Today, BritBox released a riveting selection of first-look images from The Lady which captures the rise and fall of former royal aide Jane Andrews. Mia McKenna-Bruce (How to Have Sex) plays Jane Andrews in the four-part drama that will premiere on BritBox this spring.
McKenna-Bruce stars alongside Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) as Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and Ed Speelers (You, Downton Abbey) as Thomas Cressman.
The Lady charts the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder. Once a young working-class girl from Grimsby, Jane answered an advertisement in a magazine and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York’s dresser at Buckingham Palace. Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service. Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love. Soon cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences.
Other cast includes Philip Glenister (Cranford), Claire Skinner (Bridget Jones’s Diary), Laura Aikman (This City Is Ours), Ophelia Lovibond (Guardians of the Galaxy), Mark Stanley (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, Adolescence), Daniel Ryan (Passenger) and Sean Teale (Doctor Odyssey).
Based upon true events surrounding Andrews’ story, the partly fictionalized drama will be produced by multi award-winning independent production company, Left Bank Pictures, a Sony Pictures Television Company, producers of the acclaimed series The Crown.
The Lady has been commissioned for BritBox by Jess O’Riordan and for ITV by Polly Hill. Jess O’Riordan and Stephen Nye will oversee production on behalf of BritBox, with Polly Hill overseeing on behalf of ITV. Robert Schildhouse, Jess O’Riordan and Stephen Nye executive produce on behalf of BritBox and Polly Hill for ITV.
Debbie O’Malley (Payback, Humans, Harlots) wrote all four scripts for The Lady and serves as executive producer on the series. Executive Producers for Left Bank Pictures are Creative Director Sian McWilliams, CEO Andy Harries and Rebecca Hodgson, with Florence Haddon-Cave (Everything Now Quix, The Crown) as producer. Award-winning director, Lee Haven Jones (The Feast, Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, Passenger) directed the series. Sony Pictures Television will distribute The Lady internationally.
