jane austen

A Netflix period drama has been hailed a “masterpiece” by fans who have described it as a “hidden treasure”

Netflix boasts an enormous catalogue of television programmes and films, yet period drama enthusiasts might have missed one brilliant little gem on the streaming service, reports Surrey Live. This emerges whilst others have been captivated by a doomed romance and a Jane Austen classic.

The programme draws inspiration from a beloved collection of novels that continue to enchant readers today.

Countless viewers have praised the show on IMDb, with the series garnering numerous perfect 10/10 ratings.

One glowing review declared: “What a beautiful, beautiful show… And not just in terms of cinematography (which makes you want to pack your bags and head to Prince Edward Island right this second), but also in terms of the the heart and soul that has been put into the show which is clearly evident.”

Another user kept their review title simple: “Love it.”

They elaborated in their perfect 10/10 assessment: “This is one of my favourite shows.

READ MORE: ‘Unbelievable’ period drama based on ‘scandalous’ real-life court case is unmissableREAD MORE: ‘Epic’ period drama hailed ‘amazing’ after nearly 30 years is unmissable

“I loved the old version and this one is a beautifully updated version of that story. I see a lot of hate written from purist with no scope of imagination, who dislike this. However, it is about time that we accept the fact that rural 1900’s Canada was not all flowers, red roads and poetry.”

A third viewer gushed about the programme: “This is one of the most beautiful shows I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

“I have read the books and though it differs from the books it truly is the closest to perfect television we have gotten in the past 10 years or so. It tackles modern day issues that have been alive throughout time and does so in a thought provoking fascinating way.”

Another viewer branded it a “masterpiece” and shared: “One of the best shows I have ever watched I highly recommend it to everyone doesn’t matter what age you are.

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“Everyone will find something interesting in it. Amazing acting, scenography, costumes, music and of course storylines.”

Yet another fan called it “a hidden treasure” and added: “There aren’t enough words to describe how much this show means to me. Watching this show has brought me so much hope and happiness.”

Another glowing review hailed the series as “absolutely brilliant” and went on: “Anne with an E is exactly the show that we need in our world today. It deals with all kinds of important topics such as residential schools, women’s rights, black history, and the LGBTQ community. It does so in an heart warming, educational, and kid friendly manner.”

Anne with an E first arrived on screens in 2017 and offered a contemporary take on the beloved Anne of Green Gables books by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery, who wrote under the pen name L. M. Montgomery.

The programme was reimagined by Breaking Bad writer Moira Walley-Beckett for CBC and Netflix. Echoing the 1908 classic Anne of Green Gables, the series centred around spirited orphan Anne Shirley (portrayed by Amybeth McNulty), beginning with her adoption by elderly siblings Matthew (R.H. Thomson) and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James).

Despite facing numerous challenges, our heroine Anne remained positive as the show addressed hard-hitting issues such as child abandonment, racism, gender inequality and even psychological trauma.

The cast also included Dalila Bela as Diana Barry, Lucas Jade Zumann as Gilbert Blythe, and Aymeric Jett Montaz as Jerry Baynard.

Anne with an E is streaming on Netflix now

This picturesque seaside town in England dates back to Victorian times, and whilst it might be more low-key than other resorts, it has one of the UK’s best beaches

For some people, a trip to the seaside isn’t complete without a crowded pier, exciting rollercoasters, or a trip to the arcade – and the UK has seaside resorts like this across the country.

But this kind of scene is just not everyone’s cup of tea, and if you have been longing for a trip to the coast, minus the loud attractions – then this picturesque town in Devon that is rich with history is well worth considering for your next family holiday.

Especially if the quality of the beach is your number one priority, then this idyllic seaside town is definitely somewhere you need to check out. It’s also a firm favourite with some very famous faces.

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Sidmouth’s beach has been dubbed one of the cleanest in the UK, so it’s a great choice for people who insist on taking a dip in the sea when they are on their holidays.

On the stunning and historic Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth is picturesque, and its pebble beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for an impressive six years in a row.

From hiking in the unbelievable landscapes to relaxing on the beach itself, you’ll never forget the scenery on this beautiful stretch of coastline – Jacob’s Ladder beach is also well worth a visit.

But there is plenty to do beyond the beach itself, including visiting the town’s museum or the local donkey sanctuary.

