Jonathan Rhys Meyers on why The Tudor's Henry VIII isn't hefty Special

Having become a sex symbol playing King Henry VIII for three seasons on The Tudors, Meyers talks about beheadings, love and staying fit. Also out this week on Blu-Ray/DVD is Inglorious Basterds, The Hangover, G-Force, Star Trek, Taking Woodstock & others.

Portraying Great Britian's seductive, lustful, merciless and most powerful monarch, King Henry VIII, for three seasons on the highly rated Showtime series The Tudors (Season 3 is now on DVD) has turned Irish-born actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers into hot, bankable property in La-La-Land. And, thanks to his fine work on The Tudors, not only has Meyers quickly ascended Hollywood’s ladder to stardom, he's now an annual fixture on The Sexiest Man Alive lists across the globe. But most importantly, Meyers, who has an impressive film resume (that includes such motion pictures as Velvet Goldmine, Mission Impossible 3, August Rush, Titus, Elvis and Bend It Like Beckham), has single-handedly and believably transformed the once legendary, seemingly indestructable and larger-than-life King Henry VIII into an insecure, overly-ambitious, overindulgent and regret-filled lonely man during his time on The Tudors. In Season Three, just released on DVD, Henry weds his fourth wife, Jane Seymour (Annabelle Wallis), just days after having, his third Queen, Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), beheaded. After Jane makes peace between Henry and his first daughter Lady Mary, Jane becomes pregnant and soon gives birth to a male heir. But, the Queen dies shortly afterwards. Although Henry is broken-hearted, he soon agrees to a political, loveless marriage (urged on by Cromwell) with the German aristocrat Anne of Cleves (played by pop music star Joss Stone), but surrounds himself with a number of mistresses. With plans to annul Anne, he begins to move ahead to marry 17-year-old Katherine Howard. Politically, as a ruler, Henry cruelly crushes members of the religious-based, Pilgrimage Of Grace uprising, he puts Cromwell to death and continues to fight with the Pope (Max Von Sydow), who is encouraging Spain and France to attack the British Isles in the name of Catholicism. For the 32-year-old Meyers (born Jonathan O’Keefe in Dublin), his time as King Henry VIII comes to end in 2010 when the Fourth and Final season of The Tudors airs on Showtime (beginning in January). But Meyers already has a busy film schedule filled with one movie role after another (starting with the February 2010 spy thriller From Paris With Love) to keep him busy. But, he will always be grateful for having nabbed the role as one of England's greatest rulers – a challenging role for any actor. “Playing Henry VIII has been one of the most educational and exciting roles of my career…and my life,” Meyers said during an LA press junket. “It’s been incredible being able to play a character for a number of years and being able to grow along with him. At the end of the day, The Tudors has taught me how to be a better actor. That's the best way I can say it.”

Showtime/CBS

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII in The Tudors

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Your portrayal as Henry VIII in The Tudors has turned you into a real sex symbol. Do you feel like one?“No, and my mother doesn’t think I’m a sex symbol either. She had words with me about the subject, and told me, ‘Don’t let things like that stuff go to your head.’ (laughs) I think it’s very flattering to be thought of in that way, but I don’t take it seriously. It can all change tomorrow. It’s not like I’m a Brad Pitt or anything. When you mention Brad’s name you immediately think, ‘Handsome.’ I don’t know if that’s what most people think when my name is mentioned. (laughs) At the end of the day, I look the way I look is because of my mom and dad. ‘Thanks mom, thanks dad.’ (laughs) The strangest people are often considered sexy symbols. A couple of years ago, there was a politician in Ireland that was considered a sex symbol, but if you saw him, you’d go, ‘There’s not a sexy bone in that man’s body.’ But to a certain element of the political circle in Dublin, he’s had it going on. I know I don’t look offensive or anything, but at the end of the day, when I go home, I know that I’m not a sex symbol, I just have my moments where I look good on film.” Do you ever feel unattractive?“Of course, I’m like every other person, because I have my days. It’s really hard when you wake up with a low physical confidence day and you have you film a scene — they don’t care. You may not feel like you look good, but for that scene, you have to, regardless of how you feel. You can’t be on every day. But those are the days that you have to remain professional and think beyond it for a second. That’s when you realize that being a sex symbol is all a game and it’s all a fantasy. All the world’s a stage and you are just one of the players.” But, isn’t an actor’s appearance important?