Dame Emma Thompson has once again proven her timeless talent and love for literature at the 2023 Baftas. The actress, who first captivated us three decades ago with her performance in the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of Sense And Sensibility, is now set to revisit the beloved story with a brand new audio sequel.
Titled Becoming Meg Dashwood, this audio series is executive produced and led by Dame Emma Thompson herself. The two-time Oscar winner will be reprising her role as Margaret Dashwood, the younger sister of the character she first played on the big screen 30 years ago.
Joining her in this exciting project is a star-studded cast, including Adolescence star Erin Doherty as Margaret’s younger self and Bafta nominee Naomi Ackie as her lover, Nelly. The rest of the talented ensemble includes Silent Witness’ Liz Carr, Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning, Bridgerton’s Golda Rosheuvel, The Crown’s Imelda Staunton, and even Dame Emma’s husband Greg Wise.
This new audio sequel picks up where the 1995 movie left off and promises to be a “riotous, rebellious period drama about female friendship, sexuality, and liberation.” Written by Why Did You Stay? author Rebecca Humphries and featuring an original score composed by Natasha Khan, better known by her stage name Bat For Lashes, this audio drama is set to be an enthralling experience for listeners.
In a press statement, Dame Emma expressed her excitement and pride in bringing Audible and Humphries’ extraordinary drama to life. The Love Actually star also shared that the series aims to explore the hidden parts of women’s lives, which were not openly written about at the time.
Sense And Sensibility’s movie adaptation, which also starred Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, was a huge success with seven Oscar nominations. However, last year Dame Emma revealed that she was told she was “too old” to play Hugh’s love interest in the film, despite being only one year his senior.
But this setback did not stop Dame Emma from pursuing her passion for literature and bringing classic stories to life. Becoming Meg Dashwood is just one of the many audio adaptations of Jane Austen’s works. It joins the ranks of Pride And Prejudice, which will have a reimagined version featuring Industry’s Marisa Abela, Babygirl star Harris Dickinson, and eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close.
And that’s not all, as Netflix is currently working on a small screen adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, with Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as the lead characters. With so many exciting adaptations in the works, it’s clear that the timeless stories of Jane Austen continue to capture the hearts of audiences.
Becoming Meg Dashwood is now available for pre-order on Audible, and we can’t wait to delve into this new chapter of the beloved story. So, grab your headphones and get ready to be transported into the world of Sense And Sensibility once again. And who better to lead us on this journey than the talented Dame Emma Thompson.
