Portrait of a Marriage (BBC-2 1990, Janet McTeer, Cathryn Harrison)

Published

7 years ago

May 7, 2017

Portrait of a Marriage took us to the ’20s and ’30s where diplomat and politician Sir Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West, novelist, poet and creator of the world-famous garden at Sissinghurst in Kent, are part of the Bloomsbury set. Theirs is an unconventional marriage: Harold has affairs with men, Vita with women.

Filmed in Britain and France this true story stars Janet McTeer as Vita, David Haig as Harold and Cathryn Harrison as Violet. It is based on Vita’s own diaries and a book by Harold’s son Nigel, and won the Grand Prize at Banff as well as three British Academy Awards.

production details
UK / BBC Two – TVNZ – WGBH / 4×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 19 September – 10 October 1990

Writer: Penelope Mortimer / Book: Nigel Nicolson / Music: Barrington Pheloung / Director: Stephen Whitaker

cast
JANET McTEER as Vita Sackville-West
CATHRYN HARRISON as Violet Keppel
DAVID HAIG as Harold Nicolson
HAZEL DOUGLAS as Landlady
SAM BEAZLEY as Lady Carnock
JEAN-PIERRE BLANCHARD as Maitre ‘D
KATHLEEN BYRON as Lady Carnock
PETER BIRCH as Denys Trefusis
CHRISTOPHER WALKER as Ben Nicolson
ALEXANDER PEARCE as Nigel Nicolson
MARK TANDY as Reggie Cooper
DIANA FAIRFAX as Lady Sackville

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Alastair James

Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.