Anne Boleyn: What Did the Tudor Queen Really Look Like?

Unfortunately, almost no reliable portraits of Anne Boleyn have survived to this day. After her downfall, Henry VIII ordered the destruction of her belongings and portraits, as if she had never existed. As a result, the miniature paintings and depictions of Anne that exist today vary greatly, making it difficult to determine her true appearance.

To get a better idea of how Anne Boleyn really looked, we must turn to descriptions from her contemporaries. Venetian diplomat Francesco Sanuto wrote:

"Anne Boleyn is not the most beautiful woman in the world; she is of medium height, with dark skin, a long neck, a wide mouth, and black, beautiful eyes. Her figure was ordinary, and her chest was not very prominent."

However, Anne was known for her charm, charisma, and ability to present herself in a way that turned any supposed flaw into an asset.

Interestingly, one of the only confirmed depictions of Anne Boleyn can be found on a coin from her time. While it doesn’t reveal much about her features, it remains a fascinating glimpse into the image of one of history’s most enigmatic queens.