“Definitely, my looks have helped me to get the movie roles I have. Any actor who doesn’t understand that the way they look defines the roles they play when they are a young actor is not really paying attention. Because, until an actor becomes a star, you can’t play any role you want. I mean, they are not going to cast Jude Law as The Hunchback Of Notre Dame when he is twenty-one, because he just doesn’t look like the Hunchback. But, when he is thirty-one, he can make any film he wants. So, the way you look is important, but talent is what really matters.” As the seasons continue, do the costumes for Henry VIII get harder to wear the more elaborate they get?“No, it actually gets easier. Actually, at the end of the day, once you’ve done this past season of The Tudors, putting on those costumes is just like putting on jeans and a t-shirt. I’m so used to wearing them now. But, I must say that I thought it was quite funny to see Ryan Seacrest dress up like King Henry at the Emmys one year. He looked a bit uncomfortable in the costume. I understand, though, because they are quite uncomfortable. For the first three weeks, wearing those puffed-out trousers are a nightmare.” Henry VIII was known to get quite heavy man as he got older. How anxious are you to play to an obese Henry VIII? Didn’t you gain some weight for Season 2 or 3?“Well, I put on a stone (fourteen pounds) in muscle, but I couldn’t really put on the weight. I just didn’t want to be ‘Fat Henry.’ When I said to them that I would do the series, I said, ‘Listen, if you are looking for a guy to put on two-hundred pounds, I’m really not that guy.’ I don’t think I could hold it. My frame just wouldn’t hold all the weight.” What about wearing fat pads?“No, no, no. You can’t wear fat pads in HD. (laughs) It’s very difficult to do that, you know? All the tricks go out the window.” Henry is quick to fall in love, but he seems to fall out of love just as fast. He really did quite a turnaround with Anne Boleyn. He changed so much of English culture out of his love for her, but he ended up hating her by the time he had her beheaded. “There is no cowardice in cutting someone’s head off. It’s not a pleasant job. For Anne Boleyn, he actually had a special sword made so that her head will come off cleaner.” Do you believe in love at first sight?“I do, I fell in love at first sight — once. I ended up going out with the girl for a few years. Falling in love at first sight was a very strange thing, but it wasn’t like thunderbolts and lightening. It wasn’t an epiphany. Actually, I felt a bit sick. It was kind of uncomfortable, really, because it was just very factual. It was like the sky is blue, when it rains you are wet, and I was in love.” Do you still see her?“No, she’s actually very happily married to another man. How is that for a stink? Even though I loved her a lot, I don’t think I would have been that good in a marriage. Herself and her husband are perfectly matched people.” Is that a wedding ring on your finger? When did you get married?“I didn’t. It’s not a wedding ring. Don’t worry, I’m not married.” (laughs) How do you like living in Los Angeles?“I like it because it’s very quiet and very peaceful. That’s mainly why I live there. Cities like New York are just too tense and fast-paced for me.” How has the success of The Tudors changed things for you?“You get a lot less time to do what I want to do.” You’ve cut your hair quite short. Is that for an upcoming project or was it for The Tudors?“I cut it shorter because it’s just easier to deal with in the morning. One of my biggest problems is that I get terrible ‘bed head.’ If my hair is long, when I wake up in the morning, it’s almost like hair architects came in during the middle of the night and worked on my hair, designing it to look like the Guggenheim or the museum in Barcelona.” (laughs) The Tudors: The Complete Third Season DVD - Bonus Features: “The Tudors Timeline” featurette and the first two episodes of United States Of Tara: Season 1. EBRIDGE – Interviews with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Annabelle Willis, Henry Cavill, Joss Stone and Max Van Sydow and much more. Inglorious Basterds: Special Blu-ray Edition In director Quentin Tarantino’s brutal, bloody and funny remake of the 1977 version (starring Bo Svenson and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson) of Inglorious Bastards (featured on this Blu-ray version), get ready for a sometimes shocking and always hilariously wild revenge fantasy about a Nazi-scalping squad of World War II American soldiers known as “The Basterds,” who are under the command of a take-no-prisoners squad leader played by Brad Pitt (in one of his most incredible performances to date). On a life-or-death mission to bring down the leaders of the Third Reich, “The Basterds” (which includes actor/director Eli Roth in an Oscar-worthy performance) head out into enemy territory to bring "them damn Nazis to their knees.” With a cast that also includes Diane Kruger, Til Schweiger, Rod Taylor and Michael