ITV's new "rags to riches" royal drama confirms Natalie Dormer in key role
ITV's new royal drama The Lady has confirmed the casting of Natalie Dormer in a key role.
The "rags to riches" tale follows the real-life story of Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York's former royal dresser who was later convicted of murdering her fiancé.
It has now been confirmed that Game of Thrones' Dormer will portray Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, opposite How To Have Sex's Mia McKenna-Bruce as Andrews.
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Outlander's Ed Speleers will play Thomas Cressman, the man whom she falls in love with and eventually murders.
Other stars include Life on Mars' Philip Glenister, Outnumbered's Claire Skinner, Gavin & Stacey's Laura Aikman, Minx's Ophelia Lovibond, Happy Valley's Mark Stanley, Litvinenko's Daniel Ryan and Skins' Sean Teale.
The Lady "charts the rise and fall" of Andrews, "whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder", according to the synopsis.
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The synopsis continues: "Once a young working-class girl, Jane answered an advertisement in a magazine and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York's dresser at Buckingham Palace.
"Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service.
"Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love. Soon cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences."
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The four-part series has been written by Humans' Debbie O'Malley and directed by A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story's Lee Haven Jones.
Speaking previously of the project, O'Malley noted that behind the headlines of Andrews' 2001 conviction "lay a much more complex, painful and thought-provoking story", namely "an exploration of female ambition and human frailty and a devastating chain of events that ended in the taking of a man's life".
"And this story, tied up with our national preoccupation with class and our ongoing obsession with the Royal family, feels every bit as relevant now as it did twenty years ago," she added.
The Lady will air on ITV.
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