2 November 2021
The Pursuit of Love
Set in Europe between the two World Wars, British miniseries The Pursuit of Love follows the adventures and misadventures of the fearless Linda Radlett and her best friend and cousin, Fanny Logan, as they seek out the ideal husband.
An adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s celebrated 1945 novel, the BBC romantic comedy-drama stars Screen Actors Guild Award winner and People’s Choice Award nominee Lily James (War & Peace, Downton Abbey, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as Linda, while Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award winner Emily Beecham (Berlin, I Love You, Into the Badlands, Little Joe) plays Fanny.
The cast also boasts the likes of Emmy nominee Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Oslo and Sherlock’s Moriarty) and BAFTA winner and Golden Globe nominee Dominic West (The Crown, The Affair).
The directorial debut of actress Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns, Lars and the Real Girl, Match Point), The Pursuit of Love has an 87% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with London Evening Standard calling it “the most enjoyable period drama we’ve had in years… a love letter to women who want more, and a celebration of the right to be different. Nancy Mitford would approve.”
In their five-star review, The Guardian called it “a classic in its own right” and “a treat for all,” while Rolling Stone said, “This had better be just the first entry in a long directorial career for Emily Mortimer. What a joy The Pursuit of Love is.”
Want more British series? Check out the best series from Britain now streaming on Showmax »
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