Watch: ‘Wolf Hall’ historic locations star in ‘Mirror and the Light’TV
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‘Wolf Hall’ King Henry VIII Damian Lewis rules historic locations
‘Wolf Hall’ historic locations star with Damian Lewis, Mark Rylance
In “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light,” the historic locations are the stars. The Masterpiece/Playground Television UK series airs through April 27.
For Damian Lewis, just standing for two weddings of King Henry VIII in “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” was a daylong royal marathon.
The English monarch is remembered for having six wives, requiring the long-awaited sequel series to PBS Masterpiece’s “Wolf Hall” (Sundays, 9 ET/PT) — shot entirely in stunning centuries-old locations — to feature two very different weddings.
With access to historic Wells Cathedral granted for one day, Lewis, 54, packed in two royal reboots — his happy betrothal to Wife No. 3 Jane Seymour (“Peaky Blinders” star Kate Phillips) and the chilly ceremony with Wife No. 4, Anne of Cleves (Dana Herfurth).
“I was getting married an awful lot,” Lewis says. “There’s the enthusiastic marriage to Jane Seymour. She was terrified of him, with some justification, since he just chopped his previous wife’s head off (Anne Boleyn). Then there’s Anne of Cleves. The marriages required a very different mindset.”
Crafting the six-episode sequel, a decade after 2015’s “Wolf Hall,” based on Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning historical novels, required an evolving all-star cast. Claire Foy makes an early exit as second wife Anne Boleyn, while Mark Rylance fights to literally keep his head attached as the series’ central, embattled royal adviser Thomas Cromwell. It also demanded a trove of historic locations: Think the splendor of Netflix’s “The Crown,” but set when the monarch has beheading powers.
“This was 100% filmed on location. There was no studio whatsoever,” says Rebecca Pearson, the location manager who spent a year securing gems such as Haddon Hall, the setting of a frolicsome party scene featuring Henry dancing in a disguise. The Tudor-palooza teems with so many masked revelers that special supports were placed below the floors of the 11th-century structure.
Famed Hampton Court Palace, which was brought to grandeur by Henry’s royal adviser Thomas Wolsey (Jonathan Pryce), looms large in “The Mirror and the Light.” Wolsey died in Season 1, but not before bequeathing his showcase to Henry, who returned the favor by accusing his chief minister of treason. The Hampton Court Great Hall scenes showing courtiers among the grand tapestries that Henry commissioned are rare and instantly transportive.
“Hampton Court has allowed documentaries, but they haven’t had any sizable drama productions for at least 30 years,” says Pearson. “They trusted us because of our reputation from last season.”
Ironically, Lewis never shot in the grand location that became Henry’s power flex and favorite residence. “That’s one of the tricks of filming,” he says. “My Hampton Court interiors were filmed elsewhere.”
“Wolf Hall” is a tapestry of historic and architectural eye candy that often represents other locations — due to shooting schedules or history. The moated Great Chalfield Manor stands in for Austin Friars, the London Augustinian friary that served as Cromwell’s home. Austin Friars burned in 1862 and was bombed during World War II. “They lived by candlelight and fires,” says Pearson. “Fires happened.”
Montacute House represents the time-destroyed Greenwich Palace. Forde Abbey was used for many Hampton Court interior scenes. A scene in which Henry and Cromwell play chess by a window is starkly illuminating. But the light was problematic.
“There’s a tapestry from Henry’s time that could only have sunlight on it for limited time,” says Pearson. Special acid-free protective paper had to be restored between scenes, and the curtains closed.
To increase the realism, director Peter Kosminsky relied on natural light from windows, from discreetly protected candles or gas-controlled fires in ancient stone fireplaces. In some historic locations, fires were not allowed, requiring computer-generated graphics to create flames. Lewis was well suited for the cold playing Henry, who had lost his youthful athletic frame. Due to factors such as a 1536 jousting accident, His Majesty (Henry was the first monarch to insist on the title) put on a few pounds.
“I was expanding daily into this sort of bloated king, so I had to wear this great foam fat suit for the whole run, which was all the insulation needed to keep me warm,” says Lewis. “The amount of wood it must have taken daily to heat these Tudor stone halls must have been amazing.”
While his palaces and personality awed, Henry bows to Father Time in Season 2. “The Mirror and the Light” plays out the historical narrative that Henry was initially spurned by Anne of Cleves, who was shocked when he surprised her for their first meeting. The aging monarch was much older and less handsome than Anne of Cleves had expected.
