Jonathan Rhys Meyers at the Season 3 Premiere of 'The Tudors' held at the Conde Nast Building. New York City, USA - 30.03.09

The Irish actor found it a tough task taking on the role, because he looks nothing like the 16th century monarch - so he opted to live and breathe Henry day and night while filming the forthcoming third season of the hit show.

Rhys Meyers explains, "I never left the character for the whole 5 1/2 months I shot it.

"What I do is isolate myself while I'm shooting it. I lived in a house on my own. It's very Spartan, I don't have luxuries. I go to the gym, all of this almost physical meditation. That's what it takes, because I don't look like Henry, so I have to do more to be Henry VIII.

"I don't phone people up, don't see people, don't see my friends."

Source: WENN