The ITV miniseries, The Lady, tells the story of Jane Andrews (Mia McKenna-Bruce), a convicted murderer who once enjoyed a glamorous life working as a personal dresser for Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York (played by Natalie Dormer).
The situation became deeply troubling when Andrews violently killed her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman, in 2000. The crime received significant media attention, largely because of her connection to the royal family.
As a movie buff, I’m really intrigued by this film because it doesn’t just focus on the crime itself. It dives deep into what happened before – the life leading up to it – and then shows the fallout, especially the incredibly public trial at the Old Bailey. It sounds like a really thorough look at everything surrounding the event.
The show was created and filmed before recently revealed emails connected to Jeffrey Epstein came to light. These emails, from Ferguson, have sparked public anger and criticism in recent weeks.
Dormer publicly criticized Ferguson and refused to support her work, declining her salary and donating it to charities that help children who have been abused.
The Lady cast: Who stars in ITV’s drama?
This is a brief overview of the main actors in The Lady. Keep reading for in-depth character profiles and information about the actors, including their previous work.
- Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews
- Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York
- Ed Speleers as Thomas Cressman
- Philip Glenister as DCI Keith Douglas
- Stephanie Street as DS Smart
- Claire Skinner as June Andrews
- Laura Aikman as Francesca
- Ophelia Lovibond as Aleksandra
- Mark Stanley as Charles
- Daniel Ryan as David Andrews
- Sean Teale as Luis
- Ella Bruccoleri as Angela
Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Jane Andrews
Jane Andrews is a woman from a working-class background in northeast England. Her life changes when she lands a job as a dresser for Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, prompting a move to London. At first, it seems like a perfect opportunity – she gets to meet royalty and high-society figures while also earning a good income.
Being far from family leaves her without a solid support system when things get tough, and this is especially challenging given her past struggles with mental health.
The Lady tells the story of the events before Thomas Cressman’s murder in September 2000, for which Jane was convicted the next year. She spent 14 years in prison and was then released on parole.
Mia McKenna Bruce recently received the BAFTA Rising Star Award for her performance in the 2023 film How to Have Sex. She’s also appeared in several other projects, including the Netflix mysteries Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials and Get Even, and the CBBC series Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground.
Natalie Dormer plays Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
I recently watched “The Lady” and it really shines a light on a fascinating period in Sarah Ferguson’s life. The show depicts her as the Duchess of York, still holding that royal title thanks to her marriage to Prince Andrew, but things are clearly falling apart. We see her navigating the end of that relationship and the very beginning of life after their divorce – it’s a really intimate look at a woman going through a lot of change.
Natalie Dormer, the actress from ‘The Lady’, has chosen not to publicize the show because of the show’s creator, Ferguson, having a past connection with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. She has also donated her earnings from the show to charities supporting survivors of childhood abuse: the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (through Barnardo’s).
In a statement to Variety in September 2025, she explained that she could no longer support Sarah Ferguson due to recently discovered information about her actions, which she found unacceptable and went against her own principles.
Natalie Dormer is widely recognized for her role as Margaery Tyrell in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones. She also appeared in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2 as Cressida, a filmmaker with the rebellion. Her other notable work includes appearances in The Tudors, Elementary, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
Ed Speleers plays Thomas Cressman
Thomas Cressman was a man romantically involved with Jane Andrews. After their relationship ended badly, she killed him. The case received a lot of media attention because Andrews had ties to the Royal Family.
Ed Speelers is known for his roles in several popular shows and films. Recently, he’s appeared in the Netflix thriller You, Star Trek: Picard on Paramount, and the BBC sitcom Black Ops. He’s also recognizable for playing Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey, Stephen Bonnet in Outlander, and Eragon in the movie Eragon.
Philip Glenister plays DCI Keith Douglas
DCI Keith Douglas is the detective in charge of the investigation into the death of Thomas Cressman, which is being treated as suspicious.
Philip Glenister is known for many roles, including appearances in popular shows like Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Steeltown Murders, and the Apple TV series Foundation. He recently starred in the new version of Bergerac on UKTV and ITV’s After the Flood.
Stephanie Street plays DS Smart
Who is DS Smart? She is DCI Douglas’s partner on the case of Thomas Cressman’s murder.
Stephanie Street has recently appeared in several projects, including the ITVX biopic Joan, the true crime series Until I Kill You, the hospital drama Breathtaking, and Channel 4’s The Couple Next Door.
Claire Skinner plays June Andrews
Who is June Andrews? June is the mother of Jane Andrews.
Claire Skinner is most famous for her role as Sue Brockman in the popular BBC comedy Outnumbered, which had a special Christmas episode in 2024. She’s also appeared in shows like Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse, McDonald & Dodds, and Riot Women.
Laura Aikman plays Francesca
Francesca is a rich woman who becomes friends with Jane after Jane starts attending events in London’s high society.
Laura Aikman is known for her roles as Sonia in the final episodes of Gavin & Stacey and as Rachel Duffy in the BBC One crime drama, This City is Ours.
Ophelia Lovibond plays Aleksandra
Who is Aleksandra? Another of Jane’s affluent friends, who holds classist prejudice against her.
Ophelia Lovibond has appeared in several popular shows and films. You might recognize her from the BBC sitcom W1A, the Netflix comedy-drama Feel Good, or the Apple TV series Trying. She also had roles in the Sherlock Holmes adaptation Elementary and the movie Rocketman, which is about Elton John.
Lovibond also appeared as Carina, a servant of The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), in the films Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as in the animated series Marvel’s What If…?.
Mark Stanley plays Charles
Who is Charles? Charles is an earlier romantic partner to Jane Andrews, whom she later marries.
Mark Stanley is known for his roles in several popular shows. Recently, he appeared in the Netflix drama Adolescence and the ITV true crime series A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. He’s also been in Game of Thrones, Sanditon, Trigger Point, and Happy Valley.
Daniel Ryan plays David Andrews
Who is David Andrews? David is the father of Jane Andrews.
You might recognize Daniel Ryan from his roles in shows like The Hack (where he played Tom Watson), Such Brave Girls (as Graham), and The Bay (as DI Manning).
Sean Teale plays Luis
Who is Luis? Luis is another wealthy man, who Jane briefly dates.
Sean Teale is known for his roles in several popular shows. He’s appeared in the X-Men series The Gifted, the Netflix thriller Who is Erin Carter?, and the Disney+ mystery Doctor Odyssey. More recently, he played Enriqué in season two of the BBC drama The Gold.
Ella Bruccoleri plays Angela
Who is Angela? Angela is another employee of Sarah Ferguson.
Ella Bruccoleri is well-known for playing Sister Frances in the BBC series Call the Midwife, a role she held from seasons 8 to 12. Since then, she’s appeared in several other shows, including Passenger on ITVX, Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV+, and the Netflix period dramas Bridgerton and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials.
She’s appeared in several films, including Polite Society, Joy, Paddington in Peru, and the recent horror trilogy, The Strangers: Chapters 1-3.
The Lady premieres on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 22 February 2026.
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Authors
David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows and streaming series. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.
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2026-02-22 11:40