Henry VIII was a red head.

[hickman]

His first wife, Catherine was (in the only known portrait) a blondish redhead. Why does hollywood always portray her with black or brown hair? And with a heavy spanish accent? As a child of Isabella she would have been trained early to adjust to languages. After 20 years as Henry's Queen I'm betting she spoke the language well. Why do they do this? Katherine was a blondish redhead, Ann was a brown eyed black haired woman. Jane was blond and blue eyed. Kathryn Howard was a red head. Katherine Parr seems to have dark eyes and brown hair. The only unknown was Ann of Cleves.

[hickman]

1. I'm kicking because there is a new remake about Henry VIII.

I've watched the previews. Catherine of Aragon is once again portrayed as a black haired spaniard. She was a pale skinned redhead. As were her father and mother. She is also potrayed as having a heavy spanish accent. She was fluent in Latin, French and English. She would have lost any accent as soon as she came to England. She was Isabella's daughter. I'm sick and tired of Catherine being portrayed as a dumpy foreigner. She was beautiful, smart and got slammed by history.

[noonwitch]

3. I think Hollywood tends to confuse Catherine with her daughter

Mary Tudor, who was a dark and unattractive woman, according to any painting I've seen of her.

[sarge43]

2. If the infamous Holbein portrait is correct, Anne of Cleves

appears to have had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion.

A marriage between the Spanish and English royals had been in the works since Catherine was an infant. She was trained to be an English queen consort. She spoke English well. Until it all came apart, Henry cared for Catherine and respected her for her smarts and considerable abilities. When he was away at war, he made her regent with full powers.

For the record, both Isabella and Ferdinard were descendants of Edward III of England. Catherine came by the Plantagenet good looks naturally.