Fassbender, like his classic films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, Tarantino has delivered another cinematic masterpiece filled with jaw-dropping performances. (Also on DVD). Bonus Features: Extended and alternate scenes, roundtable discussion with Tarantino, Pitt and Elvis Mitchell, Nation’s Pride, “The Making of Nation’s Pride” (film within film), “A Conversation With Rod Taylor,” The original version of Inglorious Bastards, “Quentin Tarantino’s Camera Angel,” “Film Poster Gallery Tour,” POCKET BLU – add bonuses to your iPod & iPhone, BD-LIVE! with a “Killin’ Nazis Trivia Challenge” and a Digital Copy of the film. George Lopez: Tall, Dark & Chicano This is one Latino who is a one-man entertainment empire, garnering fans of all color through his successful sitcom (in syndication), feature films and now his hot new sit-down, nightly interview series. With his late-night talk show now a big ratings hit, you can catch the Chicano funny man uncensored in this hilarious HBO comedy stand-up special -- one of his most hysterical, slightly naughty but gut-busting one-man show. Lopez really turns up the heat on Tall, Dark & Chicano. Performed live in front of a sold-out audience, George takes hysterical pot shot at his Latino roots, modern-day kids, family values, love, sex and immigration. As George tells it on the Tall, Dark & Chicano DVD, he’s living one hilarious la vida Lopez The Hangover: Unrated Cut In the hysterically funny, wildly over-the-top and rip-roaring Todd Phillips-directed comedy The Hangover, Bradley Cooper heads up an ensemble cast that includes Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham and former World Heavyweight Champ Mike Tyson. The Hangover — a witty, irreverent, zany and PC-free story of a three-day, Vegas bachelor blow-out that goes hilariously out-of-control. Two days before his wedding, Doug (Barth) drives to Sin City with his BFFs Phil and Stu (Cooper & Helms) and his future brother-in-law Alan (Galifianaki) for a party they vow never to forget. Sadly, the next morning, the groomsmen with pounding headaches, can't remember a thing — their luxury hotel suite is trashed and the groom is nowhere to be found. However, the more they begin to uncover, the more they realize just how much trouble they're. (Also on single & 2-disc DVDs) Bonus Features: Seven additional minutes of content not seen in theaters, six featurettes, a gag reel, stills gallery, a Digital Copy of the Theatrical Version, Picture-in-Picture Commentary, BD-LIVE! “Iron Mike Online Teaser” – he sings "In the Air Tonight,” “Cursing Mash-Up - cursing compilation and “The Dan Band!” perform “Fame.” G-Force: Combo Pack G-Force takes viewers on a deliriously entertaining cinematic ride with a whole new breed of hero, featuring a stellar cast including Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, and Steve Buscemi, with live performances by Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, and Zak Galifianakis. Packaged as an inventive Disney “Combo Pack” (a Blu-ray + DVD + DisneyFile Digital Copy of the movie in a single package), movie-lovers can finally look forward to enjoying this thrilling story about a covert group of feisty furballs. G-Force is the hysterical story of a top-secret mission assigned to a highly trained trio of guinea pig super spies in an effort to stop a dastardly plot to take over the world . G-Force is a visually stunning CGI-rendered adventure from famed über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer. As the leader of the squad, Darwin (Rockwell) isn’t afraid of doing anything to get the job done, and neither is his expert team — Blaster (Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and Juarez (Cruz), a gorgeous martial arts pro. With the help of mole Speckles (Cage), and others from the animal kingdom, the G-Force tries to disrupt wicked appliance mogul Leonard Saber’s power grab. Bonus Features: Audio commentary with director Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr., two featurettes, “G-Farce: Bloopers,” deleted scenes, the music videos “Jump” by Flo Rida featuring Nelly Furtado, “Ready To Rock” by Steve Rushton and “Go G-Force.” HI-DEF – “Cine-Explore” with filmmakers, “Bruckheimer Animated” retrospective, “Access Granted: Inside the Animation Lab” feature. Robot Chicken: The Complete Fourth Season When a DVD has a WARNING UNCENSORED label plastered on its front cover declaring that the episodes and special features on the 2-disc DVD set “contains mature themes and vulgar and sexually explicit language” it’s got to be funny, outrageous, witty and edgy. And, believe me, it is, and much more. The past four seasons of the clever, crude and comical Robot Chicken have been the best comedy series on television — taking the art of stop-motion animation to the new heights. Looking for some really tasty and delicious nuggets of Emmy-nominated sketch comedy? You wont find any better than on the hysterical, naughty and irreverent Fourth Season of Robot Chicken. In this season, Dick Cheney