Was Anne Boleyn That Bad?

[@sophiekampitsch829]

It’s irritating that BBC can’t handle constructive criticism from an actual historian and expert on the matter. So sorry this happened to you. Keep up your amazing work!

[@imonherenow3673]

I’m no Anne Boleyn fan but even I was taken back on how insufferable the portrayal of Anne Boleyn was in Wolf Hall. It seems like they made a huge effort to give her no redeeming qualities. Like you said even if this is through Cromwell’s point of view it was still a bit extreme. With that being said I still absolutely love Wolf Hall. I watch it a lot. The actors did a brilliant job.

[@ElleHistory]

The actors are wonderful. But I could rewrite so many scenes haha

[@imonherenow3673]

@@ElleHistory I’d love if you could write some Anne Boleyn scenes. That would be amazing

[@mollyscott4342]

​@ElleHistory I'm writing a trilogy about Anne Boleyn and I would love to have your opinion on it

[@grump9001]

Don't worry about having some anger, lol I totally get it. It's okay to express. And your review is completely legitimate. Anne Boleyn is still being abused, sadly :( Hopefully a better portrayal will come someday soon that does her justice.

[@amidthephantomsrose]

Anne Boleyn was a very pious person. I have yet to see an accurate portrayal of her that even covers this part of her. Let alone a portrayal that doesn't over sexualize her or make her into an overly vindictive mean girl

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

Exactly. The channel Anne Boleyn Files does this.

[@ElleHistory]

This!

[@Greenplanet949]

That’s rough what the BBC did to you, and so unfair. I see complex reviews all the time and the creators don’t face that nonsense. I agree with your assessment of this portrayal of Anne. She was very, very intelligent, too intelligent to make needless enemies by vicious behavior. I can’t wait to read your book on her.

[@ElleHistory]

Thank you for your support and for being here! 🙏🏻

[@foryoutube3567]

The pronunciation of "Cromwell" was especially weird because it was the only word that had that strange accent. My main problem with the portrayal was that this Anne had no redeeming qualities that would drive a religious king to break with Rome. I love Claire Foy, but there was no charm or glitter or wit. There was just grasping and nastiness. Also, I can't imagine that, even saying that this image of Anne is through Cromwell's eyes makes little sense. My understanding is that they had a good working relationship at least, until Cromwell was taking the wealth of the monastaries for the exchequer rather than to help people. There was just no reason to come at him so aggressively at their first meeting - belittling the man who was going to be able to help her.

[@ElleHistory]

Exactly this. It’s like why on Earth would he be infatuated with her in the first place!

[@shonamcwilliam2842]

Mind you, Wolf Hall's Anne Boleyn is the only time I've seen an atempt at how she "used her eyes" , but her fluttering eyes were directed at Cromwell. Ive wondered what this French way of seduction or flattery looked like.

[@LyricalXilence]

I honestly didn't like how she used her eyes.

[@bexp436]

I agree with you completely. I had to stop watching WH because, although I'm okay with dramas giving their own interpretation of certain characters, these portrayals just ran roughshod through everything I've read over the last 40-+ years about them. AB was not stupid and that's the bit that grated on me the most. She became a one dimensional monster.

[@lancelotdufrane]

Since when do we expect ANY book/TV show to represent history accurately? I enjoyed Wolf Hall. Beautifully done. Creates interest for those new to the topic. This complaint overall word pronunciation, is sad.

[@phoebehill953]

The Wolf Hall books are one of the best trilogies ever. I’ve watched the BBC series at least five times. It’s structured as a novel, not a history book, and as such is genius. Did the scene with Cromwell, Gregory and Wolsey’s little cat ever happen? Probably not. Yet it’s brilliant metaphor.

[@phoebehill953]

But the most entertaining portrayal of Jane Seymour ever. By the way, has no one here ever seen the Jodie Turner Smith monstrosity?

