Thomas Wolsey (Sam Neill)

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was the archbishop of York and the bishop of Winchester; who was king Henry Tudor VIII's most trusted and powerful advisor, holding the title of Lord Chancellor. He proves Henry's most valuable counselor for the early years of his reign, but draws hatred from the nobility for his arrogance and his common-born origins; he also earns the ire of Catherine of Aragon for his pro-French policies. Wolsey's road to ruin begins once Henry becomes infatuated with Anne Boleyn and orders Wolsey to secure an annulment of his marriage so that he can marry her; instead. Wolsey's failure to do so (as he is caught between the Pope and Henry); allows his enemies to persuade Henry to remove him from office; ensuring his downfall.