Sisterly Love and Sibling Rivalry

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl, spoke among other things about the film adaptation of her novel under the same title, what she thought of the casting, and her inspiration for the book.

In the movie version, Natalie Portman plays Anne Boleyn and Scarlett Johansson her sister Mary, both of whom fight for the love of King Henry VIII, played by Eric Bana. Gregory says, "It's just delicious to have two sisters at odds. When the girls are being sweet together, they're enchanting. But [. . .] when Natalie is being mean and Scarlett bites back, it's heaven." Gregory also thought the two lead actresses were "very well cast" and that each fit their character's physical traits.

The author also said that after finding out Mary Boleyn was Anne's sister and one of Henry's lovers, "I knew I [had] found an extraordinary story because Mary and Henry's love was known to historians as a footnote. There was no real interest because she never impacted his politics. She was just one of Henry's mistresses [. . .]. I saw a thrilling story between two girls and a king. [. . .]"