Suranne Jones, best known for her Bafta-winning performance in the BBC drama Doctor Foster, has spoken candidly about the physical and emotional toll of her recent work, including a collapse backstage during a West End production of Frozen in February 2018. The 40-year-old actor, who also starred in Save Me, described a gruelling period of intense roles involving themes of betrayal, murder, and paedophilia, saying: 'Something had to give.'
In a new interview, Jones reflected on pulling out of Frozen due to the overwhelming subject matter, though she hinted there were additional factors behind her decision. 'There was a little more to it than that,' she said, without elaborating further. Now, she is focusing on happier topics, including her two-year-old son and her eagerly awaited new series, Gentleman Jack, created by Sally Wainwright of Happy Valley fame.
The show tells the true story of Anne Lister, a 19th-century industrialist from Halifax described as a 'gender-nonconforming entrepreneur' who advocated for same-sex marriage long before it was legally recognised. Jones portrays Lister, a woman who 'loved women' and believed it was her 'God-given nature'. To prepare, Jones immersed herself in Lister's extensive diaries, which contain four million words detailing her thoughts and self-exploration.
Jones praised Lister's self-assurance, noting that she knew her identity from the age of 16. 'That was amazing to me, that she knew just who she was,' Jones said. The series has already received positive reviews in America, and Jones sees it as a game-changing role that celebrates a remarkable historical figure.
