15 Historical Figures Misrepresented In Pop Culture

What Hollywood Did: Cleopatra is shown as an Egyptian queen and master manipulator, the lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but an inept ruler whose beauty mattered most. Many on screen portrayals use history, yet they follow biased accounts from men who never met her.according to authorStacy Schiff found "her independence of mind... [and] enterprising spirit" unsettling.

Why It’s Wrong: Cleopatra was not Egyptian. She was Greek, part of the Ptolemaic line that ruled Egypt starting in 305 BC. Despite lacking political skill beyond seduction, Cleopatra acted as a smart ruler, skilled in diplomacy and leadership. Cleopatra was bornaround 70 BCShe ruled Egypt with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII from 51 BC. Her brother's supporters forced her to flee in 49 BC, so Cleopatra raised an army to fight back for power.

Cleopatra had a relationship with Julius Caesar, giving him a son in 47 BC. Cleopatra ruled Egypt with her son as co-regent from 44 BC, then became Antony's partner. Cleopatra's seduction of Mark Antony is a key part of her story, but the actual politics were much more complicated than just a love story.

Cleopatra was educated, knew her position was shaky, and was deeply involved in Roman matters. Her link with Antonywas based on mutual need, as Cleopatra sought to reclaim land from her former Egyptian empire. Antony wanted Roman Empire control and needed Cleopatra's help to defeat Octavian (Caesar's adopted son) to seize it.

Hollywood may have exaggerated Cleopatra's legendary beauty. In thewords of Cassius Dio, writing in the second and third centuries, Cleopatra was "a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking." A century earlier, Plutarchdescribed Cleopatra's appearanceas "in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her."

Films And TV: Antony and Cleopatra (1913), Cleopatra (1917), Cleopatra (1963), Antony and Cleopatra (1974, TV Movie), Antony and Cleopatra (1981, TV Movie), Rome (2005, television series)

What Hollywood Did:Generally, the 16th President of the United States is shown as amorally right, almost messianic, hero. Movies and television promote the idea that Abraham Lincoln, the "Great Emancipator," always fought slavery and aimed to end it. Asearly as 1911,Abraham Lincoln appeared on screen with strong resolve and intensity—plus a deep voice. Gregory Peck gave one of the most notable low-voiced Lincoln portrayalsby Gregory Peck in the television miniseries, The Blue and The Gray.

Why It’s WrongEven Peck knew Abraham Lincoln's voice was higher than he played it, but the actor felt it didn't fit the man. This exception exists only in 2012's "Lincoln".LincolnThe president known for speeches like the Gettysburg Address usually gets a deep baritone. There are no recordings of Abraham Lincoln, but his contemporaries described his speaking style as "a little shriller, a little higher" than others. Historian Harold Holzer said observers noted, "All seem to say, for the first 10 minutes I couldn’t believe the way he looked, the way he sounded, his accent. But after ten minutes, the flash of his eyes, the ease of his presentation overcame all doubts, and I was enraptured."his contemporariesdescribed his oratory style as "a little shriller, a little higher" than other speakers. According to Historian Harold Holzer, observers said, "All seem to say, for the first 10 minutes I couldn’t believe the way he looked, the way he sounded, his accent. But after ten minutes, the flash of his eyes, the ease of his presentation overcame all doubts, and I was enraptured."

Lincoln did not openly come out against slavery until 1854. Even then, Lincoln and Republicans did not oppose keeping slavery in the new states joining the union. In 1860, the Republican platform included "the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively." This means domestic institutions, like slavery, were meant to stay under state control.openly come outLincoln opposed the institution until 1854. Even then, Lincoln and his Republican colleagues did not fight to keep slavery in the new states joining the union. In 1860,the Republican platform"the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively."