For the youngsters, there is the Model Toy Museum, and for anyone looking to browse in the shops, they will find themselves supremely well catered to with independent retailers.

Connaught Gardens is a beautifully landscaped place to relax – but if you’re after a bit more action, consider going out on the water in a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak.

The Sun reports that TV star Stephen Fry loves Sidmouth after staying near the idyllic town while filming Jeeves and Wooster. Meanwhile, Jeremy Vine has also been open about his affection for the seaside town.

“What I love most about Sidmouth is that it feels like a town going places. It’s chintzy in places, drab in others, but it feels real. “And real by the sea is a different kind of beauty,” Vine said.

There’s so many famous people who have holidayed or spent time in Sidmouth that there is even a Blue Plaque Trail you can walk to explore all the places notable figures loved most, from literary icons to the Royal Family.

Queen Victoria, when she was still a baby Princess, came to stay in Sidmouth, and it was the sight of a major historical moment. She was staying in the Woolbrook Cottage in 1819 when her father suddenly became ill and died.

Woolbrook Cottage is now the Royal Glen Hotel, and while it wasn’t a happy moment in the young royal’s life, it shows just how rich with history the area is, and also how longstanding Sidmouth’s popularity has been.

Literary legends like Beatrix Potter, JRR Tolkein – who is said to have written the first sections of Lord of the Rings in the town – and Jane Austen, all used to holiday in Sidmouth, going back as far as 1801.

The spa waters, good climate, and chilled out atmosphere have long been part of the appeal.

A first glimpse at the new period drama has been shared as production begins.

Netflix has officially confirmed the remaining cast for its limited series adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice. Austen’s works have been adapted many times for the small screen, including an adaptation for the BBC.

The series, promising to be a “faithful, classic adaptation of the novel”, will see The Diplomat star Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet, with Freya Mavor as Jane Bennet and Heartstopper alumnus Rhea Norwood as Lydia Bennet.

Rounding off the Bennet sisterhood are newcomers Hollie Avery and Hopey Parish in their debut roles of Kitty and Mary. Louis Partridge will take on Mr Wickham, with Stath Lets Flats star Jamie Demetriou as the pompous Mr Collins.

Last to join the cast is Killing Eve star Fiona Shaw as the fearsome Lady Catherine de Bourg, Daryl McCormack as Mr Bingley and Siena Kelly as Caroline Bingley.

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Pride and Prejudice, one of the most iconic novels of all time, is being adapted into a six-part limited series for the streamer.

Austen’s beloved works have enraptured generations for hundreds of years and her most famous and widely-read novel, Pride and Prejudice has inspired countless writers and filmmakers.

Executive producer Dolly Alderton said: “Once in a generation, a group of people get to retell this wonderful story and I feel very lucky that I get to be a part of it.

“Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy – it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life.

“With Euros Lyn directing our stellar cast, I am so excited to reintroduce these hilarious and complicated characters to those who count Pride and Prejudice as their favourite book, and those who are yet to meet their Lizzie and Mr Darcy.”

Previously announced stars joining the cast are The Crown’s Emma Corrin and Olivia Colman, and Slow Horses star Jack Lowden.

Also joining the cast are the following:

Anjana Vasan will be Mrs Gardiner

Sebastian Armesto will be Mr Gardiner

Rosie Cavaliero will be Lady Lucas

Saffron Coomber will be Mrs Hurst

James Dryden will be Mr Hurst

Justin Edwards will be Sir William Lucas

James Northcote will be Colonel Forster

Eloise Webb will be Harriet Forster

Isabella Sermon will be Georgiana Darcy

Pride and Prejudice will air on Netflix

Jane Austen fans may have missed this adaptation of her works

As Jane Austen marks her 250th birthday this year, fans are revisiting the celebrated author’s works.

Over the years, numerous adaptations of her novels have been created, along with fresh interpretations that draw inspiration from her books, reports the Express.

Some notable examples include Bridget Jones’s Diary, which reimagines Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting, and Clueless, which transposes Emma from Regency England to the complex social hierarchy of a 1990s Beverly Hills high school.

Additionally, there are productions like ITV’s Lost in Austen, where a contemporary woman finds herself in the world of Pride and Prejudice, and Austenland, which follows a romantic as she visits a Jane Austen-themed park in pursuit of her Regency dreams.