[@wednesdayschild3627]

No Anne Boleyn wasn't so bad. No, Thomas Moore wasn't evil as he was in Wolf Hall either. That show was supposed to be from Cromwell's point of view. Anne Boleyn was doomed because she didn't have a boy. She thought she was destined to provide a male heir. She fell apart because of that.

[@lindseystein9676]

If it’s supposed to be from Cromwell’s point of view, that makes more sense

[@graphiquejack]

This and the Other Boleyn Girl are absolute hatchet jobs.

[@heatherwaetzig2633]

Agreed 👍 I could barely get through the first Season of Wolf Hall. It didn't make Cromwell look very sympathetic either. He came across as more smug than anything else.

[@MelissaReiss]

Great video, Estelle! You really made me laugh, but I'd be mad at the BBC too! Not for Wolf Hall (it was pretty true to the books, but way too condensed), but for how they treat you and other people on KZbin! 😤

[@ElleHistory]

Thank you for being here (and yes they really annoyed me ha!)

[@Simplytudors]

Love you Elle and your videos ❤

[@ElleHistory]

Thank you so much for being here! 🙏🏻

[@dc7117]

Thank you. I agree. I don't think Anne was so politically uncouth that she would treat courtiers and royalty in such a spiteful manner. I'm still waiting for the Anne Boleyn I can believe in on screen.

[@ElleHistory]

Oh so am I!! Thank you for being here!

[@AnneFoggensteiner]

None of the portrayals I have seen suggest the real Anne to me. I know the information is limited but so many held a very high opinion of her and she tried to direct money from the monasteries and abbeys towards the poor.

[@bocus20]

I never clicked on a video faster❤

[@ElleHistory]

So grateful! 🙏🏻

[@richardpearce1114]

You are right that Cremwell has no historical veracity, but it has a dramatic point. That's the difficulty with historical drama, sometimes there is a fast way to make a dramatic point, what they showed was that Anne was the upstart arriviste, and she's patronising the pub landlord's son. It's a neat way to show the class struggle quickly. And being "raised up" or not is at the core of understanding the Tudor period.

[@graphiquejack]

Cremwell 🤣🤣

[@jamiedianne6778]

I absolutely agree with what you are saying! I don’t think she was perfect and I’m sure she wasn’t always nice but they make her seem just horrible all the time. There were so many times in the series where she was just downright nasty and I can’t believe this is an accurate representation of her character. I think they go way too far. The scene when she humiliates Mark Smeaton was an example of her just being way over the top horrible. And in the next few minutes she acts even worse. Cromwell wasn’t even in those scenes so they can’t be justified by saying they’re “through his eyes”.

[@ElleHistory]

Exactly this!

[@NightFeline]

The second worst, I dare say. The absolute worst: Jodhi May as Anne Boleyn, in The Other Boleyn Girl (BBC version, 2003). That version of Anne had no idea how to behave at court, and her brother had to remind her from time to time she was actually talking to the king.

[@laurenc2976]

The portrayal of Anne in Wolf Hall was truly scathing and it made me feel no empathy for her character whatsoever. I sit somewhere in the middle when it comes to my opinion about Anne as I so often see that people view her as being completely innocent. They see her as someone who was used, manipulated and discarded by a cruel and monstrous King or they alternatively view her as a seductive vixen who was power hungry and obsessed with ambition and success. At the end of the day, she did manage to persuade a tempestuous and hot headed King to wait seven years just to marry her so she certainly had enough about her to captivate him for that amount of time. He also broke away from the Catholic church just so he could marry her and went onto replace an an impeccable Queen for Anne based on the promises she made him regarding a son. However, I still don't think she was a complete villain either. Anne no doubt played with fire and she got burnt for it in the end. She underestimated the individuals she was dealing with and she became their victim in the end. Ambition is important but not when it costs you your life and Anne paid for her own ambition in the most devastating way possible. She's definitely a cautionary tale for me and we can learn so much from her life, as well as her tragic demise.

