Doctor Foster star’s lessons from a whip-cracking lesbian

Doctor Foster star Suranne Jones admits her lead role in the BBc’s new period drama gentleman Jack took its toll.

‘i was shattered by the end of eight months’ shooting,’ says Jones, who plays anne Lister, the whip-cracking Victorian industrialist who makes her entrance driving a speeding stagecoach.

the actress was inspired by her subject, a sharp businesswoman who was one of the first British women to live openly as a lesbian.

‘You have a right to be who you are regardless of your sexuality,’ she says. ‘even today, women have to behave a certain way to get what they want, although we’re getting there.

‘i’m quite a shy, private person. But i want to be a bit more like anne Lister.’