However, one lesser-known adaptation, featuring two Virgin River stars, is also worth watching.

On IMDb, one viewer praised the film as “brilliant”, saying: “Vibrant, colorful [sic], hilarious and lively, this movie was a sheer joy to watch. A refreshing take on an old classic.”

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Another reviewer commented: “Well, it’s pretty hard, isn’t it, to write a spoiler for a film which is based on such a well-known, well-loved novel! I will show my hand here and say that I am a Janeite.

“However, I am not a purist and I like many Jane Austen adaptations that many Janeites don’t (for example I like ‘Mansfield Park’).”

One viewer noted: “The script did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the story whilst playing around with some of the details eg cutting out the fifth daughter whose role in the story is pretty minimal, and making the ‘tyrant’ in Darcy’s life his mother not his aunt (a more realistic situation in its modern setting).”

Another fan chimed in: “Gurinder Chadha has transported Jane Austen’s great novel to India. What a charmer this film turns out to be! The adaptation of the novel is excellent as the new locale is incorporated to the story.”

They continued: “The incredible Indian colors explode in front of our eyes giving the Western viewers such an opportunity to experience a little taste of India [sic].”

Bride and Prejudice, released in 2004, masterfully blended Bollywood and Hollywood through the lens of Jane Austen.

Directed by Gurinder Chadha of Bend It Like Beckham fame, the film offered a refreshing spin on Austen’s classic tale of Pride and Prejudice.

Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took centre stage as Lalita Bakshi, who initially butts heads with the suave American businessman Will Darcy, played by Martin Henderson, before they inevitably fall for each other.

Joining Henderson was Daniel Gillies, known for his roles in Virgin River and The Originals, who portrayed his rival George Wickham – a role that amusingly mirrors their respective characters in Netflix’s romantic drama series.

The cast also boasts acclaimed Indian actor Anupam Kher, known for his roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Hotel Mumbai, Naveen Andrews of Lost and The English Patient fame, Namrata Shirodkar from Hera Pheri and Major, Indira Varma who starred in Game of Thrones and Luther, and EastEnders‘ Nitin Ganatra.

Bride and Prejudice is available to watch on Apple TV+

The film was a success when it was released in 1995

A quintessential adaptation of a timeless Jane Austen novel is now available to watch, reports the Daily Express.

Initially released in 1995, the film garnered widespread critical acclaim, with numerous critics hailing it as one of the finest Austen adaptations ever made.

One IMDb reviewer titled their post: “A classic for all time.”

They continued: “Whoever says they just don’t make the quality of pictures today that they used to hasn’t seen or is ignoring this film.”

A second reviewer described the film as “a subtle masterpiece”, stating: “I saw this movie in a cinema back in 1996 and since that June I have seen it about a dozen times.”

“It is true, that being an ardent lover of the so-called Romantic (as if the 13th century couldn’t be Romantic or 17th, but these things are academic nonsense) period I can enjoy even minor pieces of period cinema, however this is most probably the best film set in the early 19th century.”

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A third review, titled “Faithful, beautiful, enjoyable, one of the best film adaptations of period novels.”, read: “Normally period adaptations need at least a few hours to do proper justice. And so it is usually the television versions that are better for those who like things faithful to text. Film versions usually truncate and romanticise/Hollywoodise which can be frustrating.

“However, films have bigger budgets and better production values so are easier on the eye. However, this is a shining example of 2.5 hour film which packed so much detail in for a real complete sense of the novel, but also with great faithful performances, at the same time as being great to watch with all the production values and cinematography or a big budget movie. One of the better film adaptations of period pieces ever.”

Released amid a flurry of Jane Austen adaptations, the Hollywood hit Sense and Sensibility shared its release year with the BBC’s heralded Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, as well as Persuasion featuring Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds – not to mention the contemporary spin on Emma, Clueless, which became an instant hit.

Based on the classic 1811 novel by Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility follows the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (played by Emma Thompson) and Marianne (Kate Winslet), who manifest two opposing approaches to love after facing sudden financial ruin.

With their fortune gone, the Dashwood sisters are forced to navigate society in search of suitable husbands to secure their futures, encountering numerous unexpected developments along the way.

The film boasted an impressive ensemble cast including the likes of Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, Gemma Jones, Dame Harriet Walter, James Fleet, Hugh Laurie, and Imelda Staunton.