[@AmyHoldaway27]

Hello Dr Paranque! I just found your channel yesterday and I am so happy I did! I have been obsessed with the Tudor dynasty and particularly the six wives of Henry VIII for a while now and am highly considering getting a history degree and pursuing this area of study. I would like some advice and I have some particular questions. Would it be alright if I send you an email to your business inbox?

[@mollyscott4342]

I don't think it's the absolute best, pretty close, but I think we need to stop romanticising her. She was extremely human, and unfortunately humans sometimes di things that are not very nice. But on the other hand, she is a woman worthy of a lot of praise.

[@annamcuthbert3993]

I actually liked certain parts of this version especially the death scene Claire did well . Also agree with certain parts did not give Anne justice too. I have seen much worse versions

[@TIFFANYDlAS]

That's wild!!! But I totally agree with your review!

[@ElleHistory]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bonnielass75]

I'm so with you on the pronunciation of....... "Cram-well" too, it was so irritating😒 Love your channel 😍

[@phoebehill953]

According to linguistic historians, the English pronunciation was “Crummell”.

[@lindseystein9676]

Movies and shows so often present Anne so cartoonishly anns unrealistically evil/conniving. No one is perfect, but I think it’s extremely unlikely she manipulated King Henry into making her queen (personally I think he became obsessed with her & wanting a son and she made attempts to get away from him when he first showed interest) and that she was just so rude and evil to everyone.

[@LyricalXilence]

Hey where did this video go for a second? I was so worried because I was so happy someone finally pointed out that this is not a good portrayal of Anne. Honestly I feel Claire was better as Elizabeth II than she was as Anne.

[@ElleHistory]

I removed it and redid it… ☺️

[@LyricalXilence]

Girl. So I just registered to the beginning of the video. So....because you said you didn't like how Anne was portrayed.... BBC can take your money?

[@helenkemp6468]

I was shouting at the TV about how Anne Boleyn was portrayed in Wolf Hall, I even complained to the BBC about it

[@LouiseWallman]

Love your reviews.

[@ElleHistory]

Thank you so much!

[@darianrose2195]

To be fair, having not yet watched this video properly but going off of complaints I heard from years ago, I didn't hate it. Is it my favorite portrayal? No. But, we do know that some didn't like her, she could be very outspoken and fiery and not everyone appreciates that. But, it's from Cromwell's lense and how he views her. Knowing he turned on her historically, and knowing they quarreled, I don't mind her being more antagonistic towards him at times. You also mostly see her when she's dealing with Cromwell, we don't see her with only her ladies or alone with the King or alone with Elizabeth. Her many friendships and familial relations were omitted to the point of striping complexity. So, we get an Anne with one flavor when she was really a five course meal. Which I don't fully like, but again since we are really seeing her through Cromwell, I can take it. Of course you know that, but it could have been worse. I DO very much wish that they had at least eased her into being that way with him, considering they had been allies and she may have even respected him for rising above the role he was born to, like herself. It's like her general anxiety of the later years is being imposed on the earlier timeline. Also, one thing I do appreciate, is her issues with the women appointed to wait on and spy on her in the Tower being included. The real Anne didn't like any of the women beforehand, and they didn't like her back. She was made all the more uncomfortable and ill at ease because of these ladies, and many of the productions leave that out. I think there's something remarkable in these women not liking her at all, and still they weep at her death and were very kind by insisting on handling the body themselves with care. I love that, so at least it's kind of there.

[@ElleHistory]

I don’t think they didn’t like her… I think new research has proven that she was loved…

[@darianrose2195]

@ElleHistory I read that they were chosen because they weren't approving of her. But, there's a lot that has been written.

[@blockoutalltherest]

Yes! You're totally on point. You're saying what I've been thinking and I thought I was losing my mind.

[@ElleHistory]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@KatieRae_AmidCrisis]

There's a historian - I forget who, dang it... - who posits that his name would have been pronounced / the man himself would have pronounced it something like "Crum'ull". And that's how this historian pronounces it, when he speaks of him.

[@frances081097]

You're correct, the historian is Cromwell biographer Diarmaid Macculloch

[@KatieRae_AmidCrisis]

@frances081097 yes!

