The Other Bennet Sister cast: Who stars in the BBC period drama?
Everything you need to know.
Pride and Prejudice was all about Elizabeth Bennet, but The Other Bennet Sister turns the spotlight on her sister, Mary, who has always existed in the shadow of her siblings.
Based on the novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow, the time has come for the middle Bennet sister, played by Ella Bruccoleri, to come into her own by leaving the family home for Regency London and the Lake District.
In the midst of her newfound independence, Mary finds herself with suitors to her left and her right, but it's far from smooth sailing.
"Mary's not your typical period drama heroine," said Bruccoleri. "She lives in a world where, particularly for women, appearance is everything, and she doesn’t understand that value system at all.
"Instead, she turns to literature that offers a different viewpoint. Her favourite book is Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women, because it argues that women shouldn’t have to be beautiful — they should be intelligent and pious."
Alongside Bruccoleri, a number of familiar faces make up the cast of The Other Bennet Sister, including a Gavin & Stacey legend.
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
Who is Mary Bennet? "Mary Bennet has been written off by many members of her family, and as a result she’s written herself off too," said Bruccoleri.
"When we meet her at the beginning of the series, she’s living with her family in a small village and has never really left that world. These are the only people she knows, and she understands herself through the values they impose on her." But eventually, the time comes for her to fly the nest and stand on her own two feet.
What else has Ella Bruccoleri been in? She's best known for Call the Midwife. Bruccoleri has also appeared in Down Cemetery Road, Passenger and Paddington in Peru.
Ruth Jones plays Mrs Bennet
Who is Mrs Bennet? Jones described playing Mary's mother Mrs Bennet as "iconic and a huge challenge".
"In The Other Bennet Sister, we don’t see a woman of purely nervous disposition," she added. "I think of her like an estate agent with five properties to sell – four will be snapped up, but one can’t even get a viewing. She's a tough businesswoman."
What else has Ruth Jones been in? As well as Gavin & Stacey, you probably know her from Stella, Fat Friends and Run Away.
Richard E Grant plays Mr Bennet
Who is Mr Bennet? Mary's father. Speaking about Mr Bennet's relationship with her daughter, Grant said: "Mary is a wallflower – someone to be tolerated. She has a very stern personality, and I think, unfortunately for her, he doesn’t engage with her much."
What else has Richard E Grant been in? Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Loki, Gosford Park, Logan, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Saltburn are just some od of the titles he's appeared in.
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
Who is Lizzie Bennet? Elizabeth – known here as Lizzie – is the protagonist in Pride and Prejudice, and possesses great "wit".
What else has Poppy Gilbert been in? Chloe, The Catch and Stay Close are some of the shows she's appeared in.
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.
What else has Grace Hogg-Robinson been in? You might have watched her in Flatmates, The Coroner and Cobra.
Indira Varma and Richard Coyle play Mrs and Mr Gardiner
Who are Mrs and Mr Gardiner? Mary's aunt and uncle. She leaves home to live with them in their London home.
What else has Indira Varma been in? Her credits include The Capture, The Night Manager, Coldwater, Obsession, Game of Thrones, Paranoid and This Way Up.
What else has Richard Coyle been in? Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Coupling and The Fall, among others.
Laurie Davidson plays Mr Ryder
Who is Mr Ryder? One of Mary's suitors. "He sees himself as very modern and forward-thinking, but he’s impulsive and easily distracted," said Davidson. "He’s always chasing the next idea. In Mary, he sees someone completely different from the women he’s known — and a true kindred spirit."
What else has Laurie Davidson been in? The Girlfriend, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, and Mary and George are just some ofd the titles he's appeared in.
Dónal Finn plays Mr Hayward
Who is Mr Hayward? A friend of the Gardiners who is first introduced to Mary while she's working as a governess. "He works hard to be seen, and that shared experience creates an immediate connection between them," explains Finn.
What else has Dónal Finn been in? You might know him from The Wheel of Time and Young Sherlock.
Tanya Reynolds plays Caroline Bingley
Who is Caroline Bingley? Charles Bingley, who eventually marries Jane, is Caroline's brother. She is no fan of Mary.
What else has Tanya Reynolds been in? Her credits include Sex Education, The Decameron and Delicious.
Anna Fenton-Garvey plays Charlotte Lucas
Who is Charlotte Lucas? Charlotte and Mary form a bond. Charlotte eventually marries clergyman Mr Collins as a matter of practicality.
What else has Anna Fenton-Garvey been in? She had a minor role in The Nevers.
Ryan Sampson plays Mr Collins
Who is Mr Collins? A clergyman. Collins is a peculiar, intense man who appears incapable of cracking a joke.
What else has Ryan Sampson been in? He's best known for Brassic and Mr Bigstuff.
Varada Sethu plays Ann Baxter
Who is Ann Baxter? A friend of Mary's, who is romantically involved with Mr Hayward, which makes things a little complicated.
What else has Varada Sethu been in? You probably know her from Doctor Who and Andor.
Aaron Gill plays John Sparrow
Who is John Sparrow? He comes to fit Mary’s glasses. The pair later share a dance and hit it off, but her mother immediately shuts down any chance of 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.
What else has Lucy Briers been in? She played Mary Bennet in the the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries.
Briers told Radio Times that she feels like she's in "some weird time machine, both here and back there. It feels like a beautiful completion of a circle".
The Other Bennet Sister premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 15 March 2026.
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Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
