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Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton, Nell Tiger Free Set for PBS, BBC Adaptation of ‘The Portrait of a Lady’
Bill Nighy, Nell Tiger Free and Gemma Arterton have been cast to lead a new television adaptation of Henry James's novel "The Portrait of a Lady", produced for Masterpiece on PBS and the BBC. The six-part limited series marks a fresh screen version of the classic story, joining a cast that also includes Jim Sturgess and Miranda Richardson, with filming already under way.
Free plays Isabel Archer, a spirited young American woman who travels to Europe seeking freedom after inheriting an unexpected fortune, only to be targeted by scheming expatriates Madame Merle (Arterton) and Gilbert Osmond (Sturgess). Nighy takes the role of Mr Touchett, who champions Isabel's independence, while Richardson plays her eccentric aunt, Mrs Touchett. The wider ensemble includes Jack Wolfe, Calypso Cragg, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Hugh Skinner, Hamish Frew, Thomas Coombes, Lydia Leonard and Dean-Charles Chapman, with production taking place across the UK, Hungary and Croatia.
In short
- Bill Nighy, Nell Tiger Free, Gemma Arterton to lead new Henry James adaptation
- Six-part Masterpiece/BBC series with Jim Sturgess, Miranda Richardson also starring
- Filming under way across the UK, Hungary and Croatia
Explained simply
"The Portrait of a Lady" is a novel by American author Henry James, first published in 1881, following a young American woman navigating life and relationships in Europe. The story is frequently adapted for film and television because its themes of independence, wealth and romantic choice remain relevant to audiences.
The novel centres on Isabel Archer, an American heiress who inherits a fortune and travels to Europe seeking freedom and self-discovery. She becomes entangled with manipulative expatriates who seek to control her life and wealth, forcing her to make consequential decisions about her future and agency.
The story has been adapted multiple times for screen since its publication. Each new version reflects contemporary interpretations of its central themes about how individuals, particularly women, navigate power, choice and autonomy in their lives.
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