In Europe, the Mitford sisters are still very well-known today. A group of six young British women, they became famous for their remarkable and often controversial lives during the 20th century. Their names were Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah, and each of them had a unique trajectory that captured public attention and influenced British culture and politics in various ways.

The most famous, Diana, was considered one of the most dangerous women in Europe, and her connection to the far right, especially Nazism, was part of the final plot of Peaky Blinders.

But before that, Diana’s sister, Nancy, immortalized the life of the Mitfords in one of the classics of British literature, the semi-autobiographical novel The Pursuit of Love, which gave the family a charmingly eccentric reputation. And controversial.

After the series starring Lily James and Andrew Scott, there is a new work that explores the strange and controversial relationship of the Mitford sisters.

The Mitford family was the Kardashian family of the 1930s and 1940s. It caused a stir when Diana abandoned her husband, the heir to the Guinness Family (which will be the new series by the creator of Peaky Blinders, by the way), and her children to run away with the founder of the British Union of Fascists, Oswald Mosley (as we saw in Peaky Blinders). Her younger sister became known as Hitler’s “muse.” Another declared herself a communist while fighting against fascism in Spain. They were absolutely unconventional.

Outrageous is the adaptation of Mary S. Lovell‘s biography, The Mitford Girls, which brought an objective look that has been elusive to the Mitford sisters until now.

Actress Bessie Carter, who plays Prudence Featherington in Bridgerton, will play Nancy, the writer. Joanna Vanderham will play Diana Mitford, Toby Regbo will play Tom Mitford, James Purefoy will play David Freeman-Mitford, Anna Chancellor will play Sydney Bowles Mitford, and Shannon Watson will play Unity Mitford.

Zoe Brough will play Jessica Mitford, Isobel Jesper Jones will play Pamela Mitford, and Orla Hill will play Deborah Mitford. Yes, we will see the odious Oswald Mosley, played by Joshua Sasse. On the male side, Jamie Blackley will play Peter Rodd, James Musgrave will play Hamish Erskine, Calam Lynch will play Bryan Guinness, and Will Attenborough will play Joss.

For background:

Nancy Mitford was a successful novelist and biographer with her novels, The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate, known for their sharp humor and social satire. She also wrote acclaimed biographies of historical figures such as Voltaire and Madame de Pompadour.

Pamela Mitford is perhaps the lesser known of the sisters because she led a quieter and less public life, devoting herself mainly to rural life and animal husbandry.

Diana Mitford is most famous for her marriage to Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, and her association with fascism and imprisonment during World War II made her a controversial figure.

Unity Mitford was known as a fervent supporter of Adolf Hitler and spent much of her time in Nazi Germany before World War II. Her friendship with Hitler and her pro-Nazi activities caused great scandal and controversy.

Jessica Mitford, known as “Decca,” became a journalist and investigative writer. She was an ardent communist and wrote the book The American Way of Death, a scathing critique of the American funeral industry. She also wrote a popular autobiography, Hons and Rebels.

Deborah Mitford married the 11th Duke of Devonshire and became Duchess of Devonshire. She was instrumental in the restoration and management of Chatsworth House, one of England’s great stately homes, and has written several books about her life and work there.

The combination of their distinct personalities, their dramatically different life choices,, and their connections to important historical figures has ensured that the Mitford sisters remain figures of public and academic fascination.

The series is scheduled to premiere in 2025 and some images have already been released. Let’s take a look!

Pesquisar

Pesquisar