Miss Austen: Keeley Hawes, Rose Leslie to Star in PBS Drama About Jane Austen’s Sister — See First Photo

One of classic literature’s greatest mysteries is about to come to life.

Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard) and Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) will star in Miss Austen, a new drama coming soon to Masterpiece on PBS. Hawes plays Cassandra, the sister of literary great Jane Austen, who infamously burned Jane’s letters after her death. But Miss Austen reimagines that tale as “a fascinating, witty and heartbreaking story of sisterly love,” per the official description.

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Leslie plays Cassandra’s friend Isabella, who is about to lose her home after her father’s death. Cassandra wants to help Isabella, but she also wants to find a stash of her late sister Jane’s private letters that could ruin Jane’s reputation if they came out. The letters take Cassandra on a trip down memory lane, with flashbacks to her and Jane together as kids: “Finding a way to guide Isabella towards true happiness, Cassandra is finally able to understand and celebrate the sacrifices she chose to make for her brilliant sister, Jane.”

Joining Hawes and Leslie in the cast are Jessica Hynes (Years and Years), Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey), Kevin McNally (The Crown) and Max Irons (Condor). Andrea Gibb (Call the Midwife, Sanditon) pens the adaptation of Gill Hornby’s bestselling novel, with Aisling Walsh (Elizabeth Is Missing) serving as director.

Check out the photo above for a first look at Miss Austen, and then tell us in the comments, Masterpiece fans: Will you be watching?

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