slips on Iron Man’s armor to see what it might do for the man. And, if you think the recent film redux, multiple spin-offs and endless sequels of Star Trek have gotten a bit too much for you, how about Robot Chicken’s boiled down, two-minute opera version of the space series? I that’s not enough, what about Tila Tequila’s nasty little secret where it’s revealed that she’s a murderous android? If it’s a whole lot of insanity, hilarity and out-of-this-world craziness that you’re looking for, then you can stay right here in this universe, pick up this DVD and laugh until your sides ache. Season Four is Robot Chicken at its finest. Bonus Features: Chicken Nugget, San Diego Comic-Con ’08 Panel, Day In The Life, New York Comic-Con ’09 Panel, Video Blogs, Australia Visit, alternate audio, deleted scenes, deleted animatics and commentary on all 20 episodes. Taking Woodstock In the Woodstock: Three Days of Love, Peace & Music film documentary, we got to hear all the groovy jams, slide down all the mud, hang with the naked hippies in the lake and listen to the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia extolling the virtues of pot, but if you really want to know what happen behind the scenes of those historical days in August 1969, you have to see director Ang Lee’s (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and his producing/screenplay partner James Schamus’s non-fiction tale of one man’s eye-opening, life-changing experience during the festival. Starring Demetri Martin, Dan Fogler, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff, Eugene Levy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch, and Liev Schreiber, this 1969-set story is based on Elliot Tiber's memoir about the role he (Martin) inadvertently played during the Woodstock Festival. An interior designer who lived in Greenwich Village, where he felt empowered by the gay rights movement, he also felt responsible for the family business — a Catskills motel. Upon hearing that a planned concert had lost its permit from the neighboring town, Elliot called producer Michael Lang at Woodstock Ventures to offer his family's motel, the El Monaco, to the promoters. Soon the Woodstock staff was moving into the El Monaco, half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber's neighbor's Max Yasgur's farm in White Lake, and Elliot found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture — forever. Bonus Features: Audio commentary with Ang Lee and James Shamus, deleted scenes, “Peace, Love and Cinema” featurette, “No Audience Required: The Earthlight Players’ feature and BD-LIVE! Murder By Decree With director Guy Ritchie’s latest interpretation on Sherlock Holmes’ crime-solving skills with Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead role, director Bob Clark’s (A Christmas Story) 1979 film — Murder By Decree — is all about Holmes’ hunt for his deadliest adversary, Jack, The Ripper, and is finally being released on DVD. Featuring Christopher Plummer as Sherlock Holmes and James Mason as his trusty associate Dr. Watson, a citizen’s committee asks the pair to find The Ripper when Scotland Yard fails to stop the serial killer’s gruesome rampage. Can Holmes’ remarkable powers of deduction unmask the fiend? If he and Watson do find him, are they ready to find out who it really is? Considered one of the most exciting and original Sherlock Holmes tales ever made, Murder By Decree also stars David Hemmings, Anthony Quayle, John Gielguld and Donald Sutherland as “The Psychic.” Bonus Features: Audio commentary with Bob Clark, behind-the-scenes stills gallery, poster and stills gallery and original theatrical trailer. Star Trek: Original Series – Season Three An unaired alternative version of the original Star Trek pilot — “Where No Man Has Gone Before," including an alternative monologue by William Shatner, as well as different theme music and closing credits — was found after 40 years. Now available to the public for sale for the first time ever as part of Star Trek: Original Series - Season Three, it is presented in three parts with 1970s-style act breaks. Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig, Season 3 features all 24 episodes presented in pristine 7.1 DTS-HD Master audio and superior picture quality. Bonus Features: New featurettes from Star Trek-themed panels at ComicCon International 2009 including "The Anthropology of Star Trek" and "The World of Rod Roddenberry," plus a 20-minute piece hosted by David Gerrold, the writer behind the classic episode "The Trouble With Tribbles." BD-Live! – enables fans to toggle between watching these classic episodes as they were originally broadcast, or the newly remastered versions with enhanced special effects and sound for the best of both worlds. The Wizards Of Waverly Place: The Movie Extended Edition The Number One live-action supernatural hit from the Disney Channel takes to the silver screen in an exciting adventure that finds the Russos, everyone’s favorite family of wizards-in-training, join together on a quest