Scarlett Johansson, left, as Mary Boleyn and Natalie Portman as her ill-fated sister, Anne, in “The Other Boleyn Girl.” (Photo: Alex Bailey/Columbia Pictures)

Sandy Powell, an Academy Award nominee for her work on "Shakespeare in Love" and "The Aviator," designed the costumes for "The Other Boleyn Girl," a film about two sisters who fight for the affections of the king of England. At left, one of Ms. Powell's costume sketches for the character Mary Boleyn. (Photo: Sandy Powell/Columbia Pictures)

Scarlett Johansson as Mary in the dress as it appears in the film. Ms. Powell created hundreds of original costumes in the style of the Tudor era. (Photo: Alex Bailey/Columbia Pictures)

For the costumes of Henry VIII and the Boleyns, Ms. Powell looked to the paintings of Hans Holbein for inspiration, like this painting of Henry VIII from 1536. (Photo: Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid)

Ms. Powell's sketch for one of Henry's costumes. (Photo: Sandy Powell/Columbia Pictures)

Eric Bana appears as Henry VIII in the film with Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. Ms. Powell says she was concerned with historical detail, but only up to a point. “You always have to use artistic license,” she says. “You can never be strictly authentic, and besides, no one knows what authentic is, anyway.” (Photo: Alex Bailey/Columbia Pictures)

According to Ms. Powell, on the movie's set the favorite costume was the green "lily dress," which included embroidered lilies on its front. (Photo: Sandy Powell/Columbia Pictures)

Ms. Portman in the lily dress. (Photo: Alex Bailey/Columbia Pictures)

Directed by Justin Chadwick; written by Peter Morgan, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory; director of photography, Kieran McGuigan; edited by Paul Knight and Carol Littleton; music by Paul Cantelon; production designer, John-Paul Kelly; produced by Alison Owen; released by Columbia Pictures and Focus Features. Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes.

WITH: Natalie Portman (Anne Boleyn), Scarlett Johansson (Mary Boleyn), Eric Bana (Henry VIII), Kristin Scott Thomas (Lady Elizabeth Boleyn), Mark Rylance (Thomas Boleyn), David Morrissey (Duke of Norfolk), Jim Sturgess (George Boleyn) and Ana Torrent (Catherine of Aragon).

(source : www.nytimes.com)