I didn’t realize how many Jane Austen adaptations Victoria Hamilton has been in until I started putting together this list, and suddenly I realized that there was a period of about four years where she was in a Jane Austen flick nearly every year. I wonder if that’s some kind of record? She’s played the romantic competition, the bad influence, the unfaithful wife, and even the Queen Mum in her 30-year career as an actress, so today we’re going to look at some of her best known costume roles!
Persuasion (1995)
Victoria Hamilton plays Henrietta Musgrove, one of the younger, prettier romantic competitors to Anne Elliot.
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
In the BBC’s (definitive) adaptation of P&P, Victoria Hamilton plays Mrs. Forster, the outlandishly younger wife of Captain Forster, who, it is implied, helped Kitty run off with Wickham by choosing her to be her particular friend.
Mansfield Park (1999)
Victoria Hamilton plays Maria Bertram, who has an affair with Fanny Price’s supposed love interest and finds it not exactly as fulfilling as she expected.
Victoria & Albert (2001)
I really need to watch this adaptation of Queen Victoria’s early life, because the costumes look pretty decent. Side note: I’m pretty sure this gown is made from the same fabric my friend Bess’ wedding dress is made out of, too…
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2002)
Victoria Hamilton plays Kathie, the wife of the eponymous Mr. “Chips,” who charms everyone around her until dying tragically in childbirth.
In Search of the Brontes (2003)
Apparently, this crappy photo is the only image of Victoria Hamilton in the role of Charlotte Bronte.
To the Ends of the Earth (2005)
Victoria Hamilton plays Miss Granham, who features heavily in the plot of the third episode in this adaptation of William Golding’s trilogy of nautical-themed novels.
Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-11)
Victoria Hamilton plays Ruby, one half of the Pratt sisters. They have the best costumes in the show, hands down.
Call the Midwife: Christmas Special (2012)
I haven’t actually seen the Christmas special in question, so I’m not sure what role Victoria Hamilton plays in it. Anyone seen it who can shed some light?
The Crown: Season 1 (2016-)
Victoria Hamilton played Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in Season 1 of this on-going dramatization of the Windsor family.
Are you a fan of Victoria Hamilton? Share your favorite roles in the comments!
You see her so much on British episodic TV, as well. I loved her Queen Mother on The Crown. ‘Oh, Hey! It’s That Actress!’
I love to see her; she has a unique look and presence. But it did make me feel really old when I saw her as the Queen Mum after knowing her so well as the 18-year old Mrs Forster!
That particular Call The Midwife Christmas Special is my favorite!! I’ve watched it about 5-6 times. You really feel for her character.
Seconded- it’s both heartbreaking and an excellent performance.
I love To the Ends of the Earth. Darkness and uncertainty really creep in around the edges without you quite realising. The ship is wonderfully atmospheric. Mind you, my favourite genre is Men Suffering On Boats (see also: The Terror, Master & Commander)
“Men suffering on boats”
😂😂😂
My favourite is Victoria in Victoria and Albert followed by Ruby in Lark Rise.
Victoria and Albert is really lovely. The costumes seem to be period-appropriate, but I am far from an expert.
Coming here to offer the same opinion. I think I saw it when it came out (or whenever it hit tv, if tv wasn’t first), as a kid. Not enough to recall or have much of an opinion on the costumes, but I remember quite liking it.
I’ve made it a personal goal to watch every Austen adaptation over this past year and I love spotting folks that were in multiple adaptations. I knew Victoria Hamilton was in both Mansfield Park and Persuasion, but I missed P&P–well spotted! The mid-90s were truly a good time for Austen!
I loved Victoria and Albert, but I honestly really loved her first in Mansfield Park. As unfaithful as the film was, she still is the definitive Maria Bertram IMHO.
My but she looks good in that gray pixie cut!
I loved Victoria and Albert, watched it several times!! The call the midwife episode is also excellent, (spoiler alert) she plays a woman nearing menopause who lost her only child as an infant years ago, and ends up giving birth unexpectedly on Christmas Day (she didn’t know she was pregnant) . It’s a lovely episode, very touching
In Lark Rise, I think that she and her sister always wore matching outfits. In this particular one, the purple/gold velvet frocks must have been made of leftovers from the R&J costumes in Shakespeare in Love!
I love everything about Persuasion–she’s so cute and funny in the montage of everyone pouring out their troubles to Anne.