Natalie Dormer's Public Disavowal of ITV's The Lady Drama
In a striking move that has sent ripples through the entertainment industry, acclaimed actor Natalie Dormer has publicly disowned ITV's primetime drama The Lady, in which she portrays Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. The decision, announced months before the series' broadcast, stems from ethical concerns over Ferguson's documented links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A Role Mired in Controversy
Dormer, renowned for her roles in Game of Thrones and other major productions, was cast to play Sarah Ferguson during the 1990s, complete with the character's signature red hair and power-shouldered attire. The drama centres on Jane Andrews, Ferguson's former royal dresser, who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman, in 2000. Despite Dormer's performance receiving critical praise, the actor has completely withdrawn from all promotional activities for the project.
This withdrawal has resulted in an unusually quiet publicity campaign for a high-profile ITV series, with no magazine covers, chat show appearances, or interviews featuring Dormer. The silence is a direct consequence of her ethical stance, taken after the emergence of a 2011 email in which Ferguson apologised to Epstein for previously disavowing him following his initial conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Ethical Stand and Charitable Donation
In a formal statement released last year, Dormer explained her position with clarity and conviction. "When I agreed to take the role in The Lady, I knew portraying the script's Sarah Ferguson would require nuance," she stated. "People are layered, their journeys are full of highs and lows, and as an actor, my job is to lean into those elements and bring them to life with honesty and empathy."
However, Dormer continued, "Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson's behaviour, which I believe is inexcusable. For that reason, I will not be taking part in the promotion of the project." Demonstrating her commitment, Dormer donated her entire salary from the series to two charities: the National Association for People Abused in Childhood and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse.
Awkward Timing for the Royal Drama
The series debuts at a profoundly awkward moment for the Duchess of York and the wider royal circle. Ferguson's ex-husband, Prince Andrew, was recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, related to allegations he sent confidential government documents to Epstein. Furthermore, Ferguson herself faces accusations of introducing her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to Epstein shortly after his release from prison, and of facilitating a meeting between her goddaughter and the financier.
This toxic backdrop makes The Lady, a drama focused on Ferguson's inner circle, a challenging proposition for audiences. Co-star Mia McKenna Bruce, who plays Jane Andrews, has also remained conspicuously silent, with no interviews published ahead of the show's release—a rare occurrence for a primetime production.
A Wider Trend of Artistic Disavowal
Dormer's action is part of a broader trend where actors distance themselves from projects due to ethical concerns. In recent years, numerous stars, including Greta Gerwig, Colin Firth, and Timothée Chalamet, have disavowed work with director Woody Allen, with some opting to donate their salaries to charity, mirroring Dormer's approach.
Critically, The Lady has received mixed reviews. The Independent's TV critic awarded it two stars, describing the dramatisation of the Andrews case as feeling oddly "flat" and overly reliant on sensationalist royal connections. The review also highlighted the discomfort of depicting unproven allegations of rape, domestic abuse, and childhood sex abuse, given that Andrews and the victim's family are still alive. Thomas Cressman's brother has publicly objected to the portrayal of his late brother as "faintly seedy."
Ultimately, while The Lady attempts to recount a notorious royal-adjacent crime from the 2000s, a far darker narrative involving its central figure continues to unfold in real time. For Natalie Dormer, maintaining a principled distance from this unfolding scandal appears not only ethically sound but professionally prudent.
