Latest news with #TheMitfordGirls
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Attenborough's great-nephew gets explosive role in brand new drama
A new addictive series is coming to U&Drama and one name in the line-up might have a familiar ring to it. Sir David Attenborough's great-nephew Will takes on a surprising role. David Attenborough has retired from public life but another member of his family is keeping his legacy in the spotlight. David, 99, has most recently starred in a powerful documentary to raise the alarm bells for our oceans. Now, Sir David Attenborough 's great-nephew Will Attenborough stars in a new show on U&Drama, titled Outrageous, alongside Bessie Carter, James Purefoy, Anna Chancellor and Joshua Sasse. In the six-part series, Will, 33, plays a fictional character named Joss, crafted from several real figures. 'It was originally going to be Evelyn Waugh, then writer Sarah Williams thought it'd be interesting to make him Jewish, but not very openly,' Will says. 'He's also gay, but that's never really talked about in the show.' Joss forms a bond with main character Nancy, played by Bessie Carter, particularly in scenes that reflect the wider political chaos of the time. One scene in Buckinghamshire stands out to Will in particular. 'They're talking about the far-right,' he remembers, 'And we were filming while riots were actually happening around the country last summer. It was a reminder: 'These things don't happen in isolation. There's a culture behind it. History is being repeated.'' READ MORE: NARS' new summer collection includes cream eyeshadow that 'doesn't budge' on oily eyelids Actress Bessie Carter made her name as the scheming Prudence Featherington in Bridgerton. Now, she's taking centre stage in Outrageous, a drama with bite, built on truth, and unafraid to rattle the bones of British history. Adapted from Mary S. Lovell's novel The Mitford Girls, the six-part series set in the 1930s sees Bessie play Nancy Mitford - the eldest of six aristocratic siblings who each challenged, defied or catastrophically clashed with the values of their time. 'I knew a weird amount about them already,' Bessie says, 'I've been strangely connected to Nancy for ages.' That connection turns out to be more than just artistic. Bessie, who is the daughter of actors Jim Carter and Imedla Staunton, voiced the audiobook of Nancy's The Pursuit of Love and later discovered they shared some eerie life overlaps. 'I found out I went to the same school as her for the same amount of time, only three years. During the war she worked at St Mary's Hospital, which is where I was born,' Bessie says. 'She lived in Maida Vale, 10 minutes from where I used to live. It's a series of really odd coincidences.' That synchronicity only deepened Bessie's instinct for Nancy. In Outrageous, Nancy is the anchor - a writer determined to make sense of the crumbling world around her, and to carve a new one through sharp prose and even sharper choices. Her sisters, however, take wildly different paths. 'They want to find their own rules because there's so much to fight against in that house. They grew up with a bit of a dictator as a father,' says Bessie, 'Nancy is fearless as a writer, but the others veer off into other directions perhaps because they lack real purpose in life.' Enter Joanna Vanderham as Diana, Nancy's closest sister - and political opposite. At first, Diana is the glamorous wife of London's richest man. But after a bitter divorce, she finds solace in Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists. The series traces her transformation and the painful wedge it drives between her and Nancy. 'Diana and Nancy are best friends to begin with, but the story follows the breakdown of their relationship,' Joanna says, 'You realise how problematic fascism is through Nancy's eyes because you see what it does to Diana. Politics cause the fracture between them. Neither can see it from the other's perspective.' To make matters worse, Diana's relationship with Oswald is nothing short of hectic. 'He's had numerous affairs, but she stood by him,' Joanna says. 'When she says, 'He's the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with,' she makes that happen.' Joanna adds: 'The Mitfords are known for their sense of humour but Diana starts losing that. She can't poke fun at herself anymore. She becomes a bit uptight and keeps her emotions very private.' Yet she remains outspoken about her views - which became increasingly difficult for Joanna to portray on-screen. 'I had a line the other day and was like, 'This is just horrible to say and to think,'' Joanna recalls. 'The biggest acting demand is to say that with conviction and to not feel physically revolted by it.' To ground her own performance, Bessie leaned on the sisters' extensive real-life correspondence. 'One book I found really useful was The Mitford: Letters Between Six Sisters. They wrote over 17,000 letters between them,' Bessie says, 'This book obviously doesn't contain nearly as many as that, but it's already as thick as a brick.' Outrageous doesn't shy away from the more uncomfortable chapters. Shannon Watson plays Unity Mitford, infamous for her obsession with Adolf Hitler and her open antisemitism. Zoe Brough also joins the cast as Jessica Mitford, who became a staunch communist. The ideological gulf between the sisters mirrors the chaos of the era. 'We see the pressure these political divides put on Nancy,' says Bessie. 'Do you stay true to your family because they are blood…or do you stay true to yourself and your beliefs? I found all that so interesting.' Outrageous airs on U and U&Drama from Thursday, June 19th.
