The Invisible Woman (2013)

At the height of his career, Charles Dickens meets a younger woman who becomes his secret lover until his death.

Director:

Ralph Fiennes

Writers:

Abi Morgan, Claire Tomalin (book)

Stars:

Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Felicity Jones	...	Nelly (as Ms. Felicity Jones)
John Kavanagh	...	Rev. William Benham (as Mr. John Kavanagh)
Tom Attwood	...	Mr. Lambourne (as Mr. Tom Atwood)
Susanna Hislop	...	Mary (as Ms. Susanna Hislop)
Tom Burke	...	Mr. George Wharton Robinson (as Mr. Tom Burke)
Tommy Curson-Smith	...	Geoffrey (as Mr. Tommy Curson-Smith)
David Collings	...	Governor (as Mr. David Collings)
Michael Marcus	...	Charley Dickens (as Mr. Michael Marcus)
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Mrs. Frances Ternan (as Ms. Kirstin Scott Thomas)
Perdita Weeks	...	Maria Ternan (as Ms. Perdita Weeks)
Ralph Fiennes	...	Charles Dickens (as Mr. Ralph Fiennes)
Richard McCabe	...	Mr. Mark Lemon (as Mr. Richard McCabe)
Gabriel Vick	...	Mr. Berger (as Mr. Gabriel Vick)
Mark Dexter	...	Mr. Augustus Egg (as Mr. Mark Dexter)
Joseph Paxton	...	Mr. Pigott (as Mr. Joseph Paxton)

Storyline

In the 1850s, Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones) is a minimally talented actress who catches the eye of the hailed British author, Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes). Bored with his intellectually unstimulating wife, Catherine (Joanna Scanlan), Charles takes the educated Nelly as his mistress with the cooperation of her mother, Mrs. Frances Ternan (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas). What follows is a stormy relationship with this literary giant who provides her with a life few women of her time can enjoy. Yet, Nelly is equally revolted by Charles' emotional cruelty and determination to keep her secret. In that conflict, Nelly must judge her own role in her life and decide if the price she pays is bearable.

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Plot Keywords:

older man younger woman relationship | based on true story | charles dickens character | period drama | secret | 

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Taglines:

Charles Dickens' greatest story was the one he could never tell.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was based on the book "The Invisible Woman" by Claire Tomalin.

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Goofs

When collecting cash for the hospital, there is an 1895 Crown coin on the plate. Charles Dickens died in 1870.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. George Wharton Robinson: Our boys' curriculum is very wide. They perform a short play at the end of every term. Theater's an abiding interest of my wife... Ah, Mary, tea if you please.
Mary: [arriving late] Yes, sir.
Mr. George Wharton Robinson: Through the open door... Nelly, where were you? Mr. Benham has been here since 3:00.
Nelly: I'm so sorry. Mr. Lambourne has been organizing the boys best he can.
Mary: I lost all sense of time...

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Crazy Credits

The full cast list (in order of appearance) is presented in the style of a Dickens era theatre programme, with contemporary font and the performers' names preceded by "Mr." or "Ms."

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Connections

Featured in Evening Urgant: Ralph Fiennes (2014)

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Soundtracks

Sam Hall
Traditional
Performed by JC Carroll
[end credits]

User Reviews

Affair in the 1850's

If a renowned writer were to embark in an affair with a younger woman, it would make some headlines, generate some chatter but most of us will leave it at that.

That was not the case in the 1850's. When esteemed author Charles Dickens begun an affair, all sorts of efforts were put in place to stop it from becoming public. Divorce in that time, was an absolute scandal, an abomination.

So, this young, attractive, talented woman who in all certainty had a profound effect in the works of one of the most respected writers in the English language was in effect an invisible woman. Whilst she was the centre of Dickens' world, the world ought to not know her. Such were those times.

Whilst it might appear as sluggish, even flat that is not so. We get to observe the effect of the affair amongst people who had a compulsion to appear composed and reserved at all times. It is a glimpse in to a world gone by.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

21 February 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Invisible Woman

Filming Locations:

Harrow School, Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,948, 29 December 2013

Gross USA:

$1,234,254

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,986,888

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Headline Pictures, Magnolia Mae Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1