Films And TV: The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln (1924), Abraham Lincoln (1930), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), The Blue and The Gray (1982, Television miniseries), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998), The Conspirator (2010), Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), Lincoln (2012)

What Hollywood Did: In 1956, John Wayne played Genghis Khan in The Conqueror, a movie listed among the most problematic ever made. As Temujin, or Genghis Khan, Wayne plays a lover who kidnaps Bortai (played by Susan Hayward), the daughter of one of his Tartar rivals, Kumlek. Portraying the Mongol leader as a woman-obsessed man, barbarian and brutal in nature, continued to shape how Hollywood showed Genghis Khan and all the Mongols.barbaric and brutal in natureThis portrayal dominated Hollywood's view of Genghis Khan and all the Mongols. Recent films, like 2007's Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khanshow Temujin a less extreme presence on screen.

Why It’s Wrong: Mongol society was dominated by men, but Mongols' relationships with women were much more complex than Hollywood shows. Genghis Khan and his successors took multiple wives, but across the empire, women had rights other areas of the world did not allow their counterparts.Women in the Mongol Empirecould inherit property, take part in religious rites, and voice opinions on politics.

The Mongols' brutality should not be ignored, but the complexity of the Mongol presence rarely appears on screen. Genghis Khan and the Mongols fostered religious tolerance and trade. Cavalry raids, harsh conquests, and intrusions gave rise to the largest land empire ever.fostered religious toleranceand aided trade. Cavalry raids, harsh conquests, and intrusions with the Mongols created the largest land empire ever.

Films And TV: The Conqueror(1956)Genghis Khan(1965)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure(1989)Genghis Khan(1998)Mongol(2007)

What Hollywood Did: As often as not, Cardinal Richelieu- whose full name was Armand-Jean du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu - has been shown as an antagonist in Alexandre Dumas'sThe Three Musketeers. As King Louis XIII's most trusted minister, different versions of The Three Musketeers find Richelieu both stopping and starting a plot against the king. An early 1935 biopic shows this.Cardinal Richelieu, he is an ambitious, power-hungry ministerin King Louis XIII's court; two years later, he appears as a persecutor of Protestants inUnder the Red Robe. Richelieu always manipulates, plots, and crushes a group in the French population.

Why It’s Wrong: Richelieu's motives stemmed frompower and money, factors that may have influenced his actions but do not show his full nature. Richelieu wanted to strengthen the Catholic Church in France. He made deals with Protestants in foreign lands, including Sweden and Germany.including Sweden and Germany.

As First Minister to King Louis XIII, he also gathered royal power and shaped the French monarchy. His tax on lower classes got criticism, but his economic changes pushed back against the interests of the upper classes, including Catholics.interests of the upper classes, Catholics included. Richelieu just needed funds for war. The Musketeers of the Guard, the King's personal guard, stayed until 1646.place until 1646, four years after Richelieu died. Cardinal Mazarin, Richelieu's protégé and successor, disbanded them.Cardinal Mazarin.

Films And TV: Cardinal Richelieu(1935)Under the Red Robe (1937)The Three Musketeers (1921, 1935, 1953, 1993, and 2011), The Musketeers(2014-2016, Television series)

What Hollywood Did: The two clearest portrayals of Christopher Columbus on screen are1492: Conquest of Paradise and Christopher Columbus: The Discovery. Both movies came out in 1992. They show the Italian explorer as a hero sailing to the New World.released in 1992and paint the Italian explorer as heroic during his voyage to the New World.

Directed by Ridley Scott, 1492stars Gerard Depardieu as Columbus and uses grand visuals, music, and dialogue. The film shows Columbus as a kind visitor to the Caribbean, knowledgeable and enlightened in his talks with the natives.enlightened in his interactionswith the natives.Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, played by George Corrafaceplayed by George Corraface,makes friendly ties with natives while sailing for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella—portrayed by Tom Selleck and Rachel Ward, respectively. with natives while carrying out his voyage for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella - portrayed by Tom Selleck and Rachel Ward, respectively.

Why It’s Wrong: Re-evaluations of Christopher Columbusand his role in history give the explorer a much less enlightened and much bloodier image. This is in 1492.1492Christopher Columbus appears as both a hero and a tyrant. He landed near an accurate spot, but his arrival in the Caribbean, not North America, was a happy accident, not a planned discovery. Hollywood shows Columbus as a messianic figure.The Discovery completely misrepresents historical realities.This misrepresents historical realities.

