A Preview of BBC One’s Emma (2009) Starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: 

UK bonnet drama viewers are in for a treat this week as the new BBC One miniseries of Jane Austen’s novel Emma premieres in the UK on Sunday, October 4th from 9–10:00 p.m. GMT. This is the first of four episodes of the adaptation by BAFTA award winning screenwriter Sandy Welch (Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre, North And South). The esteemed cast is lead by Romola Garai (Atonement, Vanity Fair) as the clever, handsome and rich, but misguided, Miss Woodhouse and Jonny Lee Miller (Byron, Eli Stone, Trainspotting) as Emma’s reproachful neighbor and eventual love interest.

Superior Production Values

Surprisingly, the advance press on this production by BBC One has been rather slim and may reflect their move away from “traditional 19th century-set ‘bonnet’ dramas in favor of a grittier look at the period and a new focus on other historical eras.”  We hope that despite BBC One’s meager publicity effort that Emma will pull viewers in strong numbers and sway their feeling on future period dramas. Emma certainly has superior production values in its favor with a talented screenwriter, an incredible cast, authentic locations, and beautiful costuming. North American audiences will have to wait to enjoy this miniseries when it airs next winter on Masterpiece Classic. Until then, this Janeite is all anticipation.

CAST 

• Emma Woodhouse – Romola Garai
• George Knightley – Jonny Lee Miller
• Mr. Woodhouse – Michael Gambon
• Harriet Smith – Louise Dylan
• Ann Taylor/Weston – Jodhi May
• Mr. Weston – Robert Bathurst
• Frank Churchill – Rupert Evans
• Jane Fairfax – Laura Pyper
• Miss Bates – Tamsin Greig
• Mrs. Bates – Valerie Lilley
• Mr. Elton – Blake Ritson
• Augusta Elton – Christina Cole
• John Knightley – Dan Fredenburgh
• Isabella Knightley – Poppy Miller
• Robert Martin – Jefferson Hall
• Mrs. Goddard – Veronica Roberts
• Mrs. Cole – Liza Sadovy
• Miss Martin 1 – Eileen O’Higgins
• Miss Martin 2 – Sarah Ovens
• Mrs. Churchill – Susie Trayling
• Mr. Dixon – Frank Doody
• Miss Campbell/Dixon – Amy Loughton

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 Austenprose is an Amazon affiliate. Images courtesy of Masterpiece PBS and BBC © 2009; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2009, austenprose.com.