Based on the bestselling novel by Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister introduces us to Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri), 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, most of us are, in reality, more like Mary. The Other Bennet Sister also stars Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Dónal Finn, and Laurie Davidson.
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 soirées of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love, and reinvention.
Ella Bruccoleri leads the cast as Mary Bennet, whilst Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones co-star as Mr and Mrs Bennet. Indira Varma and Richard Coyle play Mr and Mrs Gardiner, whilst Laurie Davidson and Dónal Finn play potential suitors Mr Ryder and Mr Hayward, respectively.
Sarah Quintrell wrote nine of the ten half-hour episodes, with Maddie Dai writing one episode. The series, which was filmed in Wales, is directed by Jennifer Sheridan and Asim Abbasi.
The story begins at Longbourn, the Bennet family home, where Mr and Mrs Bennet preside over a lively household of five unmarried daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As society’s pressures mount, the Bennet sisters navigate the glittering yet precarious world of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity.
While her sisters pursue romance and social triumph, Mary embarks on a very different path. Leaving Longbourn behind, she travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street. There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story.
Iconic settings from Pride and Prejudice include the Meryton Assembly Ball and the Netherfield Ball, where fortunes and futures are decided under glittering chandeliers.
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Q: How would you describe your characters?
Ella: Mary Bennet has been written off by many members of her family, and as a result, she’s written herself off, too. When we meet her at the beginning of the series, she’s living with her family in a small village and has never really left that world. These are the only people she knows, and she understands herself through the values they impose on her. We know these characters from Pride and Prejudice, but it’s fascinating to see the impact they have on someone like Mary.
Ruth: Mrs Bennet is iconic and a huge challenge. I was stepping into very large shoes. I wanted to meet that challenge and portray her differently from how she’s traditionally been seen. In The Other Bennet Sister, we don’t see a woman of purely nervous disposition. 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. She’s a tough businesswoman. That really appealed to me.
Richard: I’ve always wanted to play Mr Bennet, having read Pride and Prejudice several times. When Ruth was cast, I knew she’d be perfect, so I was thrilled to work with her. Mary is a wallflower – Mr Bennet views her as someone to be tolerated. She has a very stern personality, and, unfortunately for Mary, he doesn’t engage with her much.
BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon
Q: What excites you most about bringing Mary Bennet’s story to the screen?
Richard: It’s about families – and everyone is born into one—jealousy, favouritism, neglect, indulgence, money, insecurity – all timeless. Jane Austen captured all of it. The script is concise, witty, and a brilliant distillation of the novel.
Ella: Mary’s not your typical period drama heroine. She lives in a world where, particularly for women, appearance is everything, and she doesn’t understand that value system at all. Instead, she turns to literature that offers a different viewpoint. Her favourite book is Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women, because it argues that women shouldn’t have to be beautiful — they should be intelligent and pious.
Ruth: There are so many nods to Pride and Prejudice – recognisable characters, iconic ballroom scenes, moments that make you think, “I remember that.” Janice Hadlow’s novel is crucial here; her vision of Mary allows the adaptation to examine society, our anxieties about fitting in, and the pressure of social norms. Austen fans won’t be disappointed.
BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon
Q: How do you think this adaptation honours Austen’s legacy while offering something new?
Ella: When I read Jane Austen, I’m always struck by how witty she is, with humour in every line. Sarah Quintrell really brings that into the scripts, and Janice Hadlow’s book does the same. The novel is very different in style from Austen, but it feels like a genuine extension of Pride and Prejudice.
Sarah’s scripts tread the line between comedy and drama better than anything I’ve ever read. It feels like a tragicomedy – it doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s also not afraid to delve into emotionally weighty material. That feels very true to Jane Austen.
Q: What was it like filming The Other Bennet Sister and working together?
Ruth: I’ve loved it. This has been one of the happiest jobs I’ve ever done. All my daughters are a joy – every one of them.
Richard: As a father of one daughter, having five on screen was a delight. The energy is infectious. Ryan Sampson’s Mr Collins is innately funny – he’s absolutely brilliant. I hope the series brings enormous enjoyment in following Mary’s story. She’s the least known of the Bennet sisters – it’s time for her to shine.
Ella: What was so lovely was having time between being cast and filming starting. Director Jennifer Sheridan and producer John Pocock sent me for piano lessons, calligraphy, horse riding and movement sessions. I was able to ask for what I thought would be helpful before we began.
Watch The Other Bennet Sister on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Sunday, March 15.
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