Nell Tiger Free, Gemma Arterton Lead New 'The Portrait of a Lady' TV Adaptation
The BBC, PBS Masterpiece, and Fox TV series has begun filming with a starry ensemble including Bill Nighy and Miranda Richardson.
- Show
- The Portrait of a Lady
- Network
- BBC, PBS Masterpiece
- Status
- ordered
- Season
- Limited Series
- Nell Tiger Free as Isabel Archer
- Gemma Arterton as Madame Merle
“The caliber of talent behind this series is exceptional.”
Nell Tiger Free, Gemma Arterton, and Bill Nighy have joined a new television adaptation of Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady, according to a report from Deadline. The high-end series is a co-production for PBS Masterpiece, the BBC, and Fox TV.
Who is playing Isabel Archer?
Nell Tiger Free will play the central role of Isabel Archer, the American ingénue who travels to Europe seeking experience. Gemma Arterton is cast as Madame Merle, one of the expatriate schemers Isabel encounters. Jim Sturgess will play the charming but calculating Gilbert Osmond.
Bill Nighy takes the role of Mr. Touchett, who is enamored with Isabel’s spirit, while Miranda Richardson plays her eccentric aunt, Mrs. Touchett.
Where is the series filming?
Production has kicked off in the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Croatia. The series is written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and directed by Aisling Walsh.
What is the source material?
The project adapts Henry James’s 1881 novel, which follows Isabel Archer as she inherits a fortune and navigates the manipulations of European society. This marks the first significant adaptation since Jane Campion’s 1996 film starring Nicole Kidman.
Suzanne Simpson, Masterpiece's scripted content chief, said of the project, “The caliber of talent behind this series is exceptional.”
The series is produced by Number 9 Films in association with Beta Film and High Road Entertainment, with Fox Entertainment Global handling worldwide sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the series be released?
No release date or window has been announced. The series is currently in production, so a premiere date will likely be confirmed after filming is complete.
Is this a movie or a TV series?
This is a television series, not a film. It is being produced for broadcast on the BBC in the UK and on PBS Masterpiece in the United States.
Who else is in the cast?
The supporting cast includes 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 as Edward Rosier.
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