In the realm of true crime dramas, few narratives captivate us as much as those based on astonishing real events – and ITV’s latest production, The Lady, delivers just that.
The series centers around Jane Andrews (portrayed by Mia McKenna Bruce), a woman from a working-class background who became the dresser for Sarah Ferguson (played by Natalie Dormer). Yet, it wasn’t her association with Fergie that brought her into the spotlight – Jane faced trial in the early 2000s for the murder of her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman.
The Lady Overview
Created by the team responsible for The Crown, this drama begins with the statement ‘This drama has been inspired by actual events,’ and continues with, ‘Certain names have been altered, and some characters, incidents, and scenes have been fabricated or combined for the sake of drama.’
What portion of the series is dramatized, and how much is rooted in actual events? Here’s everything you should understand about The Lady.
Who is Thomas Cressman?
Jane Andrews’ Background
Jane, who was born in 1967 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, was raised in a working-class family. Her father worked as a joiner while her mother was a social worker. Due to financial hardships, they eventually relocated to Grimsby. In a 2003 interview, Jane recalled, ‘I remember a day when we couldn’t afford to buy a loaf of bread, and Mum had us searching the sofa and our coats for spare change.’
Despite her academic prowess, Jane faced significant mental health challenges throughout her teenage years. After finishing her O-levels, she opted against pursuing A-Levels and instead decided to study fashion at Grimsby College of Art.
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Murder Trial Details
At what point did Jane Andrews encounter Sarah Ferguson?
How did a young woman from Grimsby end up styling the former Duchess of York?
Upon completing her studies, Jane took on a position as a sales assistant at Marks & Spencer. One day, she came across an advertisement in a magazine seeking a personal dresser and decided to submit her application. Six months later, she found herself in an interview with Fergie, who was expecting Princess Beatrice at the time. The two reportedly connected well, leading Jane to start her role as Sarah’s personal dresser in July 1988.
Production Insights
As Jane adjusted to life among the royals, she worked on softening her northern accent, earning her the moniker ‘Lady Jane.’ She recounted to The Guardian, ‘I was just a simple country girl. Suddenly, I found myself at Balmoral, mingling with royalty and having lengthy conversations with Princess Diana. At 21, I was thrilled by it all. Fergie had a strong personality, but she treated me well.’
When Sarah was hired, she was still in a marriage with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was known as Prince Andrew at that time. The couple would part ways in 1992, making Jane’s role increasingly significant. During this period, she developed a close relationship with the former Duchess, with Fergie reportedly keeping Jane nearby even as she let go of other staff members.
It wasn’t until 1997 that Jane departed from the palace, having been let go as part of budget cuts implemented within the royal residence. This decision left her in disbelief, especially since Fergie had allegedly assured her just weeks prior that she would ‘never let her go.’
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To whom was Jane Andrews wed?
Although Jane’s professional life flourished during her time at Fergie, her romantic relationships were far more complex.
She was briefly wed to Christopher Dunn-Butler (portrayed by Mark Stanley in The Lady), who was 21 years older than her. The pair had only known each other for three months before he popped the question, and their relationship lasted just a few years. During their time together, Jane engaged in several affairs, later characterizing their bond as more akin to that of close friends.
What comments has Jane Andrews made regarding The Lady?
When The Lady premiered, it was only expected that audiences would start to speculate about Jane’s perspective on the ITV adaptation. Unlike many true crime documentaries where participants often take part in the production, Jane did not play a role in The Lady.
Harriet Wistrich, CEO of the Centre for Women’s Justice and Jane’s representative during her 2003 appeal, stated that she had ‘long since completed her prison term and has tried to move forward, yet because of her previous association with the now-disgraced segment of the Royal family, she remains a focal point for media scrutiny, which escalates each time another biased television program about her situation is aired.’
Characterizing The Lady as 'one-dimensional,' she remarked, 'Jane has not played a role in The Lady, even though it is supposedly centered on her life, nor has she engaged with any of the earlier numerous television documentaries created about her. Consequently, the audience is offered a skewed perspective that neglects to consider the reasons a vulnerable individual in her situation might have felt compelled to commit murder.'
Family members of Thomas Cressman have expressed their distress over the portrayal of his murder in a dramatization. His brother Rick shared with the BBC, ‘By the time we reached the final episode, I was overwhelmed with emotion and felt very, very tearful.’
The Lady is now available for streaming on ITVX.
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