Bridgerton star still looks the same in period drama 28 years ago-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Bridgerton star Polly Walker looks the same as she did in a 1996 film (Picture: Nick Briggs/ Netflix)

Polly Walker might currently be starring in beloved period drama Bridgerton, but nearly 30 years ago she also appeared in an adaptation of a Jane Austen classic.

The actress, 58, plays overbearing mother Lady Portia Featherington in the Netflix series however has been a regular on screens for decades.

Although she initially pursued a career as a ballet dancer, a leg injury in her teens saw Polly then decide to chase acting roles.

She attended Drama Centre London before working at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she played small roles for six months before getting cast in her first TV roles.

Her first notable one was starring in the TV film Lorna Doone in 1990, going on to appear in Patriot Games, The Trial, Silver and Restoration before playing Jane Fairfax in Douglas McGrath’s 1996 adaption of Jane Austen’s.

The titular character’s rival, Polly starred alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Colette, Alan Cumming and Ewan McGregor.

She starred alongside Ewan McGregor in Emma (Picture: David Appleby/ Matchmaker/ Miramax/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock)

It also starred Alan Cumming and Juliet Stevenson (Picture: David Appleby/ Matchmaker/ Miramax/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock)

Despite it now being 28 years since that movie was released, Polly looks like she hasn’t aged at all since.

Stills from the movie show her alongside Ewan, who played her character’s fiancé Frank Churchill, who was a brief love interest for Emma.

She plays Lady Portia Featherington in the Netflix series, with her daughters being played by Bessi Carter, Harriet Cains and Nicola Coughlan (Picture: Liam Daniel/ Netflix)

After her appearance in this film, Polly had a starring role in the BBC drama series State of Play in 2003 and in 2006 received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role in the drama series Rom.

She’s also been seen in Prisoners’ Wives, Line of Duty, Marple: At Bertam’s Hotel, Cane, Mr Selfridge and Pennyworth.

In 2020, she appeared as Lady Lunete, the Queen Regent and mother to Uther Pendragon in the Netflix series, Cursed.

That same year she was seen in the first season of Bridgerton and has gone on to feature in the subsequent two seasons, most recently stepping into the spotlight with character’s daughter Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) the star of the story this time around.

The actress has been married to former actor Laurence Penry-Jones, brother of Rupert Penry-Jones, since 2008.

Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.

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