Beyond the Columbus-as-hero view, Hollywood shows errors. Columbus treated natives poorly, seizing many and forcing them into slavery. Hollywood shows Columbus as a glorious explorer, but he faced major trouble finding support for his trip. Columbus reached the Caribbean only because Spain allowed him after Portugal, England, and France rejected him.Columbus faced rejection.Portugal, England, and France rejected him.

Films And TV: 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)

What Hollywood DidBilly the Kid: Charismatic, brave, and a skilled gunslinger. Comedies, dramas, Westerns, and horror movies show the outlaw as the wily young man killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett, his frequent film nemesis. In the 1970's...Chisum, John Wayne plays John Chisum, the rancher who...employs Billy the KidDuring the late 1980s,...Young Gunsand its sequel, Young GunsII, feature Emilio Estavez as Billy the Kid, fighting The Regulators in the...Lincoln County Wars during the 1870s.

Why It’s Wrong: The man history remembers as Billy the Kid was Henry McCarty, who used the alias William Booney. Though Billy was an outlaw, joined the Lincoln County Wars, and died by Pat Garrett, Garrett created the frontier legend persona. In Garrett's book,...The Authentic Life of Billy, The Kid, the lawman set the stage for decades of dime novels, TV shows, and movies. The real Billy the Kid was an orphan; his first crime was stealing from a laundry.

Garrett may have written that Billy "had a lurking devil in him; it was a good-humored, jovial imp, or a cruel and blood-thirsty fiend, as circumstances prompted," but the ideal Wild West outlaw Billy became was more about the myth than the man.

Films And TV: Billy the Kid(1930)Billy the Kid Returns(1938)The Parson and The Outlaw (1953)Chisum (1970)Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)Young Guns (1988)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)Young Guns II (1990)The Kid (2019)

What Hollywood Did: Napoleon Bonaparte appears on screen as both heroic and tyrannical, but mostly as a short, bossy Frenchman. In Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bonaparte is shown small while pushing through crowds at the Waterloo Water Park. In the TV series, Jack-of-All-Trades, Vern Troyer, only 2'8", plays Bonaparte. Cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny and the Brain from Pinky and the Brain also show Napoleonic shortness.Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventurefor example, Bonaparte is shown kid-size while pushing through the crowds at the Waterloo Water Park. In the television series, Jack-of-All-Trades, Vern Troyer, only 2'8", plays Bonaparte.Jack-of-All-TradesVern Troyer, only 2'8", plays Bonapartewhile cartoon characterslike Bugs Bunny and the Brain from Pinky and the BrainPinky and the Braintake on Napoleonic shortness as well.

Why It’s WrongBritish satirical cartoons and written accounts shaped Hollywood's view of Bonaparte as hot-tempered and small, aiming to lessen the conqueror's standing with his contemporaries. Bonaparte's height was normal. He measured 5'2" by 18th-century French standards, but he would have been over 5'5" in the British Imperial system, only an inch shorter than the average man of that time.

Regarding height,Bonaparte was average.However, guards who towered over him made him look smaller. A nickname translation error affects his size perception.A mistranslation of his nickname le petit caporalThis means "little corporal." The French word "petit" is an affectionate term, showing Bonaparte's close bond with soldiers at all ranks.

Napoleon's image as an angry Frenchman is wrong. He was born on Corsica.

Films And TV: Napoleon(1927), The Battle of Austerlitz(1960)Waterloo(1970)Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story(1987)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure(1989)Monsieur N. (2003)

What Hollywood Did: Herod is best known for hisappearance in the New Testament:

When Herod realized the Magi tricked him, he became furious. He ordered the death of all boys under two years old in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, following what he learned from the Magi.

As the ruler who tried to stop the infant Jesus, Herod appears in biblical epics likeKing of Kings andThe Greatest Story Ever Told. His son,Herod Antipas, Hollywood portrays him as villainous, just like the man who let Pontius Pilate decide, instead of judging Jesus.

Why It’s Wrong: Building on biblical stories and Tudor mystery plays, King Herod the Great, the Roman client-king of Judaea, is often shown as cruel, evil, and an enemy of Jesus of Nazareth. In reality, Herod the Great led building campaigns and brought peace and wealth to his kingdom for much of his reign. Herod was said to be a Jew andshowed great respect for Jewish law.

