Creator: Michael Hirst Starring: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Henry VIII, Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn, Henry Cavill, Maria Doyle-Kennedy, James Frain, and many more. Multi Emmy award winner and numerous Golden Globe nominations.   Plot: Season I The Tudors follows the life of King Henry VIII and his many controversial acts. Beginning in Season 1 when Henry VIII was becoming desperate for a male heir and growing distant from his first wife, the series moves quickly to the period when Anne Boleyn became his obsession. During this time Cardinal Wolsey rose to become the power behind his throne, ruling ruthlessly and nearly absolutely while Henry for the most part followed the Cardinal’s advice, manoeuvring through a series of betrayals and plots against him. When Anne Boleyn plays much harder to get than any woman ever has Henry begins to search for a way out of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he can make Anne his wife. Needing a divorce, Henry turns to Wolsey, who promises to help him create waves of backlash from the church, as well as the Spanish Habsburg dynasty and its overseas empire. Against this background, gyrate the private lives and political intrigues of several members of the royal court and chancery. This includes Henry’s friend and his sister Margaret’s true love Charles Brandon, the Habsburg ambassadors, greedy and power-hungry schemers, their incidental victims and composer Thomas Tallis. Season II The ten-episode second season (2008) of Showtime’s hit series The Tudors picks up the tale with King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) making his break from the Roman Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England, with himself as its head. Central plot points include Henry’s dismissal of Katherine of Aragon (Maria Doyle Kennedy) as his queen; his marriage to Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), who gives birth to Elizabeth; and his confrontations with Sir Thomas More (Jeremy Northam) and Bishop Fisher (Bosco Hogan), who are charged with treason for questioning Henry’s rejection of papal authority Locations: Filming of indoor scenes is mostly done in Ardmore Studios, Bray. Outdoor locations in County Wicklow include Luggala Estate near Roundwood, Powerscourt House and Gardens, Killruddery House and Gardens, Brennanstown Riding School in Bray, Humewood Castle in Kiltegan, Grange Farm in Newcastle. View The Tudors I, II and III in a larger map