Latest news with #TheOtherBennetSister
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Historian Says Posh Accents Ruin Period Dramas
At this year's Hay Festival, Jane Tranter – former executive vice-president of programming and production at the BBC and current producer of Austen adaptation The Other Bennet Sister – said actors 'start speaking posh' when they get a Pride And Prejudice -era script in their hands. 'Not everybody spoke posh in those days, so you have to work with that as well,' she shared (via The Times). Pinched voices, fussy hairdos, and 'weird hats' can risk leading to 'such a fetishised approach that it becomes a barrier between the audience and what is going on,' she adds. So, we spoke to author and historian Katie Kennedy (of viral account @TheHistoryGossip and new SKY History series History Crush) about what we lose when costume drama accents all start to sound the same. It's not an isolated trend Kennedy tells us the tendency isn't limited to period costume dramas. 'It is widely known that the acting industry is dominated by the middle and upper classes,' she says. In 2024, the Sutton Trust found that people from working-class backgrounds were four times less likely than their middle-class peers to work in any creative industry. BAFTA-nominated actors are five times more likely to have gone to private school than the general public. 'While this is an issue in itself,' Kennedy continued, 'it also heavily influences how history gets portrayed on screen. 'We've been sold this idea that everyone in the past was super polished and polite, and we've equated that with the classic RP [received pronunciation] accent.' That's not to say you can't change up voices, actors, stories, or perspectives, especially in looser adaptations like Bridget Jones (expertly nicked from Pride And Prejudice) – but would-be 'faithful' adaptations tend to sound distractingly, and sometimes inaccurately, similar. Take, the historian says, the 2022 film Emily. 'The Brontës are portrayed with soft-spoken middle-class voices, even though they most likely would've had an Irish or at least an Irish/Yorkshire mixed accent as their father was Irish,' she shares. Indeed, Charlotte Brontë's friend Mary Taylor said the author 'spoke with a strong Irish accent,' while the British Film Institute admits star Emma Mackey 's 'Yorkshire accent sporadically wanders down the M1″ in the movie. 'A lot of the time' in period dramas, 'the working-class accent has been attributed to comic relief, or a character who has had a troubled life,' she tells HuffPost UK. 'When everyone in a period drama speaks the same, you're not just losing historical accuracy, you're also reinforcing the idea that the only 'serious' or 'worthy' people in history were the ones who 'spoke properly.''
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
BBC Jane Austen drama won't have posh accents, makers say
The BBC's new Jane Austen drama will not feature 'fetishised' posh accents, its makers have said. The corporation is adapting The Other Bennet Sister, a work of fiction by Janice Hadlow which imagines a happier ending for Mary Bennet, Elizabeth's overlooked sibling in Pride and Prejudice. Producer Jane Tranter, who said she had noted Austen's popularity with young people on TikTok, told an audience at the Hay Festival: 'The other thing with period costumes is, you start speaking posh, and not everybody spoke posh in those days. You have to work with that as well. So sometimes it's about a loosening around the fetishisation of a period.' Traditionally, dramas set in Austen's world also feature women in bonnets and the curled hairstyles of the era. The Other Bennet Sister will not because viewers could find such details weird, Tranter added. 'I always say to costume and hair and make-up and production design: you have to know what the rules are and then we look to see where we break them in order to build a bridge and offer a proper, welcoming hand to a modern audience.' Being a stickler for period details in costume and hair can alienate viewers and make the actors feel constrained, Tranter explained. 'A fetishised approach' 'If you do a complete like-for-like, matchy-matchy, here are the exact buttons, here are the exact knickers beneath the dress, that becomes such a fetishised approach that it becomes a barrier in between the audience and what's going on. 'It means the actors are so enclosed in these costumes they are wearing that it becomes a costume, rather than what their characters are wearing to eat breakfast that morning. 'We [will] dress the hair slightly differently because if you dress the hair exactly like it is in all those oil paintings, or put the hats on, actually an audience will not be able to take their eyes off these strange curls or weird-y hats.' Elsewhere, Tranter said she wanted to hire movement coaches to stop extras moving too slowly in their costumes in the background. She added. 'One of the things I'm always very keen on when doing a period drama is getting a movement coach in, because one of the things that tends to happen is how slowly all the extras walk in period dramas. 'We will have a movement coach in to get the Bennet family to move like a family. You can try and get a sense of authenticity and emotional relationships, and try to get the actors to think past the fact they're in period costume.' Tranter is the co-founder of Bad Wolf, the production company behind Doctor Who, Industry and the BBC's adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Work begins on the Austen drama next week and it will air on the BBC next year. It will star Ella Bruccoleri, best known for her role as Sister Frances in Call the Midwife, as Mary. Hadlow, who was controller of BBC Two before leaving the corporation to become a full-time author, said the story would be full of authentic period detail – suggesting that previous period dramas featuring mannered ballroom scenes were historically inaccurate. 'These things are often too sedate,' Hadlow said. 'They were a moment to let off steam, with a sense of release and excitement and everybody piling in and having a really good time.' Hadlow said she wrote the book because she felt that Mary had been unfairly maligned as 'the ugly sister in a family of swans, always somehow outside the family circle'. The first part of The Other Bennet Sister retells the Pride and Prejudice story from Mary's point of view, while the second part follows Mary to London and the Lake District.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Call the Midwife star confirmed for Jane Austen role in new "beautiful" BBC period drama
An overlooked Pride and Prejudice character will take centre stage in a "beautiful" upcoming BBC series starring Call the Midwife's Ella Bruccoleri. Jane Austen's beloved classic revolves around headstrong protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, giving readers a glimpse of her eldest sister Jane's goodheartedness and beauty, and more than a hint of the recklessness of younger sisters Kitty and Lydia. The middle sister, Mary, doesn't appear very often in the novel. When she does, she's described as a bookish, wallflower character, a homebody who has some social awkwardness to her and doesn't love partaking in the activities of polite society. Inspired by the novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister turns Mary's story into a bigger arc of self-discovery and independence as she steps out of her sisters' shadow. Coming to BBC One at a later date, the series will be primarily written by Sarah Quintrell (The Power), while Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) will pen one of the 10 episodes. Related: Bruccoleri, known for playing Sister Frances in Call the Midwife, takes on the role of Mary. Celebrating the announcement, the star shared that she's always "related more" to the middle Bennet sister than protagonist Lizzy. "As someone who has always related more to Mary than Lizzy – something that was confirmed even more by reading Janice Hadlow's brilliant novel – I feel incredibly lucky to be spending these next few months exploring her world in depth, as envisioned by these incredible women," she said in a statement. "Sarah Quintrell's scripts are packed full of beautiful idiosyncratic detail, empathy, humour and such warmth... revealing that beneath Mary's awkwardness and formality, lies a woman longing for purpose and connection." As for Quintrell, the writer said: "I feel incredibly lucky to have Ella Bruccoleri on board as Mary Bennet. She brings the perfect balance of heart, sensitivity and humour to the role. I can't wait for audiences to see her take centre stage and shine!" Author Janice Hadlow joined in praising Bruccoleri, saying: "I'm absolutely delighted that Ella will be playing Mary Bennet. I know she'll be the Mary I've always imagined - awkward, stiff, always saying the wrong thing – but also vulnerable, lonely and desperate to find love. "I'm sure she'll make audiences feel her plight as deeply as I do, and think she'll make the perfect Other Bennet Sister." Much like in the novel, the series is set to take Mary away from Meryton and into the soirees of Regency London, with a detour to the Lake District. "Ella Bruccoleri is the perfect choice to lead The Other Bennet Sister," executive producer Jane Tranter said. "Mary's journey takes her from overlooked to unforgettable, and I am positive that Ella will capture every shade of that transformation with wit, grace, and emotional depth. We are thrilled to have her at the heart of this story." Bruccoleri's other acting credits include Bridgerton, Mark Gatiss's Bookish, Extraordinary, murder mystery Ludwig and Paddington threequel, Paddington in Peru. The Other Bennet Sister will be on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and in the US and Canada it will be on BritBox. Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy in newsagents or , now priced at just £3.99.