A beautiful story for all the Marys out there

MARION MCMULLEN DISCOVERS HOW ONE OF THE MOST UNASSUMING PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SISTERS IS FINALLY GETTING A CHANCE TO SHINE IN A NEW DRAMA

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FAMILY AFFAIR: Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), Mrs Bennet (Ruth Jones), Mr Bennet (Richard E Grant), Lizzy (Poppy Gilbert), Kitty (Molly Wright), Lydia (Grace Hogg-Robinson) and Jane (Maddie Close)

THE unforgettable romance of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy was at the heart of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride And Prejudice.

Their prickly courtship captured the imagination of readers all around the world and led to Colin Firth's memorable wet shirt moment as Mr Darcy in the BBC's famous 1995 adaptation.

But Elizabeth had four other sisters Jane, Catherine, Lydia... and Mary. Call The Midwife and Bridgerton actress Ella Bruccoleri stars as Mary Bennet in the new 10-part drama The Other Bennet Sister based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow.

Ella says: "As someone who has always related more to Mary than Lizzy - something that was confirmed even more by reading Janice Hadlow's brilliant novel - I felt incredibly lucky to be spending time exploring her world in depth, as envisioned by these incredible women.

"Sarah Quintrell's scripts are packed full of beautiful idiosyncratic detail, empathy, humour and such warmth... revealing that beneath Mary's awkwardness and formality, lies a woman longing for purpose and connection."