The cast of Showtime’s The Tudors was full of established actors and fresh faces alike who have gone on to star in many hit shows after the end of The Tudors. The last episode of The Tudors aired on Showtime on June 20th, 2010 concluding its four-year run after earning six Primetime Emmy Awards and another 82 award nominations. Created by Michael Hirst, who also created Dexter: New Blood.
Set in 16th-century England, The Tudors followed the reign of King Henry VIII. The series began as Henry attempted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, in pursuit of Anne Boleyn. When the Catholic Church failed to grant him his divorce, Henry declared himself Head of the Church of England and set into motion a religious reformation that would change England forever. The series followed Henry as he wreaked havoc on his country, worked his way through six wives, and executed an estimated 57,000 people (via History).
Over the show’s four seasons, the show attracted several well-known stars like Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill. The Tudors also became something of a kingmaker, however, with a future DC superhero and House Tyrell alum getting their start on the show. Here’s a list of the actors from Showtime’s hit historical drama The Tudors and what they have done since the show ended over a decade ago.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Henry VIII
Jonathon Rhys Meyers already had an impressive and established acting career with roles in shows like Prozac Nation, Bend It Like Beckham, Vanity Fair, and Mission Impossible III before claiming the role of the temperamental King Henry VIII in The Tudors. After The Tudors, Rhys Meyers went on to play Valentine in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Dracula in the 2013 series Dracula. More recently, star, Jonathan Rhys Meyers reunited with the show’s creator Michael Hirst for the hit series Vikings.
Henry Cavill - Charles Brandon
Undoubtedly the biggest star to come from The Tudors, Henry Cavill was still relatively unknown before his role as Charles Brandon. Having played Humphrey in Stardust with Claire Danes before being cast as King Henry’s best friend and eventual brother-in-law, Cavill went on to play Theseus in Immortals and Will in The Cold Light of Day. Cavill is now known best for his role as DC’s Superman and the fabled Geralt of Rivia from the acclaimed series Cavill is now rumored to be the new lead in the Highlander reboot.
Natalie Dormer - Anne Boleyn
Dormer has said (via Game of Thrones and has most recently been seen in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
Maria Doyle Kennedy - Catherine of Aragon
Currently starring as Ila, member of the gypsy-like clan of the leaf in the Downton Abbey and Orphan Black. It is yet unknown if she will be reprising her role as the blind Aunt Jocasta in the much-anticipated Outlander season 6 coming in March 2022.
Jeremy Northam - Thomas More
Forever known as “Dear Mr. Knightley” from Emma, Northam was well established in his career by the time he came to play The Tudors’ Sir Thomas More. One of the most likable characters on the show, More was a friend and teacher to Henry, until Henry had him beheaded. After The Tudors, Northam went on to star in Miami Medical, White Heat, New Worlds, and most recently played Anthony Eden in with Claire Foy.
Sam Neill - Cardinal Wolsey
A veteran actor known for films like Dead Calm and The Hunt for Red October, Sam Neill may be best known for his role in Peaky Blinders and was seen most recently starring in Flack with Anna Paquin.
James Frain - Thomas Cromwell
James Frain played Sir Thomas Cromwell, the King’s Lord Chancellor who ushered him into the Reformation. After The Tudors, Frain played Franklin Mott in True Blood and Peter Fleming in The Cape. In 2013, he played Lord Warwick in The White Queen and Eric Renard on Grimm. The following year, he starred opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Intruders and then went on to play Lieutenant Kevin Burris in the impeccable HBO crime-drama True Detective. Since then James Frain has had starring roles on Gotham, Orphan Black, Star Trek: Discovery, and Elementary.
Peter O’Toole - Pope Paul III
Peter O’Toole, another well-known veteran actor, played Pope Paul III in The Tudors only a few years before his death in 2013. Throughout his career, he played legendary roles like Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Emperor of Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels, Professor Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, and Zaltar in 1984's Supergirl. He is best known for his role as Lawrence in the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia.
Annabelle Wallis - Jane Seymour
Most recently seen as the long-time love interest and wife of season 6 or the show’s movie.
Gabrielle Anwar - Princess Margaret
Gabrielle Anwar came to The Tudors with an extensive resume, having starred in huge films like Scent of a Woman, Body Snatchers, For Love or Money, The Three Musketeers, and The Guilty before her role as Princess Margaret. After playing the impetuous sister of King Henry, Anwar went on to star in the hit series Burn Notice. She was most recently seen in the fanciful Once Upon a Time.
Tamzin Merchant - Catherine Howard
Playing Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife (and the second to be beheaded), Tamzin Merchant went on to play Anne Hale in the series Salem and Lyra Strayd in Supergirl. In 2019, she starred as Imogen Spurnrose in Carnival Row. Merchant will be playing Aunt Harriet in the series Tom Jones starring Hannah Waddingham (who also plays Rebecca on Ted Lasso).
Allen Leech - Francis Dereham
After appearing in only 3 episodes of The Tudors as Francis Dereham, Allen Leech went on to star as Tom Branson in the classic Downton Abbey. He has also starred alongside Anna Paquin in 2017’s Bellevue and played Paul Prenter in Downtown Abbey: A New Era.