"The Tudors" works it

Michael Hirst, creator of “The Tudors,” boasts that his series features some 4,000 ornate costumes. When he met costume designer Joan Bergin (“The Prestige”), he says, “We talked about, ‘Let’s not just get stuck into the Tudor costumes, because right around the corner, you’ve got the Renaissance, which had amazing fabrics and costumes.’ She said, ‘Can I do that? It gives me a much bigger palate.’ I said, ‘You must do that. You must stretch. Just go for it.’”

Sam Neill, who plays Cardinal Wolsey in “The Tudors,” concedes that Bergin indeed go for it.

“I’m in a big red frock for the most of it, except when I’m in bed with my mistress, in which case I’m wearing no frock at all,” Neill says.

“I thought the costumes were fantastic. One of the pleasures in coming to work was that you didn’t know how they’d look. The odd hat was faintly ridiculous. I came in one day and saw Nick Dunning in his costume – he looked so ridiculous, I was on the floor laughing. He being a good friend of mine, he took it in stride.”