Cover Get to know the stellar ‘Sense & Sensibility’ 2026 cast. In photo: Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitriona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Daisy Edgar-Jones in ‘Sense And Sensibility’ (Photo: Charlotte Hadden, IMDb)
Get to know the stellar ‘Sense & Sensibility’ 2026 cast. In photo: Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitriona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Daisy Edgar-Jones in ‘Sense And Sensibility’ (Photo: Charlotte Hadden, IMDb)
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From period sagas to major blockbusters, see where you know the ‘Sense and Sensibility’ 2026 cast from
Jane Austen’s novels have been adapted for the screen time and again, with each generation finding something new in her stories of love, money, family and social expectations. Sense and Sensibility is no exception. The 1811 novel, which follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate financial uncertainty and romantic disappointment, has already inspired several memorable adaptations, including Ang Lee’s 1995 film starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman.
Now, director Georgia Oakley brings a new version to the screen, working from a screenplay by Diana Reid. This latest adaptation introduces a fresh ensemble of actors to Austen’s world, bringing together familiar faces from British and international drama with performers from contemporary independent cinema. With its mix of sharp social commentary, complicated family dynamics and heartbreak that feels as relevant today as it did more than two centuries ago, the story continues to find new audiences. Here’s a look at the principal cast of the 2026 film, the characters they play and where you may have seen them before.
Read more: Who is joining the Bennet household? Meet the Netflix’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ cast
What is the plot of ‘Sense & Sensibility’?
Above Watch the trailer for Georgia Oakley's 'Sense & Sensibility' adaptation, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as the Dashwood sisters navigating romance, heartbreak, and social expectations
Set in late 18th-century England, Jane Austen’s classic narrative follows the Dashwood family after the sudden death of their patriarch leaves Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters with a drastically reduced income and forces their relocation to Barton Cottage in Devonshire. The plot examines the contrasting emotional approaches of the two eldest sisters: Elinor, who exercises practical restraint and quiet composure while silently enduring her heartbreak over the secretly engaged Edward Ferrars, and Marianne, who embraces passionate romance and headlong impulse when falling for the charming John Willoughby, only to be abandoned for a wealthy heiress. As both sisters experience social pressure, deceit, and personal crisis, Marianne’s life-threatening illness and Elinor’s quiet stoicism compel them to learn from each other’s temperaments, ultimately finding romantic stability and financial security by balancing reason with emotion.
‘Sense & Sensibility’ 2026 cast overview
Elinor Dashwood – Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, Where the Crawdads Sing, Twisters)
Marianne Dashwood – Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna, The Doll Factory, Pond Life)
Edward Ferrars – George MacKay (1917, Captain Fantastic, Femme)
John Willoughby – Frank Dillane (Fear the Walking Dead, The Essex Serpent, Harry Potter)
Colonel Brandon – Herbert Nordrum (The Worst Person in the World, The Hypnosis)
Mrs. Dashwood – Caitríona Balfe (Outlander, Belfast, Ford v Ferrari)
Mrs. Jennings – Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve, Harry Potter, Andor)
‘Sense and Sensibility’ 2026 cast and characters: a closer look
Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood
Above The pragmatic eldest sister whose composure and emotional restraint anchor the family through financial collapse (Photo: IMDb)
The pragmatic eldest sister whose composure and emotional restraint anchor the family through financial collapse (Photo: IMDb)
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Daisy Edgar-Jones takes on the role of Elinor Dashwood, the eldest daughter who relies on restraint, practical judgement, and emotional composure. Viewers primarily know Edgar-Jones from her breakout performance as Marianne Sheridan in the BBC and Hulu television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. Her subsequent screen credits include leading roles in the film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing, the thriller Fresh, the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven, and the studio action feature Twisters. In Sense & Sensibility, her performance focuses on the burden of internalised anxiety and familial obligation.
Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood
Above The romantic middle sister whose open passion and defiance of social convention lead to deep heartbreaks (Photo: IMDb)
The romantic middle sister whose open passion and defiance of social convention lead to deep heartbreaks (Photo: IMDb)
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Marianne Dashwood, the impulsive middle sister driven by romantic idealism and open emotion, is played by Esmé Creed-Miles. Creed-Miles is best known for portraying the title character in Prime Video’s action drama series Hanna. Beyond that role, her filmography includes the indie drama Pond Life, the thriller Jamie, and the Victorian period series The Doll Factory. Her work in Sense & Sensibility marks a return to historical period drama, capturing Marianne’s headlong rejection of pragmatic social decorum.
Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Margaret Dashwood
Above Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood alongside outspoken, observant youngest sister whose candid warmth and youthful curiosity bring levity to the Dashwood household (Photo: IMDb)
Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood alongside outspoken, observant youngest sister whose candid warmth and youthful curiosity bring levity to the Dashwood household (Photo: IMDb)
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Bodhi Rae Breathnach plays Margaret Dashwood, the candid, observant youngest sister whose youthful curiosity brings levity to the Dashwood household. The young Irish actress gained screen recognition in Chloé Zhao’s historical drama Hamnet, appearing alongside Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, as well as the action thriller Shelter opposite Jason Statham. Her work also extends to the stage in the National Theatre’s production of Till The Stars Come Down. In Sense & Sensibility, she captures Margaret’s unaffected warmth and youthful perspective amid her family’s changing circumstances.
George MacKay as Edward Ferrars
Above The quiet, honorable gentleman whose unyielding sense of duty risks his financial and romantic future (Photo: IMDb)
The quiet, honorable gentleman whose unyielding sense of duty risks his financial and romantic future (Photo: IMDb)
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George MacKay portrays Edward Ferrars, the reserved gentleman whose inheritance is threatened by his refusal to pursue a high-society career. MacKay gained widespread international recognition as the lead, Lance Corporal Schofield, in Sam Mendes’s Oscar-winning War film 1917. His extensive film resume also features Captain Fantastic, The Outlaw King, True History of the Kelly Gang, and the neo-noir thriller Femme. His role here calls for a subtle portrayal of quiet integrity hampered by private obligation.
Frank Dillane as John Willoughby
The charming, deceitful John Willoughby is played by Frank Dillane. Audiences will recognise Dillane as Nick Clark across four seasons of Fear the Walking Dead, as well as a young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His recent television work includes Apple TV+ period drama The Essex Serpent and the historical series The Serpent Queen. In Sense & Sensibility, he brings a mix of charismatic appeal and mercenary self-interest to Willoughby.
Herbert Nordrum as Colonel Brandon
Norwegian actor Herbert Nordrum embodies Colonel Brandon, the older, quiet suitor devoted to Marianne. Nordrum gained international acclaim for his co-starring role as Kristoffer in Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated romantic comedy-drama The Worst Person in the World. His work also encompasses the satirical feature The Hypnosis alongside extensive stage productions in Oslo.
Caitríona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood
Above The loving, idealistic mother struggling to navigate her family’s sudden loss of fortune and social standing (Photo: IMDb)
The loving, idealistic mother struggling to navigate her family’s sudden loss of fortune and social standing (Photo: IMDb)
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Caitríona Balfe plays Mrs. Dashwood, the widowed mother navigating sudden financial hardship with her daughters.Balfe is widely celebrated for her starring portrayal of Claire Fraser in the television drama Outlander. Her film credits include an award-nominated turn in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, as well as prominent supporting roles in Ford v Ferrari and Now You See Me.
Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings
Above The gregarious, warm-hearted busybody whose endless passion for matchmaking fuels society gossip (Photo: IMDb)
The gregarious, warm-hearted busybody whose endless passion for matchmaking fuels society gossip (Photo: IMDb)
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Fiona Shaw plays the warm, gossip-loving relative Mrs. Jennings. Shaw’s career spans theatre, film, and television, including her iconic role as Aunt Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter franchise. Her recent television work features her BAFTA-winning turn as Carolyn Martens in Killing Eve, along with critical appearances in Andor, True Detective: Night Country, and Fleabag.
Georgia Oakley’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is scheduled for a theatrical rollout in autumn 2026 via Focus Features and Working Title, opening in international theatres on 16 October 2026. Running at two hours and twelve minutes, this fresh cinematic take on the Dashwood family’s emotional and financial trials arrives perfectly positioned for the late-year awards season.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
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