full of heart-stopping action and hilarious magical mishaps. While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally casts a spell that threatens her family’s existence. Max (Jake T. Austin) tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin (David Henrie) use every trick they know as they search for the “Stone of Dreams” to reverse the spell and save their family. A must-see for fans of the show, this movie foray is bound to make new fans out of viewers looking for a magic-filled and action-packed movie. Bonus Features: Exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes Insider’s Exclusive featurettes – On Location!, Your Favorite Stars Reveal: Special Effects, Movie Stunts, Magical Props, Animal Actors & more. (Limited Time Only) Color-Changing Wishing Stone With Clip included on pack. Psycho Ward In this chilling and gripping documentary-like thriller, a group of scientists and researchers are adamant to unveil the secrets that linger in the halls of the abandoned Black Creek Detention Center. However, the team of researchers never considered that there is anything other than scientific causing rumors behind the deaths that occurred there. They have been targeted, though, by an evil presence housed within the walls of the Center. Becoming trapped in the prison, the begin disappearing, one-by-one, and as they search for a way out, the shockingly discover that the only way out of Black Creek may be death itself. A compelling paranormal thriller starring Liam Clark, Jacqueline Betts, Tim Clark and Sandy Lai, Psycho Ward was directed by Patrick McBrearty. Bonus Feature: Trailer gallery. The Girl From Monaco A stylish, shrewd and satirical French dramedy nominated For two Cesar Awards (France’s version of the Oscar) and written & directed by Anne Fontaine, the filmmaker behind Coco Before Chanel, The Girl From Monaco is a mysterious and funny French sex farce. In the award-winning film, a brilliant and neurotic attorney (Fabrice Luchini) travels to Monaco to defend a famous 70-year-old murderess. Instead of focusing on the case, though, the lawyer falls for a beautiful and ambitious weather girl (Louise Bourgoin), who turns him into a complete wreck. With any luck, his zealous bodyguard (Roschdy Zem) will step in and put everything back in order...Or will he? Bonus Feature: “Making Of The Girl From Monaco” featurette. Chai Lai Angels: Dangerous Flowers From the Hong Kong filmmakers behind Ong-Bak, five sexy spies star in the electrifying Thai action comedy — Code-named agents Rose, Lotus, Poysien, Spadix and Hibiscus, the five “Chai Lais” (Thai for "gorgeous") are charged with the perilous assignment to combat evil terrorists, foil a kidnapping and recover a national treasure. Miki, the daughter of a professor and martial arts master is sought after by an organized crime syndicate for her knowledge about the location of the hidden Thai treasure — the Andaman Pearl. After Miki is kidnapped, though, the Chai Lais must find her before it is too late. A mission unlike any these Charlie's Angels of the Far East have known before, the quintet of high-heeled undercover agents must use all their ingenuity and prowess to save the day. The heroines combine their unique abilities with ninja kicks and seductive stunts in a highly entertaining battle for victory. Bonus Features: “The Making of Chai Lai Angels: Dangerous Flowers" featurette, music videos and the international theatrical trailer. The Mel Brooks Collection Best known as the creator of broad film farces and uproarious parodies, jack-of-all-trades filmmaker Mel Brooks has been entertaining audiences for years with his wacky and absurdist humor. Now, the king of comedy's brilliant work is now available for the first time in high definition Blu-ray. Embark on hilarious adventures over and over again as the ultimate Mel Brooks Blu-ray set features most of the best films of his career -- Blazing Saddles, High Anxiety, History Of The World Part I, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Silent Movie, Spaceballs, To Be Or Not To Be, The Twelve Chairs and Young Frankenstein. Bonus Features: Seven featurettes (plus six all-new to Blu-ray), Four all-new trivia tracks, five isolated score tracks, audio commentaries, interviews, documentaries, still galleries and the collectible 120-page hardcover book "It's Good To Be King." WHY NOT MAKE IT A BLU (RAY) CHRISTMAS?! Are you hoping for Santa to bring you a Blu-ray player for Christmas or are you planning to give your loved one their first HD machine? Well, why not make it a Blu Christmas with $130 in savings on some of the most sought after high-definition titles (courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment)? Offers include $3.00 off the hottest Blu-ray discs like action-packed hits Fight Club and Independence Day, family fare including Home Alone and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, classics such as Patton and Miracle on 34th Street and many, many more. 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