Natalie Dormer Withdraws from Promotion of ITV’s “The Lady” Amidst Controversy

Natalie Dormer has made headlines by announcing her decision not to promote the upcoming drama series “The Lady” from ITV and Britbox. In this series, she portrays Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a decision complicated by recent revelations concerning Ferguson’s previous connections to the notorious deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In response to the situation, Dormer has chosen to donate her entire salary from the series to organizations focused on child abuse prevention.

Controversy Surrounding Sarah Ferguson

The controversy reignited following the release of a leaked email from 2011, which depicted Ferguson expressing regret to Epstein after publicly distancing herself from him in light of his 2008 conviction for sex offenses. In her email, Ferguson admitted, “You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” This communication was sent shortly after she had labeled her relationships with Epstein as a “gigantic error of judgement,” vowing never to engage with him again.

Status of “The Lady”

“The Lady,” developed by the producer of “The Crown,” Left Bank Pictures, is a dramatized account focusing on the life of former royal dresser Jane Andrews (portrayed by Mia McKenna-Bruce). It covers Andrews’ turbulent journey, leading to her conviction for the murder of boyfriend Thomas Cressman (played by Ed Speleers) in 2001. The series completed shooting earlier this year and is scheduled for release in late 2025 or early 2026.

Natalie Dormer on Her Decision

Dormer addressed the significance of her role in a statement to Variety, saying, “When I agreed to take the role in ‘The Lady,’ I knew portraying the script’s Sarah Ferguson would require nuance. People are layered, their journeys are full of highs and lows, and as an actor, my job is to lean into those elements and bring them to life with honesty and empathy.” However, she noted the emergence of new information that made it impossible for her to align her values with Ferguson’s actions, deeming them inexcusable. Consequently, she opted out of promoting the series.

Commitment to Child Welfare

Emphasizing her dedication to child welfare, Dormer stated, “In keeping with my commitment to the well-being of children, I have donated my entire salary from this project to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (hosted by Barnardo’s).”

Industry Reaction and Fallout

The fallout from Ferguson’s resurfaced emails has prompted multiple charities to sever ties with her, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Children’s Literacy Charity, and the British Heart Foundation. In light of the situation, a spokesperson for the Duchess conveyed that the emails were an attempt to mitigate threats from Epstein regarding defamation and reiterated her regret over past associations with him.