Why The Lady star Natalie Dormer distanced herself from the show – as it trends on ITVX chart

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The historical drama The Lady gained attention on ITVX after it first aired over the weekend. However, actress Natalie Dormer has publicly separated herself from the series following reports connecting Sarah Ferguson to Jeffrey Epstein.

This drama tells the story of Jane Andrews (played by Mia McKenna-Bruce), who went from dressing the former Duchess of York to being convicted of murdering her fiancé. It explores her journey from a humble background to a life of luxury, and how it all tragically ended.

I’m really hooked on this new four-part series on ITVX – it’s currently in the Top 10! Millie Dormer is fantastic as Kate Ferguson. It’s interesting though, because I remember reading that Millie decided she wouldn’t do any promotion for it after some really troubling things came out about the former royal and her connection to a convicted sex offender. It’s a complicated situation, but I still think the show is worth watching.

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Last year, an email came to light revealing that Ferguson privately referred to Epstein as a “supreme friend.” This was despite her having publicly criticized him just weeks before. She had previously stated she’d cut off all contact with him after his conviction three years prior for soliciting a minor for sex.

In a 2025 interview with Variety, Dormer explained that she knew playing Sarah Ferguson in The Lady would be a complex role. She believes people are multifaceted, with both good and bad experiences, and as an actress, her goal is to portray those complexities with truthfulness and understanding.

So, I finished working on this project, but recently I’ve learned some things about Sarah Ferguson’s actions that I just can’t get behind. Honestly, it goes against what I believe in, and I find her behavior unacceptable. Because of that, I’ve decided I can’t promote the project anymore. It’s a tough call, but I need to stick to my principles.

The actor also stated that, as part of her dedication to protecting children, she donated her entire salary from the project to two organizations: the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which is run by Barnardo’s.

After the revelations about Epstein, Ferguson lost her positions as a patron for multiple charities and was removed as a panelist on the ITV show Loose Women.

Last week, her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of wrongdoing while holding a public office. He was later released while the investigation continues.

Thames Valley Police had previously stated they were looking into a complaint that confidential information was shared with Epstein. This likely concerned Prince Michael of Kent’s work as the UK’s trade and investment representative from 2001 to 2011.

His brother King Charles said in the wake of the arrest that “the law must take its course”.

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2026-02-26 16:20