Nell Tiger Free, known for playing Myrcella Baratheon in Game of Thrones, will lead a new BBC adaptation of Henry James's 1881 novel The Portrait of a Lady. The six-part limited series also stars Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy, and Miranda Richardson.
Cast and Characters
Free takes on the role of Isabel Archer, a young American woman who travels to Europe seeking independence. According to the synopsis, Isabel rejects multiple marriage proposals but falls prey to schemers Madame Merle (Arterton) and Gilbert Osmond (Jim Sturgess) after inheriting a fortune.
Bill Nighy plays Mr. Touchett, while Miranda Richardson portrays Mrs. Touchett, Isabel's eccentric aunt who brings her to Europe. Other cast members include Jack Wolfe as Ralph Touchett, Calypso Cragg as Pansy Osmond, Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Henrietta Stackpole, Hugh Skinner as Lord Warburton, and Dean-Charles Chapman, also from Game of Thrones.
Production Details
Filming is currently underway across the UK, Hungary, and Croatia. The series is produced by Number 9 Films TV, with Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen as producers. They said: "We are so pleased to be finally making this Henry James classic, which was far ahead of its time, with our friends at Masterpiece and the BBC. We find it astonishing that James' prescient story has not been made for television for nearly 60 years, but like all great things, it will definitely be worth the wait."
Broadcast and Availability
The Portrait of a Lady will premiere on Masterpiece on PBS, streaming on the PBS app and PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video in the US and Canada. In the UK, it will air on BBC One and iPlayer. Sue Deeks, head of scripted pre-buy acquisitions at the BBC, remarked: "We are so delighted to be involved in what I have no doubt, given the outstanding talent involved, will be a truly exceptional production of Henry James' masterpiece."