The esteemed British actress, Thompson, not only starred in the film but also penned the screenplay, earning her an Oscar for Best Writing.

Both Thompson and Winslet bagged BAFTA Film Awards for their stellar performances in Sense and Sensibility.

Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee was brought on board to direct the movie, marking his international breakthrough. He later won Oscars for Brokeback Mountain and The Life of Pi.

Despite subsequent adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, including the BBC’s 2008 miniseries, this version is widely regarded as the pinnacle among Austen adaptations.

Sense and Sensibility 1995 is streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video for a fee

The period drama series is a hidden gem worth watching

Are you a die-hard fan of Jane Austen adaptations but think you’ve seen them all? Think again, because there’s one gem that might have escaped your notice.

Airing back in 2008 on ITV, this four-part limited series offers a unique twist on the classic Pride and Prejudice tale, reports the Express.

Armchair critics and fans on IMDb have been heaping praise on the miniseries. One user left a glowing 10/10 rating, saying: “I am utterly captivated by this refreshing take on Austen. I used to love romantic periodical novels when much younger, but they have since fallen out of favour with me, as they are all so alike. Here I am quite unaware, as of yet, what may happen and I absolutely adore the suspense.

“The actors are well chosen for their task and I am quickly falling in love with them one by one. I never thought I would see Mr Bingley as adorable, but in this it is quite so.”

Another enthusiast gave a perfect score too, commenting: “Three episodes in and I feel now is the time to say a big well done to all concerned. As a long time Austen lover and a fan of period/costume drama I was unsure what to expect from this reworking of a favourite story.”

“As others have commented this bears similarities with ‘Life on Mars’, a person taken out of modern day life and deposited into the past, albeit Jane Austen’s fictitious one.”

Meanwhile, another viewer remarked: “The mini series was absolutely sweet and funny and it will be appreciated by real Jane Austen fanatics.

“It does resemble the weirdest dream that only authors of fan fiction have had. At times the plot lines turn into silly situations but for most of the time they are quite enjoyable.

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“The young actors make the most of it. I wish response has been better so that the series can be longer.”

A fourth viewer rated the programme a perfect 10/10, dubbing their review “Brilliant!”.

They penned: “I just watched the whole thing. I hadn’t even realized it was a mini-series, I simply got the DVD from netflix and popped it in. It didn’t offer me the option to select episodes, it just played the whole thing as one big movie.

“One big, wonderful, delightful film! I haven’t enjoyed a film this much in years. It was a complete treat. I love Pride & Prejudice; I’ve read the book, and seen most (maybe all? ) of the screen adaptations, some multiple times.

“And I’m usually a bit of a purist, but I thought this might be fun, so I gave it a try. It well exceeded my expectations. I’m still aglow with enjoyment [sic].”

Lost in Austen is a cheeky homage to the celebrated author and her best-known novel Pride and Prejudice.

The show trails self-confessed Jane Austen enthusiast Amanda Price (portrayed by Jemima Rooper) residing in modern London during the Noughties.

After a less than impressive proposal from her boyfriend, involving a makeshift wedding ring made from a can ring pull, Amanda finds herself mysteriously swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet (Gemma Arterton) and landing in the world of Pride and Prejudice through a door in her bathroom.

Amanda’s sudden arrival quickly throws the novel’s events into chaos, as she frantically tries to steer the plot back on track.

During Amanda’s escapades, she encounters Mr Darcy (Elliot Cowan), with the pair initially butting heads before sparks begin to fly.

Lost In Austen boasts a star-studded cast, including Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville as Mr Bennet, Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston as Mrs Bennet, Grantchester’s Morven Christie as Jane Bennet, Suits actress Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley, and Tom Mison from Apple TV+’s See as Mr Bingley, among others.

Additional casting includes Lindsay Duncan as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Guy Henry as Mr. William Collins, Michelle Duncan as Charlotte Lucas, Ruby Bentall as Mary Bennet, Pippa Haywood as Frankie, Amanda’s mother, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Pirhana, Amanda’s friend, Daniel Percival as Michael Dolan, Amanda’s boyfriend, and Genevieve Gaunt as Georgiana Darcy.

