- Music
- 29 Jun 06
Maria Doyle Kennedy is among the Irish actors lined up to star in a major new TV series being filmed in the country.
The Dublin singer, who released the widely acclaimed Charm album in 2001, last displayed her acting abilities on Irish film Tara Road.
She now lines up alongside the Golden Globe winning Jonathan Rhys Myers in The Tudors, a blockbuster TV series focusing on the turbulent early years of King Henry VIII's reign as King of England.
Attracted to Ireland by the production team of Morgan O’Sullivan and James Flynn, The Tudors is an Irish Canadian co-production, and is being produced for Showtime, in association with TM Productions, with finance from Peace Arch Entertainment and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
The series has an overall budget of €29 million, with over €19 million of the budget being spent on Irish personnel, goods and services over the five months it is being filmed in the country.
Irish directors Ciaran Donnelly (Cold Feet, Proof) and Brian Kirk (Middletown) will direct episodes of the series, along with Emmy-winning television director Charles McDougall (Desperate Housewives).
“The Tudors is generating major employment within the Irish film industry," explains Naoise Barry, Film Commissioner, Irish Film Board.
"We’re delighted that Showtime has chosen to locate The Tudors in Ireland and we’d also like to congratulate the Irish co-producers Morgan O’Sullivan and James Flynn for securing this major project for Ireland."
The series will be broadcast on Showtime in early 2007.