Who were the Mitford sisters? The unbelievable true story behind Outrageous

Cosmopolitan

6 hours ago

You've probably seen lots of people talking about the new drama series outrageous airing this week.
Coming to UKTV's in the UK and BritBox in North America, the TV series tells the story of six different sisters in the 1930s, who refused to play by the rules, often resulting in betrayal, scandal, heartache, and even imprisonment.
It stars Bridgerton's Bessie Carter as Nancy Mitford, the eldest of the Mitford siblings, Anna Chancellor as matriarch Sydney Bowles Mitford, James Purefoy as David Freeman-Mitford, and Joanna Vanderham as Diana Mitford, and is based on the very real, and often controversial Mitford family.
During the 1930s, the six sisters attracted widespread attention for their fashionable and provocative lifestyles, as well as for their public political divisions between communism and fascism.
So, who exactly were the Mitford family?
Read on for everything you need to know as Outrageous airs.
The Mitford family is an aristocratic British family, who became particularly well known during the 1930s due to the six Mitford sisters - daughters of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and his wife, Sydney Bowles whom he married in 1904.
Sydney was the daughter of publisher and politician Thomas Gibson Bowles, and David was the second son of Bertram, Lord Redesdale.
The couple had seven children - six girls and one boy - and their family homes were Asthall Manor and Swinbrook in Oxfordshire.
Played by: Bessie Carter
Born 28th November 1904, Nancy was the oldest of the Mitford children.
She was a writer and a keen eye observer of the upper class.
She married Peter Rodd, whom she subsequently divorced, and had a longstanding relationship with French politician and statesman Gaston Palewski.
Her work includes semi-biographical novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate.
Played by: Isobel Jesper Jones
Dubbed 'woman' by her siblings, Pamela Mitford (born in 1907), married and later divorced millionaire physicist Derek Jackson.
Unlike her sisters, she preferred the countryside, and spent most of the 1960s in the stables of Italy, living with the horsewoman Giuditta Tommasi.
Played by: Joanna Vanderham
Possibly the most scandalous of the Mitford pack, Diana (born in 1910), married aristocrat and writer Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne, in 1929.
In 1933, she left him for British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, whom she married in 1936. Together, they had two sons, Alexander and Max Mosley.
The couple was interned at Holloway Prison from May 1940 until November 1943.
Played by: Shannon Watson
Known as 'Bobo' or 'Boud' by her siblings, Unity's friendship with Adolf Hitler was well-publicised.
She shot herself in the head after Britain declared war on Germany. She survived, but suffered permanent brain damage. She died of pneumococcal meningitis in 1948.
Played by: Zoe Brough
The rebel of the family, 'Decca' ran off to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War, before planting her roots in America.
After losing her first husband in World War II, she reinvented herself as a passionate writer and committed communist. Her groundbreaking book, The American Way of Death, exposed the funeral industry.
Played by: Orla Hill
The youngest of the family, Deborah was nicknamed 'Nine' by Nancy, which was half an insult, half affection.
She married the future Duke of Devonshire and lived a pretty quiet life at Chatsworth House, which she transformed into an empire.
Unlike her sisters, she wasn't one for the limelight and kept out of the headlines.
Played by: Toby Regbo
The only son of the Mitford family, Tom was born in 1909 and studied at Eton. Here, he had an affair with James Lees-Milne. He later had a relationship with troubled dancer Tilly Losch, who was married at the time to British poet, Edward James.
According to Jessica's letters, Thomas supported British fascism and was posted to the Burma campaign after he had refused to fight in Europe. He died in action.
Outrageous airs on UKTV's free streaming service U and U&DRAMA on Thursday 19th June, and on BritBox in North America on 18th June.