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See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey as played by Sam Neill

Born c. March 1471 /1475 - died November 28/29, 1530*

Character's backstory: Son of a commoner & the reason why the hatred of many well-to-do rich and royalty were envious of his backstory and being able to work his way up, to even having more power than the king himself.

Gentility: Son of a commoner


Position: Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of York as well as other Religious and Powerful position, Chancellor for a time.

Personality type: Urbane, thoughtful & manipulative.
Greedy and envious, rash in his attitude, although he always thinks before he acts. He took the English into an established economy even though he was a corrupt and vain man, in his greediness for power and disagreement with Anne Boleyn was his downfall.

Signature look: His red robes.

Endearing trait(s):His accuracy and very good grasp at politics.

Annoying trait(s):
Mean, quick to anger and broken vows of chastity. Ambition for power - to be the next Pope


*Wolsey is shown committing suicide on the series. There is no known historical record of this and it was said he had died from illness.


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Cardinal Thomas Wolsey played by Sam Neill



"No man's pie is freed from
his ambitious finger"
Buckingham says of Wolsey in
Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII'

coat of arms



*See also "The King's Ministers" page

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS


Family members:
Father - Robert Wolsey of Ipswich - wealthy cloth merchant who died at Bosworth
Mother - Joan

Romance(s):Joan Larke.

Children: Dorothy - born circa 1512. Thomas Wynter Wolsey - born circa 1528

Friends: More of a classmate in teaching the grasps of politics, Thomas More who would later replace him as dear friend of Henry VIII, who suffered a worse fate then Wolsey. Thomas Cromwell; he stayed Woley's ally to the very end.

Enemies: The Boleyn and Howard Families, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, Anne Boleyn, Emperor Charles V.

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES
  • "Ah then, Your majesty, you have not heard. The Emperor has married Princess Isabella of Portugal. Apparently he decided it was not worth waiting for your daughter to grow up. And who's to say that perhaps he was influenced by the fact that the beautiful Isabella brought with her a dowry of one million pounds. He broke his word" (Episode 5, Showtime)
  • "Come Thomas! What are you pretending? Kings get divorced all the time and Popes always find an excuse. I know you are an idealist, but you're not stupid. If Henry wants an annulment, who's to stop him?" (Episode 5, Showtime)
  • "If I were younger,or more foolish or more alive, I would gladly take this offer. You deserve better than to be used as a whore"*****"
  • "Eagles fly too high. Fly like a pigeon they shit**** on everybody."
  • "Your majesty would be known as an architect of a new and modern world."


  • "If I had served God as well as I served the King then he would not have taken me in my gray hairs" (Ep.10, Showtime)

  • "Lord, we have not spoken as long --or as often as--we should. I've often been about other business. If I wanted forgiveness, I should ask for it, but... for all that I have done, and for all that I am yet to do, there can be no forgiveness. And yet I think I'm... I'm not an evil man. No, evil men pray loud and seek penance and think themselves closer to Heaven than I am. I shall not see its gaze, Lord, nor hear Your sweet words of salvation. I have seen eternity, I swear, but it was in a dream and in the morning all was gone. I know myself for what I am, and I throw my poor soul upon Your forgiveness... in the full knowledge that I deserve none at Your loving hands." (Wolsey's prayer, before committing suicide - Season 1, Episode 10.)


DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

  • Ep.10 where he takes his life, literally, in his own hands and pray to God finally admitting all the bad to which he had done and was about to do, right before his suicide which Henry conveniently covered up because he did not want the scandal and bad fame of Wolsey, which he eventually gained.

  • Where, before dying, he takes his own life and destiny in his own hands and begs forgiveness and sees the errors of his way, begging knowing that he does not deserve. The scene was touching as this was a man who in his last moments had humble beginnings and humble ends by having humility in the end he did not have in his previous lifetime. He took his life, knowing the consequences of his actions.
  • Episode 8 - where he yells and begs the King for an audience with him alone, but he is struck with shock and fear as the King no longer listens to him only to ride away with his enemy Anne Boleyn and Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Surrey.
  • When Cardinal Campeggio declared that he did not have enough time to see a answer to Henry's "Great Problem", Henry looks at Wolsey with such Anger and Hatred. Wolsey knows that his time in the King's Good Graces is over.

PHOTOS





Cardinal Thomas Wolsey - The Tudors Wiki
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey - The Tudors Wiki

Wolsey as played by Sam Neill Wolsey as played by Sam Neill
See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide