BritBox has announced that Ella Bruccoleri will lead the cast as Mary Bennet in the ten-episode series “The Other Bennet Sister.”
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And what a great time for a new Austen-inspired period drama: this year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.
Renowned for her keen social observations and unforgettable characters, and still one of English literature’s most celebrated authors, Austen’s legacy endures through beloved novels like Pride and Prejudice.
The Other Bennet Sister, a novel by Janice Hadlow, released in 2020, reimagines Austen’s world by focusing on Mary Bennet – honoring Austen’s enduring influence while offering a fresh perspective on a classic tale.
Ella Bruccoleri will take on the role of one of Jane Austen’s most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet – the seemingly unremarkable 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…
Sarah Quintrell, who will pen the lion’s share of the ten half-hour episodes feels “incredibly lucky to have Ella Bruccoleri on board as Mary Bennet. She brings the perfect balance of heart, sensitivity and humour to the role.”
British period drama fans will recognize Bruccoleri for her role as Sister Frances in “Call the Midwife” between 2018 and 2022, and for playing Winifred Barragan in Season 3 of “Bridgerton.” And if you watched “Polite Society” (2023), the modern reimagining of Austen’s “Emma,” you might remember her as Alba, one of leading lady Ria’s besties.
Executive producer 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.”
Based on Janice Hadlow’s bestselling novel, 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.
Hadlow is “absolutely delighted that Ella will be playing Mary Bennet,” and knows “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.”
Ella Bruccoleri sounds delighted to be taking on the role of Mary: “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.”
The series is produced for BritBox International in a co-production with BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and will stream on BritBox in North America and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK.
So when does “The Other Bennet Sister” premiere in the US? Please stay tuned: We will update this page once the release date for “The Other Bennet Sister” is announced.
For now, see the list of period dramas you can watch on BritBox. Free trials are available on the BritBox website and through the Prime Video BritBox Add-On Channel.
BritBox is the leading streaming destination for the best of British television, offering an unmatched collection of expertly curated entertainment. From critically acclaimed dramas and mysteries to comedies, documentaries, and lifestyle programming, BritBox invites audiences to step out of their everyday and into a world of exceptional British storytelling. Launched in 2017 and now owned by BBC Studios, BritBox is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Nordics. For more, visit britbox.com, or find the BritBox app on most mobile and connected TV devices.
If you enjoyed this post, wander over to The Period Films List. You’ll also like our post about All the Period Dramas on BritBox, and Costuming Pride and Prejudice.
