With Bridgerton on hiatus until next season and Wuthering Heights mania dying down, you might be on the hunt for your next period drama fix. Thankfully, we have The Other Bennet Sister, a BBC drama based on the timeless Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice, and focused on one of the lesser talked about Bennet family members, Mary — you know, the one that's described as a bit ‘dull’, ‘awkward’ and not the best singer.
Not exactly traditional main character energy, but we're glad that Mary's finally getting her flowers. The 10-part series explores the middle child's journey of self-discovery from her family home to London and the Lake District as she seeks independence, a life outside her sisters' shadows, and finds an unexpected love story. The story also explores themes of feminism and a women's worth not just being tied to her looks.
The second batch of episodes, released today, see Mary taking a “leap into the unknown” after the death of her father, Mr. Bennet — and us, the audience members, venturing beyond the bounds of the original Austen novel. Undoubtedly, we'll also be meeting a few new characters, too.
Played by up-and-coming actress Ella Bruccoleri, the show boasts a star-studded cast of big household names, as well as new talent that we promise you'll be obsessed with. Here's everything you need to know about your new favourite period drama.
The Other Bennet Sister cast
As mentioned, our lovely protagonist Mary Bennet is played by Ella Bruccoleri, who you might recognise from Bridgerton or Call the Midwife. In the drama, Mary feels the pressures from family and wider society that she's apparently unattractive and often overlooked, viewed only in terms of her marital value by her family (in particular, Mrs Bennet). We won't spoil the plot too much, but Mary goes on a journey that helps her redefine her worth, realising that she wants more freedom from her life.
You know when Ruth Jones pops up in a show that it's going to be a good watch. In The Other Bennet Sister, she plays the shrewd matriarch of the family, Mrs Bennet, whose main focus is on marrying off her five daughters. Talking about the role, Ruth said: “I wanted to portray her differently from how she's traditionally been seen. Ultimately, she wants security for all her daughters. I think of her like an estate agent with five properties to sell, four will be snapped up, but one can't even get a viewing.” That one is our main character, Mary.
Another inimitable cast member — Richard E Grant plays the father, Mr Bennet. He can be quite harsh on both his wife and daughters, frequently exasperated by their girlish behaviours and his wife's anxiety about marrying off the daughters.
Jane Bennet is portrayed by Maddie Close, the family's eldest daughter. She's described as being kind-hearted, intellectual and beautiful — the seemingly perfect wife that Mary might find herself comparing herself to. Jane is attached to Mr Bingley, brother of Caroline Bingley.
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Catherine ‘Kitty’ Bennet is played by Molly Wright, an up-and-coming name that you might know from the BBC drama, The A Word. She's also been nominated for two British Independent Film Awards. In the book, Kitty is the fourth Bennet sister and is Mary's closest, and most loyal, sister.
Fans of period dramas might best know Elizabeth — or Lizzie — Bennet, who's the star of the original Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice novel. She's characterised as being witty, intelligent, and spirited — someone Mary can look to for advice. You might know the actress Poppy Gilbert from My Oxford Year, Midsomer Murders and The Catch.
Grace Hogg-Robinson plays Lydia, the youngest of the Bennet clan, and famously the most scandalous. She's flirty, impulsive and a bit spoiled — all the makings of a very watchable character.
New character alert — say hello to Ann Baxter, played by Varada Sethu, who you might know from I Came By, Doctor Who or Andor. Ann is a friend to Mary, but complicates things by marrying one of Mary's potential suitors. Awkies.
Donàl Finn stars as Tom Hayward, a young Barrister whom Mary meets after moving to London to live with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners. Although sparks fly between Mary and Mr. Hayward, she is heartbroken when she learns that he is taken by a Miss Baxter.
You may recongise Finn as Moriarty in Prime's new Young Sherlock. He also stars as Mat in The Wheel of Time and Eoin in SAS Rogue Heroes.
Fans of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, this one is for you. Lucy Briers played the homely, dull Mary in the iconic BBC adaptation. Here, she becomes Mary's one voice of kindness in the Bennet house in the form of Hill, the family's maid.
Briers also made recent appearances in House of the Dragon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and We Live in Time.
As the slimy, sweaty Mr. Collins, whom Mary tries to win over in the early episodes of the show, we have Ryan Sampson. You may recognise the comedic actor as Tommo from Brassic, Glen from Mr. Bigstuff, and Grumio from Plebs.
Mary's kind-hearted aunt Mrs. Gardiner is played by Indira Varma. Varma has a long career behind her — you may remember her as Mayra in The Night Manager, Charlotte in This Way Up, Tala in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ellaria in Game of Thrones amongst many others.
Laurie Davidson stars as Mr. Ryder in The Other Bennet Sister, one of the suitors that Mary comes across along the way. “He sees himself as very modern and forward-thinking, but he’s impulsive and easily distracted,” Davidson said. “He’s always chasing the next idea. In Mary, he sees someone completely different from the women he’s known — and a true kindred spirit.”
Davidson previously appeared in The Girlfriend, The Road Trip, Mary & George, Masters of the Air and in the titular role in 2017's William Shakespeare show Will.
Richard Coyle stars as Mr. Gardiner, Mary's uncle. You may remember him from Coupling, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Fall, The Collection and The Libertine to name just a few.
Charlotte Lucas is quite the villain in this version of the classic Pride & Prejudice story, conniving to snatch Mr. Collins away from a hopeful Mary. She's played by Anna Fenton-Garvey, a relative newcomer, who previously appeared in The Nevers.
When is The Other Bennet Sister on?
You can watch the 10-part series every Sunday at 8pm on BBC One or stream any time on BBC iPlayer.
Is The Other Bennet Sister based on a book?
You might best know all of the characters from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice, but the show is based on the 2020 book by Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister, a reimagining of the sisters' lives following Pride and Prejudice.
