Step aside, Lizzie Bennet, as Mary is finally taking the reins. (Just kidding, we’ll always have a soft spot for our Pride and Prejudice heroine.) But thanks to Ella Bruccoleri, Mary Bennet is stepping out of the background and firmly into the spotlight in The Other Bennet Sister, and we’re completely hooked.
The 10-part series reimagines the often-overlooked middle sister, following Mary’s journey of self-discovery as she leaves the family home behind and ventures to London and the Lake District. Along the way, she searches for independence, carves out an identity beyond her sisters’ shadows, and, of course, finds herself at the centre of an unexpected love story.
Now over halfway through the series, things are already proving to be very exciting for Mary post-events of P&P. After moving to London to work as a governess for her aunt and uncle the Gardiners, Mary met and fell head over heels for Donàl Finn's Tom Hayward — she was lost from the moment he rolled up his sleeves! She also caught the eye of a very desirable bachelor, Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), who couldn't help but be charmed by her disregard for the rules of society. Mary Bennet — she's not like the other girls! But perhaps more importantly than finding her suitors, Mary has discovered herself in London — but now, Mother Bennet and her four sisters call from Pemberley. And one can only imagine that Mary will soon be dragged back into the rather toxic family dynamics we witnessed at the beginning of the series…
A new one for your watchlist, period drama fans.
So, who is the actress redefining one of Austen’s most underrated characters? Here’s everything to know about the brilliant Ella Bruccoleri.
Who is Ella Bruccoleri?
Ella Bruccoleri is an actor from North Yorkshire and a graduate of The Oxford School of Drama. As well as making waves on screen, she’s also carving out an exciting stage career, currently starring in The Virgins by Miriam Battye at Soho Theatre.
But acting isn’t her only creative outlet. Bruccoleri is also one half of the band Marry Me Emelie!, which she co-founded with Yoan Segot after the pair met on the open-mic circuit in Paris. Since teaming up in 2024, they’ve been creating music together, proving she’s very much a multi-hyphenate talent.
And if that wasn’t enough, she also co-runs the spoof influencer Instagram account @etoztravel with her friend Zoe Dunn.
Instagram content
Who does Ella Bruccoleri play in The Other Bennet Sister?
Taking on the titular role of Mary Bennet, Ella Bruccoleri leads the cast of the new BBC series The Other Bennet Sister.
Speaking about her involvement, she 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.”
Interestingly, despite stepping into the world of Pride and Prejudice, Bruccoleri has admitted she’s more of a Brontë fan than an Austen devotee. “Growing up, I was really into Brontë because Brontë feels more about where I’m from,” she told Radio Times. “I thought Austen was really posh and alienating.”
What’s Ella Bruccoleri been in before?
Proving she has a real flair for period drama, Ella Bruccoleri also appeared in season three of Bridgerton. She played Winifred Barragan, a young debutante entering society for the first time. Unfortunately, she failed to win over Queen Charlotte at the ball, later confiding in Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) that she feared she lacked any real talent.
In 2023, Ella Bruccoleri appeared as Rebecca in the Disney+ comedy-superpower series Extraordinary.
In beloved British drama Call the Midwife, Ella Bruccoleri played Sister Frances from 2018 to 2022. Quickly becoming a fan favourite, her character was known for her compassion and quiet strength; supporting underprivileged communities, forming bonds with vulnerable single mothers, and even helping deliver a baby with one arm in a cast.
In the Channel 4 romantic drama, Ella Bruccoleri played Louise, sharing the screen with Aisling Bea, Sunil Patel and Aimee Lou Wood.
Bruccoleri met Paddington?! It seems she has a real knack for playing nuns, having appeared as Rosita, a nun at the Home for Retired Bears, in 2024’s Paddington in Peru. “I just have this kind of nun-like face!” she joked to Radio Times.
In 2026, Ella Bruccoleri will appear in the romantic fantasy film Wicker, alongside Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, and Alexander Skarsgård. Based on a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones, the film premiered at Sundance to widespread acclaim.
You can watch all 10 episodes of The Other Bennet Sister on BBC iPlayer.
