Left column, from top: Dan Stevens (Edward Ferrars), David Morrissey (Col. Brandon), Dominic Cooper (Willoughby), Hattie Morahan (Elinor Dashwood) and Charity Wakefield (Marianne Dashwood) from the 2008 miniseries; Tracey Childs (Marianne) and Irene Richard (Elinor) from the 1981 miniseries; Hugh Grant (Edward Ferrars) and Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood) from the 1995 film; Hattie Morahan (Elinor) and Dan Stevens (Edward) in the 2008 miniseries; Greg Wise as Willoughby in the 1995 film
Middle column, from top: Emma Thompson (Elinor) and Kate Winslet (Marianne) in a scene from the 1995 Oscar-winning production; Nicholas D’Agosto (Edward Ferris) and Camilla Belle (Nora Dominguez) in From Prada to Nada; Kate Winslet (Marianne), Emilie Francois (Margaret), Emma Thompson (Elinor) and Greg Wise (Willoughby) in the 1995 film; Marla Sokoloff (Marianne Dashwood) and Nick Zano (Brandon Hurst) in Scents and Sensibility; David Morrissey (Col. Brandon) in the 2008 miniseries
Right column, from top: Joanna David as Elinor in the 1971 miniseries; Harriet Walter as Fanny Dashwood in 1995; Alexa PenaVega as Mary Dominguez in From Prada to Nada; Kate Winslet (Marianne) and Alan Rickman (Col. Brandon) in the final scene of the 1995 film; Robin Ellis (Edward Ferrars) and Joanna David (Elinor) in the 1971 miniseries
Sense and Sensibility
Adaptations
Sense and Sensibility is the second most frequently adapted Austen novel, with numerous traditional versions that are faithful to the novel as well as several modern spin-offs. And because the action of the novel takes place in so many diverse locations, the wealth of location filming also is among the most diverse in the Austen canon.
Traditional Adaptations
Sense and Sensibility (2008)
This beautifully acted, three-hour, three-part miniseries is a faithful adaptation that feels very cinematic. It is also the only version that includes the duel between Col. Brandon and Willoughby that’s briefly mentioned in the novel.
BBC
Director: John Alexander
Screenplay: Andrew Davies
Lead cast:
Hattie Morahan (Elinor Dashwood)
Charity Wakefield (Marianne Dashwood)
Janet McTeer (Mrs. Dashwood)
Dan Stevens (Edward Ferrars)
David Morrissey (Col. Brandon)
Dominic Cooper (Willoughby)
Anna Madeley (Lucy Steele)
Mark Gatiss (John Dashwood)
Claire Skinner (Fanny Dashwood)
Mark Williams (Sir John Middleton)
Linda Bassett (Mrs. Jennings)
Rosanna Lavelle (Lady Middleton)
Leo Bill (Robert Ferrars)
Daisy Haggard (Miss Steele)
Tim McMullan (Mr. Palmer)
Tabitha Wady (Charlotte Palmer)
Lucy Boynton (Margaret Dashwood)
Jean Marsh (Mrs. Ferrars)
Sense and Sensibility 2008 official site (includes video interviews)
Sense and Sensibility 2008 IMDB page
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Still the only feature adaptation of Austen’s first published novel, this 136-minute version sticks close to the source material and earned Emma Thompson an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for best adapted screenplay. The film also won the Golden Globe for best motion picture (drama) and the BAFTA for best film, and an Oscar nomination for best film.
Producer: Lindsay Doran
Director: Ang Lee
Screenplay: Emma Thompson
Lead cast:
Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood)
Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood)
Gemma Jones (Mrs. Dashwood)
Hugh Grant (Edward Ferrars)
Alan Rickman (Col. Brandon)
Greg Wise (John Willoughby)
Imogen Stubbs (Lucy Steele)
James Fleet (John Dashwood)
Harriet Walter (Fanny Dashwood)
Robert Hardy (Sir John Middleton)
Elizabeth Spriggs (Mrs. Jennings)
Richard Lumsden (Robert Ferrars)
Hugh Laurie (Mr. Palmer)
Imelda Staunton (Charlotte Palmer)
Emilie Francois (Margaret Dashwood)
Sense and Sensibility (1981)
This videotaped version is a departure from some of the other BBC Austen adaptations of the era in that it had more episodes but of shorter duration each (seven episodes of 30 minutes apiece).
BBC
Director: Rodney Bennett
Screenplay: Alexander Baron and Denis Constanduros
Lead cast:
Irene Richard (Elinor Dashwood)
Tracey Childs (Marianne Dashwood)
Diana Fairfax (Mrs. Dashwood)
Bosco Hogan (Edward Ferrars)
Robert Swann (Col. Brandon)
Peter Woodward (John Willoughby)
Julia Chambers (Lucy Steele)
Peter Gale (John Dashwood)
Amanda Boxer (Fanny Dashwood)
Donald Douglas (Sir John Middleton)
Annie Leon (Mrs. Jennings)
Marjorie Bland (Lady Middleton)
Philip Bowen (Robert Ferrars)
Pippa Sparkes (Ann Steele)
Christopher Brown (Mr. Palmer)
Hetty Baynes (Charlotte Palmer)
Margot Van der Burgh (Mrs. Ferrars)
Sense and Sensibility (1971)
This three-hour, four-part miniseries stars Joanna David (Mrs. Gardiner in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice) as Elinor Dashwood and Ciaran Madden as a particularly melodramatic Marianne Dashwood.