Films And TV: Herod the Great(1959)King of Kings(1961)The Greatest Story Ever Told(1965)Rome(2007, Television series)Killing Jesus (2015, Television movie)

What Hollywood Did: Biblical epics, historical dramas, comedies, and musicals cannot avoid Pontius Pilate—the Roman prefect of Judaea who many saw as responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. The film named after him from 1962 shows Pilate as an unwilling part of Jesus of Nazareth's trial and execution, but also as ineffective,indecisivePilate, even guilty of evil deeds, presides over the chariot race in 1959's Ben-Hur.Ben-Hur.It resembles Adolf Hitler.Pontius Pilate resembles Adolf Hitler.He appeared at the 1936 Olympic Games.

It is impossible to know Pontius Pilate's motives for convicting Jesus and sending him to crucifixion. Jesus violated Roman law. Some historical texts (and many Hollywood movies) claim Pilate gave the crowd a choice. They chose Barabbas instead (historians found no evidence of this practice).People cannot know Pontius Pilate's reasons for convicting Jesus and sending him to crucifixion. Jesus broke Roman law. Some historical texts (and many Hollywood movies) claim Pilate offered the crowd a choice before Jesus died. They chose Barabbas instead (historians find no proof of this practice).

Hollywood might be wrong to claim Pilate was.. Source material lacks bias; Pilate had a duty to keep the peace. This made Pilate a representative of a Roman authority many people resented.Source material lacks bias; Pilate had a duty to maintain peace. This job unfortunately made Pilate subject to a resented Roman authority.Ben-HurPilate faced a much resented Roman authority.

Pontius Pilate Ben-Hur(1959)Pontius Pilate(1962)(1988),(1979)(2004),(1988)(2012),(2004)Barabbas(2012)Ben-Hur(2016)

What Hollywood DidKing John I of England (d. 1216)known to history as John LacklandHe sucks his thumb in the Disney version of Robin Hood.(1973), and he is corrupt in the 2010 retelling of Robin Hood featuring Russell Crowe.British authority. He acts as a tyrant inThe Adventures of Robin Hoodwith Errol Flynn, sucks his thumb in the Disney version ofRobin Hood(1973), and he acts corrupt in the 2010 retelling ofRobin Hoodfeaturing Russell Crowe. King John, who lost Normandy, angered the Pope, and signed the Magna Carta, gets heavy depiction in Hollywood based on these events and losses.

:John suffers most from the positive view of his brother, King Richard I. John was not as bad as portrayed, especially considering his position. As(1938),The Lion in Winter(1968),Richard was on Crusade in the late 12th century, John had to deal with the French to get enough ransom money to free his brotherfrom captivity in GermanyRobin Hood

When John took the throne in 1199 AD, he faced barons threatening him. To stop the rebellion, he had to protect his position. Historians question John's success, citing his careful military methods, but heIronclad(2011)Walter of Coventry observedduring the late 13th century, John "was indeed a great prince but less than successful [and that]... he met with both kinds of luck."

Films And TV: The Adventures of Robin Hood(1938)The Lion in Winter(1968)Robin Hood(1973)Robin Hood(2010)Ironclad(2011)

What Hollywood DidRichard I of England (d. 1199), often called Richard the Lionheart, appears in films as the crusading warrior who loved his people. This contrasts with his brother John, who was often portrayed negatively.Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves(1991) and Patrick Stewart inRobin Hood: Men in Tights(1993).

Richard appeared in movies about the Crusades, such as Cecil B. DeMille's 1935The Crusadesand, more recently,Kingdom of Heaven(2005). Hollywood portrays Richard in the same way historical sources do, showing him as the ideal, virtuous Christian..ideal, virtuous Christian: Richard I was a major military presence

during the Third Crusade, negotiating access to Jerusalem with Saladin. Portrayals of Richard often miss the Christian defeats during the Third Crusade, his poor military decisions, and his leadership failures.While returning home from the Holy Land, Richard was captured and held on the continent until England paid a huge ransom that strained the kingdom financially. During the final years of his reign, Richard spent his daysRichard negotiated access to Jerusalem with Saladin. Portrayals of Richard often miss the Christians' defeat during the Third Crusade, his poor military decisions, and his leadership failures.

