Period drama serial A Woman of Substance was a massive hit for Channel 4 in it’s earliest years and was set at the turn of the Twentieth Century where Yorkshire lass Emma Harte (Jenny Seagrove) rises from her poverty stricken background to become a millionairess department store owner.
The series began with the older Emma Harte (Deborah Kerr) then switched to flashback mode to tell the story of her rise to power. This was a real all star cast classic mini series with Deborah Kerr and Jenny Seagrove playing Emma old and young and a youngish Liam Neeson as chief love interest Blackie.
There was a sequel called Hold The Dream.
Cast: JENNY SEAGROVE as Young Emma; DEBORAH KERR as Emma Harte; LIAM NEESON as Blackie; JOHN MILLS as Henry Rossiter; GEORGE BAKER as Bruce McGill; MIRANDA RICHARDSON as Paula; DIANE BAKER as Laura Spencer; NICOLA PAGETT as Adele Fairley; GAYLE HUNNICUTT as Olivia; BARRY MORSE as Murgatroyd
Writer: Lee Langley / Novel: Barbara Taylor Bradford / Producer: Diane Baker
UK / Channel 4 – Portman / 3×96 minute episodes / 2 – 4 January 1985
