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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 Sensibilityto the big screen.
Sense and Sensibility, October 16, 2026, In Theaters
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Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood
Focus Features / Tristar Media / WireImage 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.
Esme Creed-Miles as Marianne Dashwood
Focus Features / Samir Hussein / WireImage 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.
George MacKay as Edward Ferrars
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Frank Dillane as John Willoughby
Alex Bailey / Focus Features / Samir Hussein / WireImage 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.
Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings
Alex Bailey / Focus Features / Zak Hussein / Variety via Getty Images 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 thefilm The Hypnosis.
Herbert Nordrum as Colonel Brandon
Focus Features / Charles McQuillan / Getty Images for Universal Pictures 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.
Caitriona Balfe as Mrs. Dashwood