“That was the tragedy of Henry. He really did become the Tudor Elvis. He went from one king to the other,” says Lewis. “He was not the attractive young man he used to be.”
“The Mirror and the Light” gives a nuanced look at the power and paranoia that made Henry so notorious. “He’s surrounded by stronger countries and threatened by all these noble families with a real right to the throne. He feels like there are assassins everywhere,” says Lewis. “He copes with it in his inimitable style, which is sometimes just to chop people’s heads off.”
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‘Diamonds Are Forever’ star dies at 92
James Bond villain Bruce Glover dies
Bruce Glover has died at age 92. The actor was best known for his role as Mr. Wint in the James Bond movie “Diamonds Are Forever.”
Spot on News – Entertainment English
Crispin Glover is mourning the death of his father, Bruce Glover, a fellow actor remembered by James Bond fans for his role in “Diamonds Are Forever.”
The “Back to the Future” star, 60, announced in a series of Instagram posts on Saturday that his dad died on March 12. He shared several photos of his father through the years, which showed him bearing a striking resemblance to Crispin as a young man.
A representative for Crispin Glover confirmed to USA TODAY on Sunday that Bruce died of natural causes.
Bruce Glover, 92, was best known for starring opposite Sean Connery’s James Bond in 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever” as Mr. Wint, an assassin.
” ‘Diamonds’ is definitely one of the great experiences, because (director) Guy Hamilton let me bring my ideas to it,” the actor told Entertainment Weekly. “All the big laughs in that film are mine, they’re all my ideas. Guy Hamilton would always go, ‘All right, show me!’ And it would always be included in the film.”
Glover also appeared in movies including “Chinatown” and “Walking Tall.” He racked up dozens of other film and TV credits throughout his career, appearing on shows such as “Perry Mason,” “Bonanza,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Gunsmoke” and “CHiPs,” according to IMDb. He also starred in the 2007 movie “It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine,” which Crispin co-directed.
In a 2019 interview with The Original Van Gogh’s Ear Anthology, Bruce Glover praised his son as a “terrific director” and said they would collaborate again in the future.
“He is smart,” Bruce said. “He is my son, too. In the long run, you know the love is there and the caring and the appreciation of each of us and our talents. So again, Crispin was great to work with.”
In recent years, Crispin Glover had teased another film he directed starring himself and his father. An untitled movie directed by Crispin starring Bruce Glover is listed on IMDb as being in post-production, with no confirmed release date.
Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover’s co-star in “Back to the Future,” shared her condolences in an Instagram comment, writing, “So so sorry for (your) loss. Sending 💗.”
Actress Tané McClure also wrote that she got along well with Bruce when they worked together years ago. “He coached me a few times as well,” she commented. “Wonderful and creative actor. Sending love to you.”
This report has been updated with new information.
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James Bond villain Bruce Glover diesEntertainment
James Bond villain Bruce Glover diesEntertainment
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Morgan Wallen exits ‘SNL’ during signoff, sparking backlash
Morgan Wallen pleads guilty after Nashville bar chair incident
Country star Morgan Wallen pleads guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment after throwing a chair off a roof of a Nashville bar.
Morgan Wallen has caused quite a stir by making an early exit from “Saturday Night Live.”
In an unusual moment at the end of Saturday’s “SNL” episode hosted by Mikey Madison, the country singer, who served as musical guest, abruptly walked off the stage during the signoff.
The cast and musical guest traditionally stay on stage at the end of “SNL” each week and are seen saying goodbye and hugging one another as the credits roll. On Saturday, though, Wallen left the stage immediately after Madison said goodnight. He could be seen briefly hugging the “Anora” star before walking toward the audience and past the view of the camera.
Madison and the rest of the cast remained on stage for the remainder of the credits. After the episode, Wallen took to his Instagram Stories to post a photo of a plane and wrote, “Get me to God’s country.”
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Wallen for comment.
Wallen was previously a musical guest on “SNL” in 2020. During that earlier appearance, he remained on stage during the closing credits, hugging and sharing high fives with members of the cast.
The walk-off moment sparked a wave of criticism of the “I’m the Problem” singer, who last year pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment after throwing a chair off the roof of a bar.
“He’s been there before and knew exactly what he was doing,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “He wanted to show the audience he didn’t care for the cast or doing the show.” In an X post, another viewer suggested Wallen had thrown a “tantrum” and speculated he will “NEVER be on #SNL again.”
