Keeley Hawes Will Play Jane Austen's Sister in a New Miniseries

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It has been a while since an adaptation of Gill Hornby's novel Miss Austen was announced, but we finally have new details as it has started filming and they were worth the wait! Masterpiece fans will be delighted to see Keeley Hawes of The Durrells in Corfu and many, many other British shows starring as Jane Austen's sister Cassandra, who notoriously burned a large portion of her correspondence with her sister after Jane's death.

Appearing with Hawes will be Rose Leslie (Downton Abbey, The Good Fight) as Cassandra's friend Isabella and Patsy Ferran (Jamestown, Living) as a young Jane Austen. You might also recognize Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes) and Unforgotten's Kevin McNally (he's been in plenty of other movies and shows, too), Mrs. Wilson's Calam Lynch, and Elizabeth is Missing's Liv Hill.

Two other Elizabeth is Missing alumni are also working on this show: writer Andrea Gibb and director Aisling Walsh.

Hornby has also written a biography of Jane Austen for young readers and another Austen-inspired novel. 

We will keep you posted with updates on Miss Austen.