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bridgerton favourite looks 'unrecognisable' in first look at 'scandalous' new period drama
Bridgerton star Bessie Carter is set to lead a brand new drama series focusing on the 'scandalous' Mitford sisters Bridgerton's Bessie Carter appears virtually unrecognisable in an early look at her latest drama series slated for release on U and U&DRAMA later this year. The British actress gained fame for her role as Prudence Featherington in the popular Netflix show, which saw its third season drop last year. Now, Carter has traded in her familiar, auburn locks and period dresses for a more contemporary style fitting a narrative set around a century after the Regency timeframe of Bridgerton. Her next venture will see her starring in Outrageous, a six-part drama unfolding the gripping true tale of the infamous Mitford sisters. In this portrayal, Carter becomes Nancy Mitford, with a cast including Joanna Vanderham, Shannon Watson, Zoe Brough, Orla Hill, and Isobel Jesper Jones as her scandalous siblings notorious for their sensational lives filled with controversy, betrayals, and radical political affiliations during the 1930s, reports the Mirror. Early stills from the production showcase Carter in several exquisite ensembles of the era, a striking departure from the Featherington family's fashion. The sneak peek also affords a glimpse at the impressive ensemble which features Toby Regbo, Anna Chancellor, James Purefoy, and Calam Lynch, recognisable from Bridgerton. The supporting lineup boasts names such as Joshua Sasse, Jamie Blackley, James Musgrave, and Will Attenborough. U offers a tantalizing tease of the show: "Outrageous is the true story of six sisters who refuse to play by the rules, attracting scandal and notoriety at every turn. "As the storm clouds of the 1930s gather, the Mitfords face a society in flux, and set out to be part of the change – with sometimes devastating consequences. "Amid the crumbling world of the British aristocracy, eldest Nancy navigates love and heartache while her siblings are drawn down unexpected and increasingly divergent paths. "Attracted to ungovernable men, drawn to radical ideas, the Mitfords can't stay out of the headlines – while their bewildered parents try to make sense of their daughters' behaviour and keep a grip on their failing finances. "A family saga like no other, this is a tale of bonds and betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, jealousy, romance – and coming of age in the most extraordinary circumstances. Can the fractured sisterhood survive?" This riveting six-episode drama will undoubtedly stir debate as it casts a spotlight on one of Britain's most notoriously enigmatic aristocratic families. Drawing from Mary Lovell's authoritative book The Mitford Girls, this series promises to be an unmissable event for devotees of period dramas.
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bridgerton star totally unrecognisable for new role in drama based on a 'scandalous' true story
You may not recognise this major Bridgerton star in their next role leading an upcoming period drama based on a shocking true story Bridgerton star Bessie Carter is practically unrecognisable in the sneak peek for her new drama series coming to U and U&DRAMA later this year. The English actress is best known for portraying Prudence Featherington in the hit Netflix series, which returned for its third season last year. However, she has now swapped her long, auburn curls and flowery gowns for a slightly more modern look in this new series set around 100 years after Bridgerton's Regency era. She will next lead the cast of Outrageous, a new six-part series about a riveting true story based on the notorious Mitford sisters. Carter will portray Nancy Mitford, alongside Joanna Vanderham, Shannon Watson, Zoe Brough, Orla Hill and Isobel Jesper Jones as her sisters, who became known for scandals, betrayals and political extremism throughout the 1930s. First-look stills have revealed Carter in some stunning period-accurate outfits that look worlds away from the Featheringtons. Viewers can also get a sneak peek at the rest of the all-star cast, which also includes Toby Regbo, Anna Chancellor and James Purefoy, as well as fellow Bridgerton star Calam Lynch. Joshua Sasse, Jamie Blackley, James Musgrave and Will Attenborough fill out the supporting cast. An enticing synopsis from U reads: 'Outrageous is the true story of six sisters who refuse to play by the rules, attracting scandal and notoriety at every turn. 'As the storm clouds of the 1930s gather, the Mitfords face a society in flux, and set out to be part of the change – with sometimes devastating consequences. 'Amid the crumbling world of the British aristocracy, eldest Nancy navigates love and heartache while her siblings are drawn down unexpected and increasingly divergent paths. 'Attracted to ungovernable men, drawn to radical ideas, the Mitfords can't stay out of the headlines – while their bewildered parents try to make sense of their daughters' behaviour and keep a grip on their failing finances. 'A family saga like no other, this is a tale of bonds and betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, jealousy, romance – and coming of age in the most extraordinary circumstances. Can the fractured sisterhood survive?' The six-episode drama is bound to generate controversy by shining a light on one of the most infamous aristocratic families in British history. Based on the definitive biography about the sisters, Mary Lovell's The Mitford Girls, this won't be one to miss for passionate fans of historical drama.
