MANILA, Philippines—Vanessa Redgrave, Genevieve Bujold, Natalie Portman, Helena Bonham Carter are just a few of the respected actresses who have tackled the controversial role of Anne Boleyn, whose marriage to King Henry VIII in the 16th century led to a political and religious revolution in England.

Now comes Natalie Dormer, who plays Anne to Jonathan Rhys Meyer’s Henry VIII in “The Tudors,” a 10-part miniseries premiering on HBO Signature on Sept. 8. The miniseries continues on Sept. 9 at 10 p.m. with four episodes and concludes on Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. with the last four episodes.

Comedic flair

The 26-year-old actress had a bit part in Lasse Hallstrom’s “Cassanova,” which starred the late Heath Ledger, but her comedic flair convinced screenwriter Tom Stoppard to expand her role. Her burlesque performance attracted Walt Disney executives who offered her a three-picture deal. Recently, I joined Asian and local journalists in a telephone interview with the talented actress. Excerpts:

You have now appeared in two period dramas, “Cassanova” and “The Tudors.” Are you afraid of being typecast in this type of role?

Obviously, I don’t want to be typecast as a corset-wearing actress. I call it Helen Bonham Carter-itis. But, other actresses have started their careers in corsets. Kate Winslet and Helena have done it and succeeded. The roles I have done and will do after “Tudors” will shatter that possibility of being typecast. I’m making a concerted effort.

You and Jonathan Rhys Meyers have several steamy scenes in the movie. What was that experience like?

We lost the embarrassment in the first week. Jonathan and I used to joke around. We’d roll our eyes, laugh and say, “Oh gosh, another sex scene!” It just becomes another day at work. It’s very unerotic when you’re doing it, but hopefully, it looks good.

What’s the difference between portraying a historical as opposed to a fictional character?

You feel a weight of responsibility on your shoulder, because the Reformation in England was one of the most traumatic economic, political and social revolutions this country has ever been through. The creation of the Church of England was not a small thing. You feel a sense of responsibility to do right by history. You must take the pressure off yourself a little bit.

At the end of the day, you must remember that you’re not creating a historical documentary, but an artistic interpretation, so you can only put the burden on yourself up to a certain extent—and you just have to let it go.

How far should an actor go in immersing himself in a role?

Jonathan says when he’s playing Henry VIII for five months, day in and day out, it’s hard to turn the king off when he goes home at night, which can be slightly embarrassing when you’re in a restaurant. I feel the same way. It’s part of an actor’s job that you take home a part of your character. You have to. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be any good at your job. It’s a matter of drawing the line and trying to keep the balance so you don’t lose yourself.

What problems did you encounter in making this film?

It takes half an hour to get to the rest room. (Laughs) In all seriousness, wearing those costumes for five months is not the most comfortable thing. Your body acclimatizes to it. It actually changes shape slightly, because you’re being pushed and pulled in different areas. It’s tight in the waist and the bust. You learn to breathe in certain parts of your chest.

The gowns are quite heavy. I would do yoga and swimming to keep my body relaxed to counter whatever the corset was doing to me. But, I had such fun. It was a wonderful show with a wonderful ensemble. It’s very hard to be negative about it.

What was your most memorable scene in shooting this film?

The execution. We shot in a very famous jail in Ireland which is no longer operational It’s a historical place. It was noted for political executions in Dublin. The place had a very strong atmosphere—an eerie energy about it. It had a haunted feel. I was going through the process of saying goodbye to the character I was playing. It was very emotional. It was so highly charged—and standing on that scaffold and addressing hundreds of extras was a very intense experience.

Dating actors

I read somewhere that you don’t like dating actors. Why?

(Laughs) There’s only so much room for emotion in a relationship. I like actors. I have a very soft and warm place in my heart for them. But, I think the dynamics of my being in a relationship with one will probably be combustible.

How about royals? Between Princes Harry and William, whom would you rather date?
An amalgamation of both. If you mix the two, you’ll probably get it right—the good and the bad, you know, the naughty and the nice.

You are a poker player and have actually won in tournaments. Does your being an actor help you bluff your way?

I would definitely say that my poker strategy has more to do with bluffing than with mathematics. Math was never my strong point. I have many poker friends who play with probability—they do the calculations in their heads. I don’t play that way. I play by instinct, because I’m a visceral creature!