With the release of two of the most-highly anticipated series of the year, “Bridgerton” and “House of the Dragon,” as well as other shows such as “The Bear,” June has been a big month for TV fans. However, some of the stars of these series, such as Olivia Cooke and Claudia Jessie, have worked together in other critical acclaim shows. Such as the period drama “Vanity Fair,” which is available on Prime Video.
This 2018 miniseries, which consists of only seven episodes, had a star-studded cast, with names that had their big breaks years later such as House of the Dragon’s lead Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower; as well as Jessie, who as Eloise Bridgerton has become a fan-favorite.
We can also mention Johnny Flynn, who is also known for playing Mr. Knightley in “Emma” (2020) and, most recently, for portraying Dickie Greenleaf in Netflix’s Ripley (2024), and Tom Bateman, who has starred in blockbusters such as “Death on the Nile” (2022). But, what is Vanity Fair about?
‘Vanity Fair,’ a must-watch period drama for ‘Bridgerton’ fans
“Vanity Fair” is an adaptation of the 1848 novel of the same name by William Makepeace Thackeray. The story follows the rise of orphan Becky Sharp among the English upper-class thanks to her connection with Amelia Sedley, a naive young girl. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the novel was a satire of England’s shallow elites.
However, as any other great period drama, the story has romance, deception, yearning and two lead women characters that will appeal (or not) to the audience. Cooke portrays Becky, while Jessie plays Amelia. And the relationship between these two characters, in a way, mirror some of the themes that both Cooke and Jessie have explored in their new series: friendship, what it means to be a woman in a man’s world and so on.
Claudia Jessie (left) and Olivia Cooke in “Vanity Fair” (IMDb)
Back in 2019, Cooke described her character as “incredibly powerful in her choices, yet herself and her choices are completely flawed,” adding that she didn’t think “either Amelia or Becky are heroes.” Something that Jessie agrees on. She told Metro.UK, that while many people see William Dobbin (Flynn) as a redeemable character, she thinks that the point of the story is “there’s no hero.”
While this one of the most recent adaptations of the novel, which has been brought to life also in film, TV and stage, it received positive reviews. Critics praised the performances of the cast, particularly Cooke’s. So, if you wish to watch these two beloved actresses working together, you can stream “Vanity Fair” on Prime Video.
