What The Cast Of Wolf Hall Looks Like In Real Life

If you love period pieces like "Downton Abbey" and "Little House on the Prairie," then you're probably also a fan of the BBC drama "Wolf Hall." While "Wolf Hall" was more of a two-part miniseries, it featured plenty of notable leading ladies, and you may have found yourself wondering what they look like in real life. "Wolf Hall" was characterized by elaborate dresses, over-the-top headpieces, and large jewelry, but strip away the movie magic and you may be surprised to learn how different some of the actors look outside of the show.  

From fabulous blue shag cuts to a vibrant red lip, these ladies aren't afraid to do something bold in real life, and we love it. Not only that, the cast is a lot trendier outside of the show, rocking hair colors perfect for the fall season (if you need some inspo). Whether you're a more recent "Wolf Hall" fan or you've been watching since its 2015 debut, here's a closer look at what the ladies of this TV hit look like in real life.

Claire Foy plays the infamous Anne Boleyn on "Wolf Hall." Fun fact: the actor also starred as Queen Elizabeth in Seasons 1 and 2 of "The Crown," so she's no stranger to a good period piece. In real life, Foy rocks one of those gorgeous lob haircuts for the perfect in-between length. While her character's makeup is pretty minimal on the show, she doesn't shy away from a bold red lip while walking the red carpet, and we love that!

Kate Phillips stars as Henry VIII's third wife Jane Seymour. While Jane's wardrobe on the show is extravagant and filled with bold colors and accessories, Phillips' style in real life is a lot more toned-down, whimsical, and feminine. She often wears looks like the one pictured above, a gorgeous white number that definitely has intricate details, but is nothing like the over-the-top prints seen on Jane. 

Lady Mary Shelton is Anne Boleyn's cousin and lady-in-waiting. Played by actor Hannah Steele, Mary's hair is a deep brunette shade on the show. In real life, you might be surprised to learn that Steele is actually a gorgeous redhead! Not only that, like many other women on the show, Mary's makeup was pretty basic. But, her taste is anything but in everyday life. Steele is actually a fan of bolder makeup like a pink lip and lots of blush outside of filming.

Lady Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon on "Wolf Hall" is played by Lilit Lesser. Lesser's real-life appearance is probably the most dramatically different from their on-screen character. While Mary had red hair on the show, you might be surprised to learn that Lesser actually has a blue shag haircut with bangs. The look is bold, but it suits the actor. Although Mary doesn't have brightly-colored hair, she is a strong character, and we see some of that translated into Lesser's real-life aesthetic. 

Anne's older sister Mary Boleyn was a smaller role on "Wolf Hall," but she was still a key player as Henry VIII's mistress prior to him marrying Anne. Played by Charity Wakefield, Mary has a fresh-faced appearance, and while Wakefield has definitely worn makeup on red carpets, she too likes to keep it pretty simple otherwise. Wakefield tends to favor just a bit of eyeliner, light lipstick, and blush when she's out and about. Her hair, while light blond on the show, is also a bit darker in real life.

Jane Rochford is the wife of Anne's brother George Boleyn and is played by actor Jessica Raine. While Jane's hair color was a deeper espresso shade on the show, Raine rocks a bold brunette shade, a hair color trend that defined fall 2026. We love how rich and layered this color is and there's so much you can do with it. It seems Raine has a bit of a balayage going on with her hair and the chic bob cut tops the look off perfectly.

Lady Bess Oughtred is Jane Seymour's older sister and becomes the wife of Gregory Cromwell in Season 2 of "Wolf Hall." Bess's wardrobe is marked by large headdresses that cover her hair, but outside of filming, we love that actor Maisie Richardson-Sellers rocks gorgeous long braids. Additionally, her wardrobe is much more daring. She loves wearing tube tops, long skirts, and wrap dresses. But, one thing she does have in common with her character is her love for statement jewelry.