TVG: I know a lot of fans will be really sad to see you leave the show. Is there any hope you can give us for some new flashback scenes with Anne in Season 3? Any way you will be returning to set, maybe in ghost form?
ND: [Laughs.] Well, I would suggest that a petition be sent to Michael Hirst and the Showtime executives and CBC. [Laughs.]
The rise and fall of Anne Boleyn is considered one of the most interesting struggles in history. While there have been countless interpretations of the former Queen of England’s tumultuous life and untimely beheading, none have managed to capture viewers’ attention more than that of the incredible Natalie Dormer.
Undeniably the breakout star in Season 2 of The Tudors, Dormer delivered a portrayal of Anne Boleyn that was both the highlight of the show’s sophomore season and one of this year’s biggest shuns at the Emmy Awards (seriously, what were they thinking?).
We recently caught up with Dormer, and she shared with us her favourite memories, life lessons and what she learned from reigning as Anne Boleyn. And while it was easy to get lost in her mellifluous accent, it’s clear that Dormer is far more than just a pretty face, and will hopefully be an actress that will grace TV screens again very soon.
TVGuide.ca: Good morning, Natalie. How are you doing today?
Natalie Dormer: Hi! I’m very well, thank you. How are you, Shaun?
TVG: Great, thanks. I hear it’s your first time to Toronto – how are you enjoying it?
ND: Very much so. It’s true what they say about Canadians; you guys are very friendly. [Laughs.]
TVG: First of all, congratulations on The Tudors. You’re fantastic in it and I know it’s considered one of the best, if not the best, portrayals of Anne Boleyn and I couldn’t agree more.
ND: Oh you flatterer, you! [Laughs.] Thank you!
TVG: How familiar were you with Tudors history before taking on the show?
ND: In part of our national curriculum in Britain, we touch on the Tudors’ history when we’re young. Over and above that, I was a bit of a history buff at school so it was a pleasure and an indulgence to be able to read biographies and submerge myself in the era. I was the annoying geeky squawk on the cast that would sit there at dinner and tell everyone interesting facts about their characters that they’d rather not hear.
TVG: How important was it to stay as close to the history as possible with Anne, and on the other hand, did you want to show another side to her that we might not have read about in the history books?
ND: It was very important to me so far as I felt the weight of history on my shoulders so I wanted to do right by the real woman, but as an actor, your text is your bible. Your responsibility is towards your right to artistic interpretation.
What I would find is that my first loyalty was towards [creator] Michael Hirst and his script. And then when something would really badly clash, I was very fortunate to have a relationship with Michael where I could go to him and ask for a little bit more of this or that, or if could we change this line, and he was incredibly generous with me.
TVG: What was the most challenging and rewarding part of playing Anne in Season 2?
ND: Ooh, what a great question. I found it incredibly rewarding and challenging playing a mother. It was the first time I’d ever done it and you learn as a woman that there’s a process, something that happens when you become a mother, and your life becomes about someone else and so to work with the young children who played Elizabeth I was a great experience as an actress. I understood what happened to a woman’s psyche when she becomes a mother and that was a joy to play and it’s always fun to have a kid on set that lightens the tone.
TVG: I’m curious what your mindset was going into Season 2, knowing what fate would await Anne at the end …
ND: [Laughs.] I was just more intrigued as to how we’d get to that point, you know? At the end of Season 1, [Henry VII, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Anne] were so in love and saturated. You know it was coming but you have no idea how you’re going to get there. It’s such a rollercoaster ride in Season 2.
TVG: Definitely, and it leads to this climactic finale scene that’s obviously so emotional and heartfelt for you. How difficult was it to say goodbye to the cast and crew after that point and put Anne to rest, so to speak?
ND: She’s still haunting me to this day. I think she will for a while, to play a character for two years, to know her inside and out in the way you have to when you play someone for that length of time. I was very upset during the rehearsal period on the day we shot the execution. I had to try and distinguish what I was crying about. Was it Natalie Dormer crying about leaving The Tudors or was it Natalie Dormer crying for Anne Boleyn or was it Anne Boleyn crying for Anne Boleyn? It was a real cocktail of emotions. [Laughs.]
TVG: I know a lot of fans will be really sad to see you leave the show. Is there any hope you can give us for some new flashback scenes with Anne in Season 3? Any way you will be returning to set, maybe in ghost form?
ND: [Laughs.] Well, I would suggest that a petition be sent to Michael Hirst and the Showtime executives and CBC. [Laughs.]
TVG: The costumes in Season 2 were even more elaborate and elegant than in Season 1. Were you allowed to keep any as a parting gift from the show?
ND: Oh god! [Laughs embarrassedly.] Joan Bergin [the costume designer] very kindly gave me a necklace and a pair of earrings to remember Anne by. She wore such incredible jewellery on the show and I also managed to escape with a pair of riding boots that had been tailor-made for me. My argument was that no one else could wear them anyway; no one else has big duck feet like me and fit into my boots. So I have the boots and jewellery that will always remind me of her.
TVG: Well I guess that’s the small perk of getting your head cut off, right?
ND: [Laughs.] Yeah, riding boots! [Laughs.]
TVG: It seems like you have an affinity for playing historical characters. If you could play any other real person throughout history, who would you pick?
ND: You know who I’m fascinated by? Lee Miller, the model-turned-photographer-turned-everything else. She’s this incredible 1920s model who was one of those fashionistas who ended up taking photographs of Hitler’s place when he just fled at the end of the war. I find her a fascinating character. I’d love to play her.
TVG: Thanks so much for your time Natalie; it was a pleasure talking to you.
ND: No, it was really a pleasure talking to you. Thank you too, Shaun.
TVG: Best of luck in your future projects; we’ll look forward to seeing you in them.
ND: Cheers, hunny.
The Season 2 finale of The Tudors airs Tues., Dec. 9, at 9 p.m. ET on CBC.
Thanks for sharing!
Great interview. She is so amazing.