Tipping the Velvet 

Set in the 1890's, tells the lesbian love affair between male impersonator music hall star Kitty Butler and Nan Astley.

Stars:

Rachael Stirling, Keeley Hawes, Anna Chancellor

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Rachael Stirling	...	Nan Astley 3 episodes, 2002
Keeley Hawes	...	Kitty Butler 3 episodes, 2002
Anna Chancellor	...	Diana Lethaby 2 episodes, 2002
Jodhi May	...	Florence Banner 2 episodes, 2002
Alexei Sayle	...	Charles Frobisher 2 episodes, 2002
John Bowe	...	Walter Bliss 2 episodes, 2002
Sally Hawkins	...	Zena Blake 2 episodes, 2002
Di Botcher	...	Woman with Cigar 2 episodes, 2002
Carl Chase	...	Corder 2 episodes, 2002
Janet Henfrey	...	Mrs. Jex 2 episodes, 2002
Daniel Mays	...	Jimmy Burns 2 episodes, 2002
Bernice Stegers	...	Mrs. Denby 2 episodes, 2002
Sara Stockbridge	...	Dickie 2 episodes, 2002
Susie Valerio	...	Singer 2 episodes, 2002

Storyline

Dramatised from Sarah Waters' acclaimed debut novel, "Tipping the Velvet" tells the story of Nancy Astley (Rachael Stirling), a young girl who works as cook and waitress in her Father's seaside restaurant - that is until she witnesses the extraordinary performance of a new-to-town male impersonator - Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes) - and begins to undergo a complete life transformation. Suddenly whipped up - and quickly flung down - by her love affair with Kitty, she experiences both euphoria and deep disillusion as she embarks on a seven-year journey of self-discovery - finally realizing that a life of sensation just isn't enough.

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Plot Keywords:

lgbt | lgbtq | male impersonator | music hall | 1890s | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

BBCi [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 October 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Besant el vellut

Filming Locations:

Whitstable, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sally Head Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

177 min (3 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview, Keeley Hawes said that she and Rachel Sterling got drunk before shooting the love scenes, but also said kissing a woman was not much different than kissing a man.

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Goofs

The roses Kitty gives out in her act are obviously artificial. But later when Nan shows Kitty she kept the rose she received from her, the rose is wilted.

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Quotes

Freddy: You can hold on as tight as you like. Don't worry, I'll tell you if it hurts.
Nancy Nan Astley: No, I don't want to!
Freddy: What's the matter?
Nancy Nan Astley: Nothing, I just don't want that Freddy.
Freddy: I am serious you know Nan? We could be engaged! Well, then it would be alright wouldn't it?
Nancy Nan Astley: Can't we just go on as we are?
Freddy: You don't really care for me at all.
Nancy Nan Astley: I do though.
Freddy: No you don't, you just like to keep me there tagging along like. If you really cared for me you'd let me do it.
Nancy Nan Astley: Well then, I don't care for you!

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Connections

Featured in Queer as Art (2017)

User Reviews

Quite simply, one of the greatest

I have nothing but praise for this mini series. It's only about a year and a half old but I have seen it twice already; with greater enjoyment the second time than the first. I'm seriously thinking of watching it again soon since I find it spiritually uplifting.

It is a very tender romantic drama with such beautiful performances, sets, costumes, music and scenes that it has a resonance which places it almost in a league of its own among mini series.

Some others have commented on the difficulties of living as a lesbian in Britain in the 1890s. Nothing especially difficult about that; it was only male homosexuality that was against the law as poor Oscar Wilde experienced to his great cost and as a great loss to the literary world. Anyway, I digress.

In my view, this is essential television. It is perhaps one of the greatest tragic romantic dramas since Romeo and Juliet, although not in the conventional sense.

10 out of 10 from me.

JMV