Thats a gift to any actress.
And strong, but also vulnerable.
She had every facet; it was a really magic thing.
Credit: Nick Briggs/Starz
Not that Hope necessarily assumed that all going in at least, not before she saw the scripts.
Like so many, she grew up thinking Catherine of Aragon was a rather dull, overly pious woman.
That was it really it was before you get to the exciting, sexy story with Anne Boleyn.
Most of the version of Tudor history we know is through the eyes of Henry VIII, she adds.
The wives are always a side note to that.
Catherines reputation is that shes this incredibly courageous, brave woman, explains Hope.
Its interesting to me to be like, Ok, those are two really opposing memories of a woman.
Part of that came from within Hopes natural affinity for Catherine.
Ive never connected with a part so much, she says.
I read her and I was like, Oh I have to play this woman.
I just knew her.
So often with acting, were trying to create a role or play the part.
I was like, No, I know exactly who she is and I have her in me.'
She carries this very Celtic look, this English look about her, which is very unusual.
Charlotte Hope auditioned for us and already had this striking physical resemblance to our version of Catherine.
To the most acknowledged portrait.
And brought this amazing acting talent.
She was the best actor for the role.
She embodies both the strength and the vulnerability of Catherine.
For Hope, the next part of the equation was spending some time in the places that shaped Catherine.
Shooting began at the Alhambra, the palace where Catherine spent much of her girlhood in Spain.
And beginning May 5 on Starz, viewers can also see where Catherine of Aragon started it all.
