1 November 2018
Becky Sharp: the 19th-Century version of a Kardashian
“These 19th-century stories are all about one thing, a child becoming an adult. If you start with a cast who are older, their behaviour seems a little psychopathic,” points out executive producer Gwyneth Hughes, who adapted Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1847 novel into the seven-episode mini-series for ITV in 2017.
Her most important job was handling one of literature’s most unlikeable heroines, 19-year-old Miss Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke), as she gads about Europe living it up like a Kardashian in a world that wants women to be silent and demure. “She goes completely above her station, class and gender and at that time it was completely unheard of,” says Olivia.
Sharp contrasts
“Becky has weaponised all her talents and uses them just to survive. Because she’s only got herself to rely on, she doesn’t have the option to fade into the background or to marry poor. She has to strive for the best and there’s no other way,” adds a defiant Olivia. Here are three ways that she uses society’s expectation against them…
Red dresses, feathers and jewels
“In the early 19th Century, there was a huge amount of etiquette around what you were allowed to wear. It would tell people what class you were, what your personality was like; it really spoke volumes,” says costume designer Lucinda Wright. “Becky changes her look to how she wants to be portrayed in society.”
Strut your stuff
Onscreen, Becky tells her boss in one scene that she’s rather “beg in the streets” than adopt a “more ladylike” attitude. Becky slouches, pouts and practically snaps her gum. “The way it was written by a lot of men is that women were very passive and apologetic, and they tried to make themselves as small as possible and I just don’t think that’s true for every woman that lived in these times,” says Olivia.
Make your match
Know your place? No thank you. “The only option to better herself was to marry someone who was above her station because a woman can’t go out and work to make her own money at that time unless she’s a prostitute. But Becky is incredibly modern in her tenacity,” warns Olivia.
Fun fact
Performers involved in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens carousel scene in episode 1 wound up going round the carousel over 100 times to get the shot.
Sources:
https://www.bradfordzone.co.uk/vanity-fair-interview-with-olivia-cooke-becky-sharp/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/vanity-fair/becky-sharp-changing-fashion/
Original African stories by local talent
Untying Kantai
Untying Kantai follows King Kantai, a man who has spent 30 years of his life working hard to provide for his family, only to be conned out of his life savings. Stream from 9 May, with new episodes weekly.
Big Girl Small World
Stream the new Kenyan romcom series Big Girl Small World from 8 May, with new episodes every week.
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
RHONairobi S2: Your favourite queens plus 3 new faces
Big Girl Small World, coming soon
The best movies to stream
10 Rotten Tomatoes-approved movies on Showmax: ranked
From Jaws and Kanarie, to Get Out and Minari, these are the freshest movies on Showmax according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10 movies everyone’s watching on Showmax now
Stream these 10 fun, eye-popping movies that your fellow Showmax fans are loving, including Queen & Slim, Babylon, Equalizer 3 and more.
Transformers movies on Showmax: ranked
All seven Transformers movies are ready to stream on Showmax, including the 2007 original and the latest, Rise of the Beasts.
DC superhero movies on Showmax: ranked
See the ranked list of DC superhero movies now streaming on Showmax, including the feel-good Shazam! Fury of the Gods.