Wolf Hall focuses on Thomas Cromwell. He was a smart lawyer who started from a simple background and became very powerful. The series begins when Cromwell's boss, Cardinal Wolsey, is losing his power. This happens because Wolsey couldn't help King Henry VIII of England end his marriage.
The show then follows Cromwell as he gains more and more political power. He becomes very important to King Henry VIII. The series ends with the sad execution of Anne Boleyn, a queen who was married to Henry VIII.
Meet the Characters
Main Characters
- Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell
- Damian Lewis as Henry VIII
- Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn
- Bernard Hill as Duke of Norfolk
- Anton Lesser as Thomas More
- Mark Gatiss as Stephen Gardiner
- Mathieu Amalric as Eustache Chapuys
- Joanne Whalley as Katherine of Aragon
- Lily Lesser as Princess Mary
- Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Rafe Sadler
- Tom Holland as Gregory Cromwell
- Harry Lloyd as Harry Percy
- Jessica Raine as Jane Rochford
- Saskia Reeves as Johane Williamson
- Charity Wakefield as Mary Boleyn
Other Important Characters
- Richard Dillane as Duke of Suffolk
- David Robb as Sir Thomas Boleyn
- Edward Holcroft as George Rochford
- Joss Porter as Richard Cromwell
- Jonathan Aris as James Bainham
- Natasha Little as Liz Cromwell
- Will Keen as Thomas Cranmer
- Tim Steed as Lord Chancellor Audley
- Ed Speleers as Edward Seymour
- Kate Phillips as Jane Seymour
- Paul Ritter as Sir John Seymour
- Enzo Cilenti as Antonio Bonvisi
- Luke Roberts as Harry Norris
- Alastair Mackenzie as William Brereton
- Max Fowler as Mark Smeaton
- Robert Wilfort as George Cavendish
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Elizabeth Barton
- Felix Scott as Francis Bryan
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Francis Weston
- Bryan Dick as Richard Rich
- Lucy Russell as Lady Shelton
- James Larkin as Master Treasurer FitzWilliam
- Joel MacCormack as Thomas Wriothesley
- Thomas Arnold as Hans Holbein the Younger
- Richard Durden as Bishop Fisher
- Sarah Crowden as Lady Exeter
- Janet Henfrey as Lady Margaret Pole
- Nigel Cooke as Sir Nicholas Carew
- Benjamin Whitrow as Archbishop Warham
- Hannah Steele as Mary Shelton
- Paul Clayton as William Kingston
- Kerry Ingram as Alice Williamson
- Emma Hiddleston as Meg More
- Florence Bell as Helen Barre
- Iain Batchelor as Thomas Seymour
How Wolf Hall Was Made
On August 23, 2012, BBC Two announced that they would be making Wolf Hall. About £7 million was spent to create the show. The director, Peter Kosminsky, said that the story is very political. It shows how people act when they are around a ruler who has absolute power.
The show has 102 different characters! Filming took place from May to July 2014. Many scenes were shot in amazing old British castles and houses. These included Berkeley Castle, Gloucester Cathedral, and Penshurst Place. These real historical places helped make the show feel very authentic.
The director, Peter Kosminsky, decided to film many indoor scenes using only candlelight. This made the show look very realistic for the time period. However, it also meant the actors sometimes bumped into things!
The show's executive producer, Colin Callender, hopes that a second series will be made. This new series would be based on the final book in Hilary Mantel's trilogy, The Mirror and the Light. The main actors, Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis, are excited to return. A second series was officially confirmed in May 2019.
Episode Guide
| No. in series |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date (BBC Two) |
U.S. air date | UK viewers (millions) |
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| 1 | "Three Card Trick" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 21 January 2015 | 5 April 2015 | 5.99 | |
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In 1529, Cardinal Wolsey is losing his job. His lawyer, Thomas Cromwell, remembers how they met and how Wolsey's power began to fall.
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| 2 | "Entirely Beloved" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 28 January 2015 | 12 April 2015 | 4.46 | |
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As 1529 ends, Cardinal Wolsey moves away. Thomas Cromwell tries to get King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to support Wolsey. In doing so, Cromwell starts to gain the king's favor himself.
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| 3 | "Anna Regina" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 4 February 2015 | 19 April 2015 | 4.13 | |
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In 1531, King Henry VIII wants to become the head of the Church in England. This would let him marry Anne Boleyn. But his plans face many problems.
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| 4 | "The Devil's Spit" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 11 February 2015 | 26 April 2015 | 4.29 | |
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In 1533, Anne Boleyn has a daughter, which disappoints King Henry VIII. Anne worries because she hasn't had a son. Thomas Cromwell tries to convince Sir Thomas More to approve the royal marriage.
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| 5 | "Crows" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 18 February 2015 | 3 May 2015 | 3.72 | |
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In 1535, King Henry VIII becoming head of the Church in England makes other rulers angry. Anne Boleyn's failure to have a male heir makes Henry look towards Jane Seymour.
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| 6 | "Master of Phantoms" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 25 February 2015 | 10 May 2015 | 3.74 | |
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In 1536, King Henry VIII asks Thomas Cromwell to find a way to end his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Many people want Jane Seymour to be queen instead. This leads to many accusations and discoveries.
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Where Wolf Hall Was Shown
Wolf Hall was broadcast in several countries around the world:
- Australia: BBC First showed the series starting April 11, 2015.
- United States: PBS broadcast the series as part of Masterpiece from April 5 to May 10, 2015. It was later available on Amazon Prime.
- Germany / France: Arte showed the series on January 21 and 28, 2016.
Awards and Recognition
Wolf Hall was a very successful show and won many awards.
- It won a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film.
- Mark Rylance, who played Thomas Cromwell, won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor.
- The show itself won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series.
- It also won a Peabody Award for Entertainment.
- The show received several nominations at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Limited Series and for Mark Rylance as Outstanding Lead Actor.
- Gavin Finney won the British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the show.
