The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister (TV 2010)

In nineteenth century Yorkshire wealthy orphan Anne Lister lives with an aunt and uncle, anxious for her to marry well and blissfully - unaware that she is a lesbian. Anne is recording her ... See full summary »

Director:

James Kent

Writer:

Jane English

Stars:

Maxine Peake, Anna Madeley, Susan Lynch

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maxine Peake	...	Anne Lister
Anna Madeley	...	Mariana Belcombe
Susan Lynch	...	Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe
Christine Bottomley	...	Ann Walker
Gemma Jones	...	Aunt Lister
Alan David	...	Uncle Lister
Richenda Carey	...	Mrs Priestley
Michael Culkin	...	Charles Lawton
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Christopher Rawson
Tina O'Brien	...	Miss Browne
Tessa Peake-Jones	...	Mrs Rawson
Jemima Foxtrot	...	Lister Maid
Belinda Lazenby	...	Mrs Browne
Ted Holden	...	Rough Man
Martin Oldfield	...	Jeweller

Storyline

In nineteenth century Yorkshire wealthy orphan Anne Lister lives with an aunt and uncle, anxious for her to marry well and blissfully - unaware that she is a lesbian. Anne is recording her thoughts and exploits in a coded diary. When her lover Mariana Belcombe makes a marriage of convenience to rich old Charles Lawton she feels betrayed and, although Mariana visits her,the relationship is going nowhere. Helped by old flame Tib she makes a play for innocent Miss Browne but sees she is barking up the wrong tree and diverts herself by renovating the family hall. A drunken Tib almost exposes her secret and scornful mine-owner Christopher Rawson, whose marriage proposal she rejects, tells her that her sexuality is a subject of local gossip....

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | marriage proposal | gossip | marriage of convenience | yorkshire | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Annen salainen päiväkirja

Filming Locations:

Bramham Park, Bramham, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Oxford Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Anne Lister: Stop it. Stop it, I said! I promised Mariana.
Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe: Promised Mariana? And what has she promised you while she wears herself out in the service of her husband every night?
Anne Lister: I have never disguised the fact that my heart is hers.
Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe: But what has she promised? To live with you? That'll never happen.
Anne Lister: When Charles dies, she will be my companion here at Shibden.
Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe: That could be twenty years yet. Has she not galled you enough?
Anne Lister: I will not have another word said against Mariana. You're jealous!
Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe: And you're misguided!

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Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 26 May 2010 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Rock of Ages"
(uncredited)
Music by Thomas Hastings
Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady

User Reviews

Testament to womens liberation

This true story had me glued. To see how the women in Austen's time could pursue gay relationships and benefit financially just blew me away.

Miss Anne Lister would be considered a 'groomer' in modern society. But the fact she did what she did back in the early 19th century is a gutsy delight.

With the luxury of being rich she was able to move within society with a liberty untethered by convention.

It just shows how financial independence for women is the true liberation from the tyranny of conventional society.

Big high five to women doing it for themselves!