BBC
Director: David Giles
Screenplay: Denis Constanduros
Lead cast:
Joanna David (Elinor Dashwood)
Ciaran Madden (Marianne Dashwood)
Isabel Dean (Mrs. Dashwood)
Robin Ellis (Edward Ferrars)
Richard Owens (Col. Brandon)
Clive Francis (John Willoughby)
Frances Cuka (Lucy Steele)
Milton Johns (John Dashwood)
Kay Gallie (Fanny Dashwood)
Michael Aldridge (Sir John Middleton)
Patricia Routledge (Mrs. Jennings)
Sheila Ballantine (Lady Middleton)
David Belcher (Robert Ferrars)
Maggie Jones (Nancy Steele)
David Strong (Mr. Palmer)
Jo Kendall (Charlotte Palmer)
Ailsa Grahame (Mrs. Ferrars)
Film Locations
Norland
Barton Cottage
Barton Park
Delaford
Cleveland
Additional Locations
Check out our Pinterest collection of film location boards!
Modern/Loose Adaptations
From Prada to Nada (2011)
After their father’s sudden death, two sisters — law student Nora and shopaholic Mary — are forced to live with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles in this Latina spin on Sense and Sensibility.
Director: Angel Gracia
Screenplay: Fina Torres & Luis Alfaro and Craig Fernandez
Lead cast:
Camilla Belle (Nora Dominquez)
Alexa PenaVega (Mary Dominguez)
Nicholas D’Agosto (Edward Ferris)
Wilmer Valderrama (Bruno)
Kuno Becker (Rodrigo Fuentes)
Adriana Barraza (Aurelia Jimenez)
Pablo Cruz (Gabriel Dominguez Jr.)
April Bowlby (Olivia)
Alexis Ayala (Gabriel Dominguez Sr.)
Karla Souza (Lucy)
Romina Peniche (Rosita)
Norma Reyna (Carmina)
Oliverio Gareli (Marco Antonio Ramirez)
Scents and Sensibility (2011)
In this loose modernization, the Dashwood sisters have to navigate their way in the world when their father is jailed for extortion.
Director: Brian Brough
Screenplay: Jennifer Jan & Brittany Wiscombe
Lead cast:
Ashley Williams (Elinor Dashwood)
Marla Sokoloff (Marianne Dashwood)
Brad Johnson (Edward Farris)
Nick Zano (Brandon Hurst)
Jason Celaya (John Willoughby)
Jaclyn Hales (Lucy Steele)
JJ Neward (Fran Farris)
Danielle Chuchran (Margaret Dashwood)
Peggy Matheson (Mrs. Dashwood)
Jim Christian (Mr. Dashwood)
Yolanda Wood (Hannah)
Dee Macaluso (Mrs. Jennings)
Gary Nielsen (Family Attorney)
I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain) (2000)
This musical take on Sense and Sensibility transplants the story to modern-day India, where two sisters of very different temperaments must navigate rough waters to find happiness and love.
Director: Rajiv Menon
Screenplay: Rajiv Menon and Sujatha
Lead cast:
Aishwarya Rai (Meenu)
Tabu (Sowmya)
Mammootty (Captain Bala)
Ajith Kumar (Monohar)
Abbas (Srikanth)
Srividya (Mahalakshmi)
Shamili (Kamala)
Pooja Batra (Nandini Varma)
Manivannan (Bala’s Friend)
Elinor and Marianne Take Barton (2014)
Created and produced by full-time University of Warwick students, this web series follows the adventures of free-spirited Marianne Dashwood and her thoughtful sister, Elinor, in their first year at university.
Producer: Emily Rose Director: Olivia Cole
Writers: Olivia Cole and Emily Rose
Lead cast:
Bonita Trigg (Marianne Dashwood)
Abi Davies (Elinor Dashwood)
Sophia Pardon (Charlotte Palmer)
Joshua Allsopp (Brandon Palmer)
Gareth Roberts (Edward Ferrars)
Georgie Wedge (Lucy Steele)
Craig Nannestad (Will Johnson)
Elinor and Marianne Take Barton IMDB page
Elinor and Marianne Take Barton official site
Elinor and Marianne Take Barton YouTube page
Material Girls (2006)
Sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff play the Marchetta sisters, who are heiresses to a cosmetics empire until a scandal threatens their fortunes.
Director: Martha Coolidge
Screenplay: John Quaintance and Jessica O’Toole & Amy Rardin
Lead cast:
Hilary Duff (Tanzie Marchetta)
Haylie Duff (Ava Marchetta)
Maria Conchita Alonso (Inez)
Anjelica Huston (Fabiella)
Brent Spiner (Tommy Katzenbach)
Lukas Haas (Henry Baines)
Marcus Coloma (Rick)
Ty Hodges (Etienne)
Reagan Dale Neis (Jaden)
Obba Babatundé (Craig)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Director Ang Lee (who also helmed the 1995 Sense and Sensibility) described Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as Sense and Sensibility with martial arts. The film includes parallel stories of a more experienced heroine who lets her head rule her heart and her younger counterpart who lets her emotions reign supreme.
Director: Ang Lee
Screenplay: Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus and Kuo Jung Tsai (based on a book by Du Lu Wang)
Lead cast:
Yun-Fat Chow (Master Li Mu Bai)
Michelle Yeoh (Yu Shu Lien)
Ziyi Zhang (Jen Yu)
Chen Chang (Lo “Dark Cloud”/Luo Xiao Hu)
Sihung Lung (Sir Te)
Pei-Pei Cheng (Jade Fox)
Fa Zeng Li (Governor Yu)