Wallen performed “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case” on Saturday’s “SNL,” which opened with a sketch depicting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accidentally sharing war plans in a group chat with high school girls.
Wallen’s previous musical guest appearance on “SNL” came after he was uninvited from the show earlier in 2020 when videos surfaced that showed him partying without a mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m not positive for COVID,” Wallen said at the time. “But my actions this past weekend were pretty short sighted, and they’ve obviously affected my long term goals and my dreams. I respect the show’s decision, because I know that I put them in jeopardy.”
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'The Thorn Birds' star Richard Chamberlain dies at 90Entertainment
‘The Thorn Birds’ star Richard Chamberlain dies at 90Entertainment
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Prince Harry resigns from his own charity amid internal rowCelebrities
Prince Harry resigns from his own charity amid internal rowCelebrities
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Richard Chamberlain, ‘Shogun,’ ‘Dr. Kildare’ star, dies at 90
Richard Chamberlain, the award-winning actor who played TV’s “Dr. Kildare” and starred in popular miniseries including “The Thorn Birds” and “Shōgun,” has died at 90.
Harlan Boll, Chamberlain’s representative, confirmed to USA TODAY on Sunday that the actor died Saturday from complications following a stroke. He would have celebrated his 91st birthday Monday.
Born in Los Angeles in 1934, Chamberlain was a U.S Army veteran who served in Korea before he began to pursue acting, getting his start in a 1959 episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” After popping up on episodes of shows like “Gunsmoke” and “Riverboat,” Chamberlain landed his breakthrough role as Dr. Kildare, a young medical intern, on the medical drama of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1961 to 1966. He won a Golden Globe Award for the role.
Richard Chamberlain shot to fame in 1961 as TV heartthrob ‘Dr. Kildare’
Chamberlain went on to star in TV movies such as “The Count of Monte Cristo,” for which he received an Emmy nomination. In 1980, he starred in the original “Shōgun” miniseries as John Blackthorne, the role later played by Cosmo Jarvis in the 2024 version. The actor, dubbed the “king of the miniseries,” later played Ralph de Bricassart in 1983’s “The Thorn Birds.”
Both “The Thorn Birds” and “Shōgun” were among the most successful miniseries in television history. ABC said at the time that “The Thorn Birds,” which followed the relationship between a woman and a Catholic priest, was the second most-watched miniseries ever after “Roots,” with 110 million people viewing at least some of it, according to The New York Times. Chamberlain reprised the role in a 1996 follow-up, “The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years.”
Before Matt Damon took on the role of Jason Bourne, Chamberlain played the character in the 1988 television miniseries “The Bourne Identity.” His memorable movie roles included the villain Roger Simmons in “The Towering Inferno” and Aramis in “The Three Musketeers,” “The Four Musketeers” and “The Return of the Musketeers.”
The actor had more recently appeared on episodes of shows like “Will & Grace,” “Chuck” and David Lynch’s 2017 “Twin Peaks” revival.
Richard Chamberlain won a Golden Globe for his role in TV’s original ‘Shōgun’
Chamberlain received four Emmy nominations throughout his career, for “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Shōgun” and “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story.” He also won three Golden Globes for “Dr. Kildare,” “Shōgun” and “The Thorn Birds” and received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.
In addition to his film and television work, Chamberlain was well-regarded as a theater actor, which included roles as Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” on Broadway and a turn as Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Chamberlain was also an accomplished singer. His most successful songs included a cover of “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” released in 1962.
Most of Chamberlain’s roles were as romantic leading men, which is why he did not publicly reveal he was gay until he was 68. He feared it would ruin his career. For much of his life, he pretended to be someone else, he said.
“When you grow up in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s being gay, it not only ain’t easy, it’s just impossible,” he told The New York Times in 2014. “I assumed there was something terribly wrong with me. And even becoming famous and all that, it was still there.”
Chamberlain is survived by his longtime partner Martin Rabbett, who said in a statement, “Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”
Contributing: Patricia Reaney, Reuters, and Kim Willis, USA TODAY
(This report has been updated with new information.)
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Prince Harry accused of ‘harassment and bullying’ by charity head
Prince Harry resigns from his own charity amid internal row
Prince Harry has resigned from his position as co-founder of the African charity Sentebale, set up in honor of his mother, Princess Diana.
unbranded – Entertainment
LONDON − The chair of a charity Prince Harry set up to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana has accused him of “harassment and bullying at scale” after he quit this week amid a dispute he described as “devastating.”