£49.99 at at at Audible at EE at £99.00 at Amazon at £18.99 at at at at at at EE£91.40 at at at Amazon at at at at at at at at at Game at EE at at at Pandora at at Sky Mobile at at at Game£123.99 at at at Three at at at at Pandora at at at Fitbit£49.99 at at at AO$15.00 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis£39.99 at at at at at at at Amazon£184.00 at John Lewis & Partners at at John Lewis at at at at at at at Three£32.99 at Amazon at at at at at John Lewis & Partners at at at at Fitbit$29.85 at at at Amazon at at Amazon at at at at at Three at Apple at at at at £49.99 at at Audible at at at at at at at at EE at at John Lewis at at at John Lewis at EE at at £379.00 at at at at Amazon at at at Apple at at at Apple at at at at Three at $365.00 at Microsoft at at John Lewis£79.00 at Samsung at at AO£79.00 at Samsung£79.98 at at at crunchyroll at at John Lewis£22.00 at Amazon£299.00 at Microsoft at at John Lewis & Partners£92.98 at at at at at Microsoft£79.98 at at Amazon at at at at at John Lewis at at at at John Lewis & PartnersShop now£16.00 at Microsoft at at at at at John Lewis at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Call the Midwife star lands lead role in huge 10-part BBC Jane Austen drama
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. 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.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC announces Ella Bruccoleri to star as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister
Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Bridgerton, Paddington in Peru) will star as Mary Bennet in ten-part drama The Other Bennet Sister (10×30′), produced by Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials, Industry) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, in a co-production with BritBox International. Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) will write nine of the ten half-hour episodes, with Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) writing one episode. The series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow. Bruccoleri will take on the role of one of Jane Austen's most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet - the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The series takes as its premise that – when it comes to the Bennet sisters – while we dream of being Lizzy, in reality most of us are more like Mary… The series follows Mary as she steps out of her sisters' shadows in search of her own identity and purpose – finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way. Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention. Ella Bruccoleri said: 'As someone who has always related more to Mary than Lizzy – something that was confirmed even more by reading Janice Hadlow's brilliant novel – I feel incredibly lucky to be spending these next few months exploring her world in depth, as envisioned by these incredible women. Sarah Quintrell's scripts are packed full of beautiful idiosyncratic detail, empathy, humour and such warmth... revealing that beneath Mary's awkwardness and formality, lies a woman longing for purpose and connection.' Sarah Quintrell said: 'I feel incredibly lucky to have Ella Bruccoleri on board as Mary Bennet. She brings the perfect balance of heart, sensitivity and humour to the role. I can't wait for audiences to see her take centre stage and shine!' Jane Tranter said: 'Ella Bruccoleri is the perfect choice to lead The Other Bennet Sister. Mary's journey takes her from overlooked to unforgettable, and I am positive that Ella will capture every shade of that transformation with wit, grace, and emotional depth. We are thrilled to have her at the heart of this story.' Janice Hadlow said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Ella will be playing Mary Bennet. I know she'll be the Mary I've always imagined - awkward, stiff, always saying the wrong thing - but also vulnerable, lonely and desperate to find love. I'm sure she'll make audiences feel her plight as deeply as I do, and think she'll make the perfect Other Bennet Sister." This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, one of English literature's most celebrated authors. Renowned for her keen social observations and unforgettable characters, Austen's legacy endures through beloved novels like Pride and Prejudice. The Other Bennet Sister, a novel by Janice Hadlow, was released in 2020, and reimagines Austen's world by focusing on Mary Bennet – honouring Austen's enduring influence while offering a fresh perspective on a classic tale. The Other Bennet Sister (10×30′) was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The executive producers are Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder and Jane Tranter for Bad Wolf, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, Jess O'Riordan, Robert Schildhouse and Stephen Nye for BritBox, Sarah Quintrell, and Janice Hadlow. The series has been developed and overseen by Bad Wolf's Director of Content, Dan McCulloch and Chief Creative Officer, Ryan Rasmussen. The series will be on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and in the US and Canada it will be on BritBox. Bad Wolf is supported by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Sony Pictures Television will distribute The Other Bennet Sister internationally. IJ
