‘The Other Bennet Sister’: Meet the Cast, See Release Date, How to Watch & More on the Jane Austen-Based Series

We all know Lizzy, but what about Mary — the ‘other’ sister? Perhaps there’s more to life for this Bennet than just marriage.

Jane Austen fans are usually romantics at heart, whether they’ll admit it or not. Most book lovers have read one of the author’s most popular classics Pride & Prejudice, which follows the unexpected love story between Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Regency England. But what about the rest of her family, specifically her sister Mary Bennet?

Fortunately, Britbox’s The Other Bennet Sister delves into Mary’s perspective, which isn’t always the picture-perfect romance that readers are accustomed to — and maybe even bored with these days. Instead, the show gives modern viewers a woman whom they can relate to.

Here, Hollywood Life breaks down everything you need to know about The Other Bennet Sister!

What Is The Other Bennet Sister About?

The Other Bennet Sister follows the POV of Mary Bennet, the most “plain” sibling of the bunch. Based on Janice Hadlow’s book of the same name, the new series reintroduces us to Mary, who, as the premise reads, is “the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice.”

The series follows the five unmarried daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As women, they must navigate the societal pressures of marrying off in Regency England, seemingly their only ticket to living any kind of life. But while Mary’s sisters pursue marriage, she goes down a different path. 

“Leaving Longbourn behind, she travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street,” the show’s description reads. “There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story.” 

While speaking exclusively with Hollywood Life in April 2026, series star Ella Bruccoleri explained how the show’s progressive storyline touches hearts among all audiences, especially women.

“I think the reason that Mary is like a modern heroine [character] is she feels really fresh and relatable. She’s kind of existing in this world where she doesn’t understand the social protocol or the rules of the game,” Bruccoleri said. “And the main crux of it is that the more she’s in touch with who she really is, rather than trying to change herself to appeal to other people, the more people are drawn to her and love her.

Does Jane Austen Talk About Mary Bennet in Pride & Prejudice?

Yes! In fact, Jane’s novel mentions Mary a lot more than some English majors can remember. Lizzy sees Mary as the odd one out of her family, as the Britbox series depicts. At the end of Pride & Prejudice, Mary is the only Bennet sibling without a husband.

Who Is in The Other Bennet Sister Cast?

The main cast features Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet, Dónal Finn as Tom Hayward and Laurie Davidson as William Ryder. Supporting cast includes Ruth Jones as Mrs Bennet, Richard E. Grant as Mr Bennet, Indira Varma as Mrs Gardiner and Richard Coyle as Mr Gardiner.

The Bennet sisters are portrayed by actresses Maddie Close as Jane Bingley (née Bennet), Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth “Lizzy” Darcy (née Bennet), Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Wickham (née Bennet) and Molly Wright as Kitty Buncock (née Bennet). 

The show’s female-majority cast anchors the story, but the men add their own drama, humor and wit. While speaking with Hollywood Life on the red carpet of the 2026 U.S. premiere, Davidson had some advice for male audience members who may hesitate to watch the series.

“Guys, get yourself out the gym, stop watching those toxic men on YouTube, and do yourself a favor. Watch our show, read some Austen,” the actor said, before discussing the series’ message on self-love. “The greatest love story in our show is with Mary and herself.”

As for Finn, who plays Mary’s other love interest, he recognizes that there “is a lot to be learned” from The Other Bennet Sister and acknowledged his own takeaways from filming.

“I learned a lot about courtship and how it’s changed, [and] the strengths of what it used to be,” Finn noted.

How Can I Watch The Other Bennet Sister Episodes?

For any American viewers who want to revisit the Austen era, they’ll have to sign up for a Britbox subscription! Season 1 of the new show premieres on May 6, 2026, in the U.S.

The first three episodes will drop that day, and a new one will be released each week.