Bessie Carter Stars as Nancy Mitford in UKTV’s Mitford Sisters Series

The Mitford sisters, a famously diverse and controversial British aristocratic family of the 1930s, are being reintroduced to new audiences through the UKTV series "Outrageous," with Bessie Carter starring as the eldest sister, Nancy Mitford. The show explores the dramatic contrasts among the six siblings, ranging from fascist sympathies and Nazi support to communist activism, alongside Nancy's career as a noted satirical novelist. Carter prepared for the role by extensively researching the sisters, including reading Mary Lovell's biography and narrating Nancy's novel "The Pursuit of Love," and found that embodying Nancy's character was enhanced by the costume design. The series captures the chaotic and passionate lives of the sisters amidst the social upheaval of 1930s London, highlighting family betrayals and ideological divisions. Nancy, portrayed as the more moderate sibling, was deeply embedded in the literary and social elite, frequently associating with figures like Evelyn Waugh, who encouraged her writing career. The program and Carter's portrayal offer a multi-dimensional view of the Mitfords' complex legacy, emphasizing their boldness in challenging societal norms and the varied paths they each took.