Jane Eyre 

A young governess falls in love with her brooding and complex master. However, his dark past may destroy their relationship forever.

Stars:

Ruth Wilson, Toby Stephens, Lorraine Ashbourne

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ruth Wilson	...	Jane Eyre 4 episodes, 2006
Toby Stephens	...	Rochester 4 episodes, 2006
Lorraine Ashbourne	...	Mrs. Fairfax 4 episodes, 2006
Aidan McArdle	...	John Eshton 4 episodes, 2006
Pam Ferris	...	Grace Poole 4 episodes, 2006
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Mrs. Reed 4 episodes, 2006
Arthur Cox	...	Colonel Dent 4 episodes, 2006
Tim Goodman	...	Sir George Lynn 4 episodes, 2006
Ned Irish	...	George 4 episodes, 2006
Daniel Pirrie	...	Mason / ... 4 episodes, 2006
Francesca Annis	...	Lady Ingram 4 episodes, 2006
Christina Cole	...	Blanche Ingram 4 episodes, 2006
Jeanne Golding	...	Lady Lynn 4 episodes, 2006
Sam Hoare	...	Lynn Brother 4 episodes, 2006
Cosima Littlewood	...	Adele 4 episodes, 2006
Elsa Mollien	...	Sophie 4 episodes, 2006
Rebekah Staton	...	Bessie 4 episodes, 2006
Amy Steel	...	Dent Twin 4 episodes, 2006
Beth Steel	...	Dent Twin 4 episodes, 2006
Charlotte West-Oram	...	Mrs. Dent 4 episodes, 2006
Cara Horgan	...	Eliza Reed 3 episodes, 2006
Andrew Buchan	...	St. John Rivers 2 episodes, 2006
Stephen Tomlin	...	Doctor Carter 2 episodes, 2006
Dan Armour	...	Shepherd 2 episodes, 2006
Alisa Arnah	...	Georgiana Reed 2 episodes, 2006
Christopher Bowen	...	Briggs 2 episodes, 2006
Letty Butler	...	Leah 2 episodes, 2006
Claudia Coulter	...	Bertha 2 episodes, 2006
Maisie Dimbleby	...	Mary Ingram 2 episodes, 2006
Bethany Gill	...	Eliza Reed 2 episodes, 2006
Hugo Heathcote	...	Celine's Lover / ... 2 episodes, 2006
Georgie Henley	...	Young Jane Eyre 2 episodes, 2006
Peter Ivatts	...	Clergyman 2 episodes, 2006
Georgia King	...	Rosamond Oliver 2 episodes, 2006
Emma Lowndes	...	Mary Rivers 2 episodes, 2006
Hester Odgers	...	Helen Burns 2 episodes, 2006
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Hannah 2 episodes, 2006
Eglantine Rembauville-Nicolle	...	Celine Varens 2 episodes, 2006
Stacey Sampson	...	Servant 2 episodes, 2006
Annabel Scholey	...	Diana Rivers 2 episodes, 2006
Christopher Wilkinson	...	Church Clerk 2 episodes, 2006

Storyline

The T.V. adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre is about a young woman who becomes governess to the ward of Mr. Rochester, a brooding and enigmatic man. She falls in love with him. But what secrets lie in his past and threaten to enter his future?

---

Plot Keywords:

governess | tv mini series | fire | england | 19th century | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [UK] PBS Masterpiece Theatre [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jane Eyre

Filming Locations:

Belton House, Belton, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

230 min 202 min (4 parts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ruth Wilson stated this mini-series as being her first big break out role since graduating drama school.

---

Goofs

In the establishing long shoot of the scene, "An Ernest Proposal," Rochester is standing in the shade and Jane is walking from the sun into the shaded area. When the dialog begins, although they've maintained their positions, Jane is now standing in the shade and Rochester is standing in the sun. This is probably due to the dialog being filmed at a different time.

---

Quotes

Edward Fairfax Rochester: Jane, I want a wife. I want a wife, not a nursemaid to look after me. I want a wife to share my bed every night. All day if we wish. If I can't have that, I'd rather die. We're not the platonic sort, Jane.
Jane Eyre: [Take his face in her hands as she faces him] Can you see me?
[Rochester nods yes]
Jane Eyre: Then hear this Edward. Your life is not yours to give up. It is mine. All mine. And I forbid it.
[Begin kissing, camera pans out, music swells]

---

Connections

Version of Jane Eyre (1968)

User Reviews

I was hesitant at first...

...but now I am truly hooked. As I waited patiently for each hour of more Jane, I grew to admire the way the book was handled. Yes, much of Jane's past is missing, but what is there is captivating. Georgie Henley is scarily mature - more than she has a right to be - and her understanding of young Jane's gravity and passion was wonderfully portrayed.

When Ruth Wilson took the scene, I didn't see at first how she was the unearthly Jane I had read. But it became clearer and clearer, and by far she is the most human and understandable Jane yet. Her face speaks volumes as she says nothing. "That face," comments Toby Stephens' Rochester. It is true. Though we see her silent face many times, we have no problem guessing exactly what she is feeling.

At first, I thought Toby was disappointing. I quite liked the sarcasm of William Hurt in the 1996 version, and Mr. Stephens seemed more brash than sarcastic, more flirting than teasing. But it was the chemistry that quite obviously grew between these two characters that has solidified Toby Stephens as Edward Fairfax Rochester for me. For the first time in a movie version, I realized how much the two had become friends first, and then soul mates.

Two other things were handled extraordinarily. The sex and the scary. From dark corridors and floating candles, burning beds, portraits of mad people and blood dripping, Susanna White got her Gothic right. It is almost a ghost story. This suspense keeps the story from being overly lovey-dovey, and shows a real contrast between the white taffeta-covered aristocracy, and the darkly-clad Jane in Rochester's dim study.

As for the X factor, this is not Jane Austen. Women can have conversations with men alone in rooms. Dark-haired, exotic beauties can seduce with a look, cheat with a smile and sin the world round. All of it is not afraid to show up in this version. Rochester and Jane's connection, displayed quite innocently and platonic in some versions, blazes with passion in this. The flashbacks in the final hour of series are some of the steamiest and most emotionally charged parts of this production.

It's heart-warming, passionate, suspenseful, full of beautiful scenery and costuming; all in all, a whole 4 hours of excellent entertainment. Don't miss out.