The time has finally come for the BBC's The Other Bennet Sister to hit screens – and it's safe to say Jane Austen fans are in for a treat.
Starring Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife), Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey) and Richard E. Grant (Saltburn), the new ten-part period drama reimagines Austen's literary classic, Pride and Prejudice, through the eyes of the middle Bennet sister, Mary.
© BBC/Bad Wolf/James PardonBased on Janice Hadlow's 2020 novel of the same name, the story charts Mary's journey – one that experiences its fair share of turbulence as she navigates life as the overlooked and often forgotten sister in the Bennet family.
Ahead of the show's release, which premieres on BBC One at 8pm on Sunday, its leading star Ella revealed the surprising behind-the-scenes detail that shaped one of Mary's most defining costume choices.
The hidden costume detail you may miss
Speaking exclusively to Best Quality Designer Handbag , Ella revealed the behind-the-scenes decision that meant her character Mary keeps her glasses on throughout nearly every scene.
"Everybody involved, luckily including myself, didn't want [the show] to have a naff makeover aspect to it," she said. "Where, as the story progresses, Mary starts having these romantic interests and she gradually lets her hair down and her glasses come off.
"We could have done that and it could have been subtle, but I just think it would have been completely the wrong message. So we were really certain – because we had a choice as to how much the glasses were on as we were filming – we were like, 'Let's just try and make sure that they're on for all the romantic moments and that she's not criticised for those bits.'"
© BBC/Bad WolfThe realities of filming in glasses
While Mary's glasses are an integral part of her character – much to her on-screen mother's dismay – Mrs Bennet actress Ruth Jones revealed the hidden struggles of wearing spectacles on set.
"On a practical level – and this has happened to me with filming – if you're wearing glasses as a character, it can be quite prohibiting," said the Welsh actress. "Because you have to make sure you don't get the reflection of the camera crew and the lights. And in some ways, that is a negative."
© BBC/Bad WolfAgreeing, Ella added: "I did find that an absolute nightmare. Inner me didn't want them on because I wouldn't be able to do a natural performance, because I would literally just have to keep my face in one place. But then I knew that I had to… I didn't want it to look like I was taking them off."
The first five episodes of The Other Bennet Sister land on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 15 March, with a weekly double bill on BBC One at 8pm. Episodes six to ten will be available on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 29 March at 6am. BritBox will premiere the series exclusively in the US and Canada on 6 May.
