Suranne Jones Plays Britain's First Modern Lesbian in 'Gentleman Jack'

BBC One and HBO have unveiled an image of Suranne Jones as Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker in Sally Wainwright’s eight-part drama, which has just begun filming in West Yorkshire, UK.
Gentleman Jack tells the story of Anne Lister, a noted landowner and industrialist in 19th century, and her return to her ancestral home of Shibden Hall in Halifax in 1832, after years of travelling the world. The series is based on Anne’s decoded diaries, containing in its four million words the intimate details about her life, including her lesbian relationships.
The series explores her professional and personal relationships with her business rivals, family, servants, tenants and with Ann Walker – a wealthy heiress who Anne deeply loves and sets her sights on marrying one day.
Nicknamed Gentleman Jack by Halifax locals, Anne is a determined businessman woman, regularly dressed in black and was the first woman to be elected to the Halifax Literary and Philosophical Society. Her story was previously the subject of The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, which starred Maxine Peake in the title role and aired on the BBC in spring 2010.
A host of well-known actors and actresses star in the Sally Wainwright drama, including Game of Thrones favourite Gemma Whelan, who plays Anne’s sister Marian.
Suranne will also be back on TV this autumn with a second run of BBC One drama Doctor Foster.
> Mar Martínez