‘Sense and Sensibility’ Cast Guide: Get to Know the Actors of the 2026 Adaptation
Sense and Sensibility is the Jane Austen novel that started it all, though the upcoming 2026 adaptation isn’t the first movie version of the story. However, it will be a fresh take with a whole cast of new faces in the iconic roles of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as well as their respective love interests.
Before we do a deep dive into each of the actors, what’s the premise they’re bringing to life? Sense and Sensibility sees 19-year-old Elinor and 17-year-old Marianne’s family struggle financially after their father dies. After moving to a cottage in the countryside, the sensible sister, Elinor, finds herself falling for Edward. The emotional Marianne is caught in a love triangle with Willoughby and the older Colonel Brandon.
Now that the refresher is out of the way, let’s get into who is playing who. See the actors in costume and get the full rundown on their histories before they bring Sense and Sensibility to the big screen.
Sense and Sensibility, October 16, 2026, In Theaters
Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood
Daisy Edgar-Jones is leading the adaptation. Edgar-Jones, now 28, got her start with 2019’s War of the Worlds before her breakout role came in the romantic drama series Normal People. The English actress has since appeared in Where the Crawdads Sing, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Twisters. She’s played a romantic lead a number of times, but Sense and Sensibility is her first period drama.
Esme Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood
Esme Creed-Miles plays the sister that embodies “sensibility.” She’s best known for playing the titular role in Prime Video’s 2019 action series Hanna. The English 26-year-old’s parents are both actors: Charlie Creed-Miles, and The Odyssey star Samantha Morton. Creed-Miles played Shirley Temple in 2007 film Mister Lonely and didn’t return to acting until 2017’s Dark River and 2018’s Undercliffe and Pond Life.
George MacKay as Edward Ferrars
English actor George MacKay became a rising star in 2019 with his leading role in war drama 1917. The 34-year-old began his career as a child actor in 2003’s Peter Pan, and his career picked back up about a decade later with films How I Live Now, Pride, and Captain Fantastic. He most recently starred in 2023 thriller Femme before his latest role.
Frank Dillane as John Willoughby
British actor Frank Dillane is playing one of Marianne’s two love interests, John Willoughby. Dillane, 35, is the son of actor Stephen Dillane. The younger Dillane is known for playing Nick Clark in Fear the Walking Dead and teenage Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings
Irish actress Fiona Shaw has been acting professionally for decades, though she may be best known for the Harry Potter films or Killing Eve. The 68-year-old, who plays Mrs. Jennings in the new adaptation, has a number of prominent stage and screen credits, including 1998’s My Left Foot, 1995’s Persuasion, and 1996’s Jane Eyre. She knows her way around a period drama.
Herbert Nordrum as Colonel Brandon
Herbert Nordrum, who stars in The Worst Person in the World, is playing Marianne’s older suitor, Colonel Brandon. The 39-year-old Norwegian actor is best known for projects hailing from his home country, including the series Young and Promising and Match, as well as the film The Hypnosis.
Caitriona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood
Caitríona Balfe of Outlander fame is playing the Dashwood sisters’ mother. Earlier this year, the 46-year-old Irish actress wrapped her starring role in the STARZ historical fantasy series, but she’s starred in a handful of films since taking on that role in 2014. Ford v. Ferrari and Belfast are amongst her credits.
