The Other Bennet Sister cast: Who stars in the BBC period drama?

While Pride and Prejudice famously follows Elizabeth Bennet, The Other Bennet Sister tells the story of her less-noticed sister, Mary, who has always lived in the background.

Ella Bruccoleri stars as the often-overlooked middle Bennet sister in this adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s novel. The story follows her journey as she leaves home to find her place in Regency London and the beautiful Lake District.

Now that Mary is enjoying her independence, she’s attracting plenty of attention from potential husbands, but things aren’t going quite as smoothly as she’d hoped.

According to Bruccoleri, Mary is an unusual character for a historical drama. She exists in a society where how women look is incredibly important, but she simply doesn’t grasp that emphasis on appearance.

She finds solace in books that present alternative ideas. She especially loves Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women, which challenges the idea that a woman’s worth lies in her looks, and instead emphasizes intelligence and religious devotion.

Joining Bruccoleri in ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ are several well-known actors, including a star from ‘Gavin & Stacey’.

Read more:

The Other Bennet Sister centres on Mary Bennet for better and worse
The Other Bennet Sister’s Ella Bruccoleri on stepping into Austen’s world and stepping away from Call the Midwife

Find the main cast rundown below.

The Other Bennet Sister cast

Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet
Ruth Jones as Mrs Bennet
Richard E Grant as Mr Bennet
Maddie Close as Jane Bennet
Poppy Gilbert as Lizzie Bennet
Molly Wright as Kitty Bennet
Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Bennet
Indira Varma as Mrs Gardiner
Richard Coyle as Mr Gardiner
Laurie Davidson as Mr Ryder
Dónal Finn as Mr Hayward
Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley
Anna Fenton-Garvey as Charlotte Lucas
Ryan Sampson as Mr Collins
Varada Sethu as Ann Baxter
Aaron Gill as John Sparrow
Lucy Briers as Mrs Hill

For more information about the characters and where you’ve seen the cast before, read on.

Ella Bruccoleri plays Mary Bennet

According to author Bruccoleri, Mary Bennet is often overlooked and dismissed by her family, which has led her to undervalue herself as well.

At the start of the story, she lives with her family in a small village and hasn’t experienced much beyond that. Her identity is shaped by the beliefs of those around her. However, she eventually leaves home to become independent and discover who she is on her own.

Ella Bruccoleri is most famous for her role in Call the Midwife, but she’s also been in Down Cemetery Road, Passenger, and Paddington in Peru.

Ruth Jones plays Mrs Bennet

Who is Mrs. Bennet? Actress Jones said playing Mary Bennet’s mother was both a memorable and difficult role.

The author explained that Mary Bennet isn’t simply shy or anxious. She described Mary as being like a real estate agent with several properties: four are quickly sold, but one remains unsold, even getting people to look at it is a struggle. She sees Mary as a surprisingly strong and determined woman in business.

Besides Gavin & Stacey, Ruth Jones is also known for her roles in Stella, Fat Friends, and Run Away.

Richard E Grant plays Mr Bennet

Mr. Bennet is Mary’s father. According to Grant, their relationship is distant because Mary is quiet and serious, and he doesn’t really connect with her.

Richard E. Grant has appeared in many films and TV shows, including Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Loki, Gosford Park, Logan, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Saltburn.

Maddie Close plays Jane Bennet

Who is Jane Bennet? The eldest Bennet daughter, and the most beautiful, according to her mother.

What else has Maddie Close been in? This is her first major role.

Poppy Gilbert plays Lizzie Bennet

Lizzie Bennet is the main character in the novel Pride and Prejudice. She’s known for being intelligent and quick-witted.

Poppy Gilbert has also starred in shows like Chloe, The Catch, and Stay Close.

Molly Wright plays Kitty Bennet

Who is Kitty Bennet? She’s described by Mrs Bennet as the most “good humoured” of her daughters.

What else has Molly Wright been in? She’s best known for The A Word.

Grace Hogg-Robinson plays Lydia Bennet

Who is Lydia Bennet? The youngest – and most spirited – Bennet sister.

You may recognize Grace Hogg-Robinson from her roles in shows like Flatmates, The Coroner, and Cobra. What other projects has she appeared in?

Indira Varma and Richard Coyle play Mrs and Mr Gardiner

Mrs. and Mr. Gardiner are Mary’s aunt and uncle. Mary goes to live with them at their house in London.

Indira Varma is also known for her roles in several other popular shows, including The Capture, The Night Manager, Coldwater, Obsession, Game of Thrones, Paranoid, and This Way Up.

Richard Coyle has appeared in several other shows, including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Coupling, and The Fall.

Laurie Davidson plays Mr Ryder

Mr. Ryder is one of the men hoping to marry Mary. According to Davidson, he believes he’s progressive and innovative, but he’s actually quite impulsive and gets bored easily, constantly pursuing new interests. He views Mary as unlike any woman he’s met before, and feels a strong connection with her.

Besides his current role, Laurie Davidson has also appeared in shows like The Girlfriend, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, and Mary and George.

Dónal Finn plays Mr Hayward

Mr. Hayward is a friend of the Gardiners who meets Mary when she’s a governess. According to Finn, they quickly connect because they both understand what it’s like to work hard to gain recognition.

What else has Dónal Finn been in? You might know him from The Wheel of Time and Young Sherlock.

Tanya Reynolds plays Caroline Bingley

Caroline Bingley is the sister of Charles Bingley, who later marries Jane. She dislikes Mary.

Besides her work on Sex Education, Tanya Reynolds has also appeared in The Decameron and Delicious.

Anna Fenton-Garvey plays Charlotte Lucas

Charlotte Lucas is a character who develops a close friendship with Mary. She ultimately marries Mr. Collins, a minister, not for love, but because it offers her a secure future.

What else has Anna Fenton-Garvey been in? She had a minor role in The Nevers.

Ryan Sampson plays Mr Collins

Mr. Collins is a minister. He’s a rather odd and overly earnest man who doesn’t seem able to tell a joke.

What else has Ryan Sampson been in? He’s best known for Brassic and Mr Bigstuff.

Varada Sethu plays Ann Baxter

Ann Baxter is a friend of Mary’s and is dating Mr. Hayward, creating a somewhat complicated situation.

What else has Varada Sethu been in? You probably know her from Doctor Who and Andor.

Aaron Gill plays John Sparrow

John Sparrow is the man who comes to Mary’s house to adjust her glasses. He and Mary quickly connect and enjoy a dance together, but Mary’s mother doesn’t approve and prevents them from pursuing a relationship.

What else has Aaron Gill been in? His credits include Piglets and Smothered.

Lucy Briers plays Mrs Hill

Who is Mrs Hill? The Bennet family servant and Mary’s confidante.

Lucy Briers is known for her role as Mary Bennet in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Beyond that, what other projects has she appeared in?

You know, talking to TopMob, I told them it feels like being in a really strange time machine – like I’m simultaneously experiencing the past and the present. It’s a really lovely feeling, actually, like everything is coming full circle.

The Other Bennet Sister premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 15 March 2026.

Don’t miss The Other Bennet Sister! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before joining TopMob, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. Abby has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

2026-03-15 22:07