Lost in Austen is available to stream on Prime Video now

The BBC will be dropping the acclaimed movie soon

The BBC is set to deliver a Regency drama that’s certain to leave viewers weak at the knees, reports Surrey Live.

Audiences have lavished praise on the period piece, with one eager fan sharing their Rotten Tomatoes review: “Seen this in a movie theater elevates it to another level.

“The top of the top in the romance/drama/comedy genre, and one of the best movies of all times [sic].”

Another elated watcher wrote a glowing second review: “I would have to say, personally, this is the greatest movie I have ever watched.

“The story was so compelling, the characters like no other.”

Further praise came from a third delighted viewer who admitted: “I love every single minute of this movie.”

Joe Wright’s cinematically gorgeous 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is slated for arrival on BBC iPlayer this month, just in time for its 20th anniversary celebrations and synchronising with what would have been Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

This cinematic rendition sparked debate among die-hard Pride and Prejudice aficionados, especially as it followed a decade after the BBC’s much-cherished 1995 series featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as the definitive Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Firth’s embodiment of Mr Darcy transcended the pages when he later mirrored the iconic role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, amassing an even wider fanbase and solidifying his portrayal as the ultimate Mr Darcy for many.

However, Matthew Macfadyen stepping into the prestigious shoes of Austen’s beloved hero for the 2005 film did stir some dissent among admirers, especially as the actor was known then for his work on Spooks.

However, his performance alongside Pirates of the Caribbean and Bend It Like Beckham star Keira Knightley, who played Elizabeth Bennet, managed to win over even the most doubtful critics.

Wright’s Hollywood rendition boasted stunning cinematography, featuring expansive shots of the English countryside, including a memorable scene of Lizzy perched on a cliff in the Peak District.

Complementing the striking visuals was the enchanting score by Italian composer Dario Marianelli.

For those unfamiliar with Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice follows the spirited Lizzy and her sisters as they navigate societal expectations to secure their futures through marriage.

Despite their mother Mrs Bennet’s, portrayed by Brenda Blethyn of Vera fame, frantic attempts at matchmaking, several of the Bennet sisters do find a match.

Amidst all this, Lizzy defies convention by seeking a marriage based on love rather than wealth.

Her initial awkward interaction with Mr Darcy sets them both on a transformative journey that challenges their preconceived notions and changes them irrevocably.

Pride and Prejudice boasted an impressive cast including Rosamund Pike, the late Donald Sutherland, Carey Mulligan, Talulah Riley, Jena Malone, Tom Hollander and Rupert Friend.

The film is certainly worth revisiting before Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which will feature Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy and Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet.

Netflix has assured that the upcoming series will be a true-to-source, classic adaptation of the novel, with Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love, handling the scriptwriting.

Filming for Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice is set to take place in the UK this year.

Pride and Prejudice (2005) will be streaming on the BBC iPlayer from May 26

“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” is a catchy, provocative title for writer-director Laura Piani’s debut feature, but it is a bit of a misnomer. Her heroine, Agathe (Camille Rutherford), may harbor that fear deep inside, but it’s never one she speaks aloud. A lonely clerk working at the famed Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, she gets lost in the love notes left on the store’s mirror and complains to her best friend and coworker Felix (Pablo Pauly) that she was born in the wrong century, unwilling to engage in casual “digital” connection. Highly imaginative, Agathe perhaps believes she’s alone because she won’t settle for anything less than a Darcy.

Good thing, then, that Felix, posing as her agent, sends off a few chapters of her fantasy-induced writing to the Jane Austen Residency. And who should pick up Agathe from the ferry but a handsome, prickly Englishman, Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-grandnephew of Ms. Austen herself. She can’t stand him. It’s perfect.

“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” is the kind of warm romance that will make any bookish dreamer swoon, as a thoroughly modern woman with old-fashioned ideas about love experiences her own Austenesque tumble. While Agathe initially identifies with the wilting old maid Anne from “Persuasion,” her shyly budding connection with Oliver is more Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice.” A pastoral English estate is the ideal setting for such a dilemma.

The casting and performances are excellent for this contemporary, meta update: Rutherford is elegant but often awkward and fumbling as Agathe, while Anson conveys Oliver’s passionate yearning behind his reserved, wounded exterior with just enough Hugh Grantian befuddlement. Pauly plays the impulsive charlatan with an irrepressible charm.