[@dalestaley5637]

I agree with you. The portrayal of Anne Boleyn was bad. BBC is ridiculous, too

[@christinestevenson4304]

I am so sorry they did that to you! It's not right when they do that to content creators! Even if someone doesn't care for what they do, they are still getting publicity and it is more likely people will check their show out!

[@connie-dianaattanayake15]

Totally agree with you. I loved the series but Anne was definitely portrayed as such a horrible woman and the "cremwell" was really annoying... ans so so wrong!! Your book on her is fab, by the way 👏👏👏👍🧡

[@ElleHistory]

Thank you so much! 🫶🏻

[@feliciasjoberg9886]

I have ordered your books to my library in Helsingborg, Sweden❤

[@ElleHistory]

Thank YOU! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@candicesantiago727]

I 💯 percent agree with you.

[@cathschofield7488]

Do you think they chose that pronunciation as a deliberate act of ‘sarcasm’ on AB’s side ?

[@ElleHistory]

Probably…

[@kiera6326]

I have heard before that she did pronounce Cromwell’s name this way, as a way to basically play coy that she may not understand him because she’d been away so long in France and so could only pronounce his name in French. I don’t have a source for it however

[@jimmorris6060]

Credit too Clair Foy for and outstanding portrayal. I am not sure if the scripwriters stuck too Mantel's outline of Boleyn or indulged in some artistic liecence. from what I have read thus far she was a nasty piece of work

[@tjw9985]

In The Other Tudor Girl, Anne was also a horrible woman. They also botched her execution.

[@penneycason9269]

Now I understand why. Many thanks. 🇦🇺

[@kerryclarke6501]

I am very sorry the BBC have complained and you have lost revenue. It is poor on their behalf as your review was very fair. The Wolf Hall Ann Boleyn, though well played by the actress, was extremely grating and there was no glimpse of the woman who had achieved such a high position at court. Keep doing what you do.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

The truth is between Chapuy and the French dispatches. The French were sort of on Anne's side. In fact part of Anne's downfall is when the French King refuses the marriage of Elizabeth to the dauphin. That's when Henry realizes the legitimacy of Elizabeth is in question. Wolf Hall is from Cromwell's point of view. It isn't supposed to be true.

[@ElleHistory]

No, they weren’t. Not all of them and that what I’ve researched…

[@TheLadyhawk11862]

Hi Elle I totally agree with you I did not like clairvoya of Anne Boleyn I'm not a fan of ambulance let's get that square here I'm in the United States but I felt that Natalie Dormer did a much better job of trying ambulance maybe not historically to the petty but I think she caught her spiritual was definitely wonderful as Anberlin but I did not like Claire foy's portrayal at all

[@nicoleackerman205]

That scene was stupid like you did not think he would get remarried if you died seriously.

[@michaelamos4651]

I agree with most of what you say and think you're a very good presenter and your videos are great. However i still think Wolf Hall was a great drama and very well acted. Thanks

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

Easier said than done….try to overlook anything other than constructive criticism. I didn’t believe some people actually believe the earth is flat. After a quick look I found well over a million people did. Just saying….some thinking can’t be explained.

[@Shane-Flanagan]

👸 📖. ⚔️ 👑 🕯️ 👑 ⚔️. 📖 👸

[@goeegoanna]

Imagine having pert opinions about the BBC...Oh the temerity! (Where's my clutching pearls? 😏) Art is no longer art if it is not there to inspire thought and conversation. I guess that says plenty about what the BBC think of their works.

[@victoriab3308]

So if the BBC doesn't like your review, they can just take your revenue? What?

[@ElleHistory]

Because I used clips of theirs…

[@reluctanttraveller275]

@@ElleHistory Which is completely legitimate action on their part.

[@ElleHistory]

@@reluctanttraveller275 well it's part of fair use. I didn't just repost it a clip to have views. I actually add value with my expertise on a historical character I've been working on for years so...