Ahead of the May 6 premiere of The Other Bennet Sister on BritBox, we were joined on the Popternative show by the series’ stars Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Bridgerton), Laurie Davidson (The Girlfriend, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story), and Dónal Finn (Young Sherlock, The Wheel of Time).
Based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel, the drama brings Mary Bennet, the often overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – into the spotlight. Bruccoleri leads the cast as Mary alongside Davidson and Finn who play potential suitors, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Hayward, respectively.
While her sisters pursue romance, Mary embarks on a different path. She leaves Longbourn and travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle on Gracechurch Street. There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery and independence, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story. However, she finds herself caught between two very different men: the charismatic Tom Hayward, who is hiding an engagement, and the steadier but emotionally complex Will Ryder.
The ensemble cast also includes Richard E. Grant (Saltburn, Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Stella), Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Night Manager) and Richard Coyle, Tanya Reynolds (The Decameron, Sex Education), Varada Sethu (Doctor Who, Andor), Maddie Close (Sunflower Child), Poppy Gilbert (My Oxford Year, Stay Close), Molly Wright (The A Word, Our Girl), and Grace Hogg-Robinson (The Coroner, Miss Scarlet).
“This was my first lead role. I’d never taken on a lead character before. So I think I I feel quite lucky that I had have had years of just like learning the craft of screen acting I guess without the huge pressure of having to carry a series. Not that I don’t think that’s what I have to do in this [series] because I think the ensemble is so rich and talented that actually, I didn’t feel that pressure as much,” Bruccoleri says.
Watch the full conversation below.
The Other Bennet Sister streams on BritBox in the US and Canada on May 6.
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