But it isn’t just the men that have Agathe in a tizzy. The film is equally as romantic about literature, writing and poetry as it is about such mundane issues as matters of the flesh. A lover of books, Agathe strives to be a writer but believes she isn’t one because of her pesky writer’s block. It’s actually a dam against the flow of feelings — past traumas and heartbreaks — that she attempts to keep at bay. It’s through writing that Agathe is able to crack her heart open, to share herself and to welcome in new opportunities.

“Writing is like ivy,” Oliver tells Agathe. “It needs ruins to exist.” It’s an assurance that her past hasn’t broken her but has given her the necessary structure to let the words grow. The way the characters talk about what literature means to them — and what it means to put words down — will seduce the writerly among the viewers, these discussions even more enchanting than any declarations of love or ardent admiration.

If you’ve read any Austen (or watched any of the films made from her novels), Piani’s movie will be pleasantly predictable in its outcome, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable journey. It’s our expectations, both met and upended, that give the film its appealing cadence. It never lingers too long and is just sweet enough in its displays to avoid any saccharine aftertaste or eye-rolling sentiment.

There’s a salve-like quality to “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,” a balm for any battered romantic’s soul. It may be utter fantasy, but it’s the kind of escape you’ll want to revisit again and again, like a favorite Austen novel. And, as it turns out, our main character is wrong. Jane Austen didn’t wreck her life, rather, she opened it up to the possibilities that were right in front of her.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

The actress best known for playing Sister Frances will lead the cast of the major BBC series airing next year

Call the Midwife favourite Ella Broccoleri has landed the lead role in BBC1’s upcoming Jane Austen drama The Other Bennett Sister. Ella, 35, played kindly nun Sister Frances in the hit series for four years from 2019, when she was written out suddenly after deciding to leave to pursue other roles.

In the plot she was knocked off her bike in the snow during a birth emergency in the 2022 Christmas special, suffering a shoulder injury. Fans were gutted when she was then sent to the Mother House to recuperate, and never returned to Poplar. One declared at the time: “If Sister Frances leaves I swear to God I’ll sue someone at Call the Midwife.”

As well as Sister Frances, Ella has also played the role of a young nun in historical drama, The Last Kingdom. And the actress also donned a habit for a third time as she appeared alongside Olivia Colman in Paddington in Peru.

READ MORE: Lorraine’s tearful ITV staff ‘fear for her future’ after ‘kick in the teeth’ news on cuts

Now the actress has been cast as Mary Bennet, sister of Pride and Prejudice’s lead character Elizabeth and she is also starring in upcoming ITV royal drama The Lady.

The Other Bennet Siste r is a fresh spin around the ballroom for one of Jane Austen’s most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet – the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .

Awkward, anxious, preachy, full of fact and a terrible singer, Mary is overlooked by her mother and seems destined to have an empty dance card for the rest of her life – until she takes matters into her own hands.

The Other Bennet Sister, a 10-parter to air next year from production company Bad Wolf, gives Mary Bennet the epic love story nobody predicted for her. It takes her from her family home in Meryton to the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District – all in search of independence, romance and, most elusive of all, self-love and acceptance.

Writer Sarah Quintrell says: “I’m thrilled to be telling the story of Mary – the other Bennet sister – exploring what it is to come of age when you’re the odd one out. It’s a joy to be adapting Janice Hadlow’s brilliant take on such a beloved classic and to have found our home at the BBC.”

Saying she herself had been an “awkward, anxious” teen, she added: “I grew up watching the BBC’s wonderful Austen adaptations. It’s the stuff every writer dreams of and I can’t wait to bring this beautiful story to screen – not least, for all the Marys out there.”

BBC drama boss Lindsay Salt said: “The BBC’s Pride and Prejudice will forever be a classic moment in television history, and it’s incredibly exciting to return to Jane Austen’s irresistible world and go even further than before – this time in the footsteps of The Other Bennet Sister , Mary. We fell in love with Sarah’s adaptation because it’s a true underdog story packed full of heart, wit and charm, and a chance to explore Austen in a playful, original and heartfelt way.”

Last year Ella appeared in ITV’s Passenger and in the films Polite Society and Joy. She is currently filming The Lady, based on the story of Jane Andrews, a former royal dresser who worked for the Duchess of York who was later convicted of murder.

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