KING Henry VIII died in 1547, but Eric Bana senses he is still around today.
No, the Melbourne-born actor does not see dead people, but he says the story of the randy royal retains relevance with much he does see in 2008, particularly in his industry where what he terms "a fortress of bulls---" can be built around big stars.
"What I found fascinating in the film is just what someone can get away with when they have no checks and balances. How important that is in a society and to us as individuals," says Bana, who plays Henry in The Other Boleyn Girl.
"We see people in positions of power, wealth and . . . you see movie stars who are not reined in. I just found it interesting in that regard.
"Everyone is different, but I think in this industry you can very easily build up a fortress of bulls---.
"It is not always done intentionally. I think it is very important to have people around you who just tell you how it is, but this industry does provide you with the opportunity to create an almost 'non-realistic reality' for oneself.
"Unfortunately, I am the one fool who somehow managed to assemble himself a team that tells me nothing but the truth.
"That goes for my publicist, my agent, my friends and my wife and my children.
"I don't have anyone who lies to me and that makes me feel good, because it's very healthy."
Of course, not all King Henry VIII's six wives and innumerable mistresses were as lucky as Bana when it came to keeping their heads, but the title The Other Boleyn Girl refers to one who did: Mary Boleyn. Her sister, Anne, on the other hand . . .
Based on the book by Philippa Gregory and written for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen, 2006), the film is directed by Justin Chadwick, an Englishman best known until now for television, and features two of the hottest female stars -- Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.
Urged by their ambitious father and uncle to advance their family's status and power, the sisters compete for the affections of the monarch.
In the dangerous world of Henry's royal court, Mary (Johansson) becomes his mistress and bears him a child, only to be pushed aside by Anne (Portman), who also squeezes out Henry's first queen, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent).
Anne would stop at nothing to become queen. Eventually, Henry would stop at nothing to be rid of her.
"I was very, very fortunate," Bana says of his leading ladies.
"They're very beautiful, talented young girls and they are incredible actors, and I think they have delivered their best work in this film.
"They are both incredibly energetic, very professional and well prepared, but fun, so it was everything I hoped for and more. They're great girls to get to know."
While Henry has been portrayed countless times in movies and on television, most recently in the lavish mini-series The Tudors, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Bana says he specifically avoided watching any of them.
"I had a few friends call me and say, 'You have got to see this version', but you get so polluted with the information anyway, even on the most basic level," the 39-year-old says.
"You read the script, you read the book, then the next draft of the script comes in and you go into rehearsal and suddenly you forget what you are pulling from which story.
"I really enjoy constructing characters for myself, so I have not seen any of those productions and probably will not for a little while."
He describes Henry as "one of the most complex individuals of any time in history" and says that while the character was not easy to play, the decision to play him was simple.
"If you . . . try to imagine what it would be like to be the King of England who is already married to a strong and brilliant woman in Catherine, but then gets involved with Mary and then with Anne and with more women after that, at the same time as dealing with all the drama of the court and the ramifications of his actions, it is an incredibly complex scenario," he says.
"And the ramifications are still felt today. They literally changed the course of history in that part of the world, changed the fabric of religion. Historically, they were genuinely significant and dramatic times."
Since completing The Other Boleyn Girl, Bana also has finished work on The Time Traveller's Wife for German director Robert Schwentke, who directed dual Academy Award winner Jodie Foster in the 2005 thriller Flightplan.
Shot mainly in Toronto, Canada, the film features Bana as Henry De Tamble, a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to time travel, creating complications in his marriage.
"I absolutely loved working with Robert Schwentke, who is unique and brilliant, and (co-star) Rachel McAdams from Canada, who I just love," Bana says. "It was a great shoot."
And now he moves on to J.J. Abrams's revival of the Star Trek franchise, in which he will play the main villain, named Nero. Chris Pine will play Kirk, with Zachary Quinto as Spock.
Already shooting, the film was to have been released on Christmas Day, but has been pushed back to May 2009.
"I really loved the original series with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy," Bana says.
"I grew up with that, but that was not reason enough to want to do the film.
"The script was the thing that made me want to do it.
"I'm looking forward to playing a villain, so it should be fun."