Harry, the younger son of King Charles, co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in honor of his late mother Princess Diana. He left it, along with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the board of trustees, following a dispute with chair Sophie Chandauka.
In an interview with Sky News that aired Sunday, Chandauka said, referring to the way Harry resigned: “At some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director.”
“And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations and their family,” she said. “That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
Representatives for Harry and his wife, Duchess Meghan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.
Sky News said the couple declined to offer any formal response to the interview.
A source close to the charity’s trustees and patrons, including Harry, said they fully expected what they described as a publicity stunt and reached their collective decision with this in mind.
The same source said they remained firm in their decision to resign.
Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement on Wednesday that it was “devastating” that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and Chandauka had broken beyond repair.
Chandauka has previously said Sentebale was beset by “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny (and) misogynoir.”
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Saturday, she said she was asked by Harry’s team to protect Meghan after negative media coverage, which she refused to do.
She also said the way Sentebale was run “was no longer appropriate in 2023 in a post-Black Lives Matter world.”
Harry and Seeiso said on Wednesday that the trustees acted in the charity’s best interests in asking Chandauka to step down, but in turn she sued Sentebale to remain in her position.
Contributing: Michael Holden, Reuters
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‘SNL’ cold open spoofs Hegseth texts, Morgan Wallen leaves early
SNL turns 50! How Lorne Michaels made comedy cool again.
In the decades since its creation, SNL has become a cultural institution for American comedy.
“Saturday Night Live” took on the most infamous group chat of the week.
The show’s latest cold open tackled the news that Trump administration officials shared secret war plans in a chat that accidentally included “The Atlantic” editor Jeffrey Goldberg. In the “SNL” sketch, a group of high school girls were gossiping, only to discover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Andrew Dismukes) had entered their group chat to discuss a raid on Yemen.
After being told he had the wrong chat, Hegseth refused to believe it, asking, “Could you imagine if that actually happened?” He continued sharing top secret information, declaring, “Hey, while I got everyone, sending a PDF with updated locations of all our nuclear submarines.”
Vice President JD Vance (Bowen Yang) was soon added to the chat, participating from his visit to Greenland. “Nobody knows why I’m here, especially me,” Yang’s Vance said before sending the girls a “PDF of all deep cover CIA agents.”
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernández) entered and realized what was happening, he insisted the whole thing was a prank before asking the girls to email their names and addresses to ICE.
The sketch ended by revealing journalist Goldberg (Mikey Day) had also been in the chat the entire time. “Hegseth, you have got to lose my number,” he said.
The story came up again during “Weekend Update,” with Colin Jost quipping, “This week, we learned our entire national security team has the texting skills of my Aunt Janet.”
‘Anora’ star and ‘SNL’ host Mikey Madison jokes she’s ‘going to bed’ after busy month
Mikey Madison has had quite a month.
The “Anora” star began March by winning best actress at the Oscars and ended it by hosting “Saturday Night Live,” so she vowed in her monologue, “In April, I’m going to bed.”
Madison also poked fun at her many chaotic characters, with the actress sarcastically claiming she likes to incorporate her “relaxed vibe” into her roles. This set up a montage of Madison screaming and violently dying in various films, including clips of her being set on fire in two movies: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and the fifth installment of “Scream.”
“So just to clarify, those were two different characters who were lit on fire. And that’s range,” she joked.
Madison went on to discuss being a “proud, self-proclaimed horse girl” growing up and showed a photo of herself with her horse dressed in a “couples costume” on Halloween. She quipped, “I know, it’s so hard to believe I was homeschooled, right?”
Morgan Wallen draws criticism for walking off ‘SNL’ during the show’s signoff
The episode ended with an unusual moment as musical guest Morgan Wallen broke from “SNL” tradition and made an unexpectedly early exit.
The “SNL” cast and musical guest typical stay on stage saying goodbye and hugging one another while the credits roll each week. But as Saturday’s episode wrapped, Wallen abruptly left the stage as soon as Madison said goodnight.
After only giving Madison a hug, the singer walked into the audience and past the camera, while the rest of the cast remained on stage for another 90 seconds.
Fans were critical of Wallen’s move, with one Reddit comment suggesting, “He’s been there before and knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to show the audience he didn’t care for the cast or doing the show.” In an Instagram Story after the show, Wallen posted a photo of a plane and wrote, “Get me to God’s country.”
“SNL” will return next week with host Jack Black and musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile.