Jane Austen & Jane Bennet: A Visit with Susannah Harker | Episode 30

Video Description

Jane Bennet, the eldest of the five Bennet sisters, is an undisputed beauty, but Austen tells us Jane also “unite[s] with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper, and an uniform cheerfulness of manner.” In this episode, we sit down with Susannah Harker—beloved by Janeites for her portrayal of Jane Bennet in the iconic 1995 adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice"—to explore the nuances of Jane’s character and Susannah’s experiences bringing her to life on screen. We also touch on Susannah’s theatrical heritage, the enduring appeal of the 1995 miniseries, and her plans for a new comedy-drama project, "Jane Bennet’s Second Spring." GUEST BIO Actor and writer Susannah Harker is best known to Janeites for her role as Jane Bennet in the 1995 BBC "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries. Her extensive television work also includes many roles in mystery series and contemporary and period dramas, and she received a BAFTA award nomination for her role as Mattie in the original "House of Cards." Among her film roles is that of Titania in "A Caribbean Dream," an adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." On stage, she has starred in "Abigail’s Party," "The Glass Menagerie," and many other plays. Harker is currently writing the script for a new comedy-drama project, "Jane Bennet’s Second Spring." SHOW NOTES Many thanks to Susannah for joining us on Austen Chat!  You can keep up with Susannah and her project, "Jane Bennet's Second Spring," on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbssfilm/ Listen to Austen Chat here, on your favorite podcast app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other streaming platforms), or on our website at https://jasna.org/austen/podcast/ep30/. OTHER CREDITS From JASNA's Austen Chat podcast. Published December 4, 2025. © Jane Austen Society of North America. All rights reserved. Theme Music: Country Dance by Humans Win.