After returning from the Holy Land, Richard was captured and held on the continent. England paid a huge ransom, straining the kingdom financially for the last years of his reign.Richard spent his daysfighting Philiip II in France, trying to keep England's final holdings.

Richard rebelled against his father, King Henry II, before the Crusade. British historian William Stubbs stated Richard proved himself capable.British historian William Stubbs(1935),

, The Adventures of Robin Hood(1938),Richard the Lion-Hearted(1923),, Lionheart(1935),, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves(1938),The Lion in Winter(1968),Lionheart(1987),Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves(1991),Robin Hood: Men in Tights(1993),Stars like Laurence Olivier, Vincent Price, and Ian McKellen played Richard III. These veteran actors show the king as older than he was during his reign. When Ian McKellen played Richard III in 1995, he was 56(2005)

What Hollywood Did: Immortalized by William Shakespeare, Richard III (d. 1485) gets villainized repeatedly. Hollywood versions, like the 1962 filmTower of LondonIn addition, modern researchers studied Richard III's remains. They found that though he had scoliosis, he did not have the hunchback Shakespeare described.retelling ofRichard IIIfrom 1995, push the idea that Richard III was a tyrant, a child killer, and a failure who met ahumiliating endat the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Stars like Laurence Olivier, Vincent Price, and Ian McKellen played Richard III. These veteran actors showed the king as older than he was during his time. When Ian McKellen played Richard III in 1995,he was 56—more than 20 years older than Richard was when hepassed in 1485. Similarly, the Shakespearean idea thatRichard III was deformed—a "foul bunch-back’d toad"—also appears on screen.

Why It’s Wrong: Hollywood shows Richard III as much older than he was, which hurts when judging the king's total life and achievements—or failures. Also, modern researchers studied Richard III's remains and found that although he had scoliosis, he was not the hunchback Shakespeare wrote about.

Shakespeare's continuous view of Richard III is a major misrepresentation. Richard III did slay his older brother, Clarence, but nobody knows what happened to his nephews and potential rivals, the so-called Princes in the Tower.Researchers have tried to emphasize Richard III's positive contributions to England during his short reign, including legal reforms and supporting the printing press.Films And TV: Richard III (1955) is featured.Films And TV: Tower of London (1962) is featured.Shakespeare wrote with obvious bias, not acknowledging the complexities of the Wars of the Roses.Researchers have tried to emphasize Richard III's positive contributions to England during his short reign, such as legal reforms and support of the printing press.Films And TV: Richard III (1995) is featured.

Films And TV: The Hollow Crown (2016, Television series, season 2) is featured.What Hollywood Did: Hollywood turned Albert Einstein into a caricature of a light-hearted, scatter-brained, and fun-loving scientist.What Hollywood Did: Dr. Emmett Brown in Back to the Future movies channels Einstein's traits, which is also Doc Brown's dog's name.What Hollywood Did: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian has dancing Einstein bobble-heads.Richard III ruled England briefly, enacting legal reforms and supporting the printing press.

What Hollywood Did: Einstein's depiction in recent movies like Einstein and Eddington is featured.Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Richard III(1955)Tower of London(1962)Richard III(1995)The Hollow Crown(2016, Television series, season 2)

What Hollywood Did: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard represents pirate greed, mayhem, and grit. Hollywood shows Blackbeard—whoseBlackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit. was Edward Teach (or Thatch or Thache)—as the villain in movies from the mid-20th century. Blackbeard was a marauder in the 1952 movie,Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Pirates of the Caribbean and a thieving villain in the 2014 show,Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.

Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit. "struck lighted matches under his hat, which appearing on each side of his face, his eyes naturally looking fierce and wild, made him altogether such a figure that imagination cannot form an idea of a fury, from hell, to look more frightful" - a description Hollywood enthusiastically adopted.

Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.: Blackbeard is more a pirate legend than the man. Historical writings about Blackbeard show accounts of him terrorizing ships and causing havoc. The myth surrounding Blackbeard took on traits of Robin Hood—a man fighting an unfair authority—andBlackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.

Blackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.author Kevin DuffusBlackbeard: The 18th-century pirate Blackbeard became a symbol of pirate greed, mayhem, and grit.

Films And TV: Blackbeard the Pirate (1952) is featured.Films And TV: Blackbeard the Pirate (1952) is featured.Films And TV: Blackbeard the Pirate (1952) is featured.Films And TV: Blackbeard the Pirate (1952) is featured.Films And TV: Blackbeard (2005, Television miniseries) is featured.(2005, Television miniseries)Films And TV: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) is featured.(2011)Films And TV: Crossbones (2014) is featured.(2014)Films And TV: Pan (2015) is featured.Films And TV: Pan (2015) is featured.

What Hollywood Did: Hollywood turned Albert Einstein into a caricature of a light-hearted, scatter-brained, and fun-loving scientist.: Hollywood turns Albert Einstein into a caricature: a light-hearted, scatter-brained, and fun-loving scientist. In theWhat Hollywood Did: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian has dancing Einstein bobble-heads.What Hollywood Did: Albert Einstein in I.Q. has Walter Matthau as the matchmaker, uniting his niece Catherine (Meg Ryan) with Ed Walters (Tim Robbins)., Dr. Emmett Brown is a wild-haired genius, subtly channeling Einstein (also the name of Doc Brown's dog), whileNight at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian hasdancing Einstein bobble-heads. Albert Einstein appears inI.Q.,Walter Matthau plays the matchmaker, uniting his niece Catherine (Meg Ryan) with Ed Walters (Tim Robbins).

Recent movies depicting Einstein showEinstein and Eddington(2008) and shows like Genius(2017) shows present a better picture of the physicist. Placing Einstein in a comedy seems more likely than putting him in a serious movie.

Why It’s Wrong: Einstein's carefree image comes from a 1951 picture showing him sticking his tongue out. That shot happened on Einstein's Arthur Sasse marked Albert Einstein’s 72nd birthday.This reaction showed the scientist's annoyance with photographers. The media chased him, so he told them to stop. They ignored him, so he stuck his tongue out as a protest.

Albert Einstein didhave a sense of humor., and people thought he was a He was a bit absent-minded., but Hollywood misses Einstein's tough relationships with his wives and kids. Einstein married his first wife (and former student), Mileva, in 1903. They had two sons (He had a daughter., about whom little is known), but Einstein was away and said he regretted his son Eduard, who had schizophrenia, was born.Einstein had many affairs, One daughter had a cousin named Elsa.. He later married Elsa, though it was seen as a deal.

Films And TV: Back to the Future(1985).I.Q. (1994).Einstein and Eddington(2008).Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian(2009).Genius(2017, Television series)

What Hollywood Did: Second wife to Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn has drawn attention for centuries. Hollywood sometimes shows Anne as the bad guy, making a King divorce his wife, and eventually angering the church. Catholic views call Anne a "where" and "concubine" contrast with Protestant views of her death. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Anne Boleyn was seen as more a victim than the villain, largely pushed around by her family seeking political power.Across the 20th century, movies show her as both a temptress and a feminist icon.

Why It’s Wrong: Because Anne Boleyn leads so many on screen, the real story is hard to grasp. Letters Henry VIII wrote to her show she was "harassed," says historian Hayley Nolan, a constant target of the men around her. Over time, the well-educated Anne, who fought the king at first, gets stuck in drama and romantic ideas.

She refused to be the king's mistress, telling him, "Your wife I cannot be, both in respect of mine own unworthiness, and also because you have a queen already. Your mistress I will not be." Eventually, Anne became his wife, only to face charges of adultery, treason, and even witchcraft.Failing to have a male heir was her main offense.

Films And TV: The Six Wives of Henry VIII(1970, Television miniseries).Henry VIII(2003, Television movie).The Other Boleyn Girl(2008).The Tudors(seasons 1 and 2, 2007-2008).Wolf Hall(2015)