Anne Boleyn in the 1933 film The Private Life of Henry VIII. Henry’s second wife is described in the historical records as possessing “black hair and an oval face of sallow complexion” and Oberon’s otherworldly beauty appeared to capture the essence of one of the most tragic figures in British history.
Only years later would the true significance of the casting become clear: Oberon, it was revealed, had broke new ground as the first non-white actress to play a British royal on screen.
The importance of dismantling outmoded boundaries around casting and representation is once again at the forefront of conversation with news that Jodie Turner-Smith is to portray Boleyn in a new Channel 5 retelling of the royal’s fateful journey from throne.
Read more on msn.com