Bridgerton fans are used to seeing Claudia Jessie as the quick-witted Eloise Bridgerton, but before she joined the Ton, the 36-year-old actress starred in another period drama that viewers have called 'perfect'. Jessie appears as Amelia Sedley in ITV's adaptation of Vanity Fair, a seven-episode miniseries that aired in 2018.
Based on William Makepeace Thackeray's acclaimed 1847 novel, the series follows Becky Sharp, played by House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke, and her close friend Amelia as they navigate poverty and social ambition against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. The production was made by Mammoth Screen in collaboration with Amazon Studios, the team behind Poldark and Victoria.
The ensemble cast also includes Johnny Flynn, Tom Bateman, Ellie Kendrick, Martin Clunes and Charlie Rowe. Since its release, the drama has drawn praise from audiences, with comparisons made to Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Hardacres.
Fans have shared their admiration on Reddit, with one writing: "I loved this series! It's my favourite Vanity Fair adaptation. I think this is Olivia Cooke's best role to date." Another praised the casting and acting, saying: "I loved this one too. I thought the casting and acting were perfect."
Claudia Jessie's performance as Amelia also earned particular attention, with one fan noting: "Took me a minute to recognise her without her bangs!" Another added: "Outstanding. Delightfully acted by the cast. In fact, casting overall is impressive, in fact quite special! And Olivia fills the role of Becky Sharp perfectly."
