Daisy Edgar-Jones Credits Fermanagh Summers for Shaping Her Elinor Dashwood in New Sense and Sensibility
Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones has revealed that her childhood summers in Co Fermanagh — where her mother's family is from — were instrumental in preparing her for her role as Elinor Dashwood in a major new adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, which opened in UK cinemas on 25 September. The film, directed by Georgia Oakley, also stars Caitríona Balfe as Mrs Dashwood and George MacKay as Edward Ferrars, and has been received warmly by critics who have praised its fresh and emotionally intelligent approach to the Austen classic.
Background
Daisy Edgar-Jones, born in London in 1998, is one of the most in-demand actresses of her generation. Her breakthrough came with the 2020 adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People, in which she played Marianne Sheridan opposite Paul Mescal — a performance that made her an international star and established her as an actress of exceptional emotional intelligence and technical skill. She subsequently starred in the Hollywood blockbuster Twisters and the critically acclaimed Under the Banner of Heaven, building a career that spans both prestige television and mainstream cinema.
Her connection to Ireland and Northern Ireland is personal and deep. Her mother, Wendy, is from Co Down, and Edgar-Jones spent her childhood summers in Co Fermanagh, where members of her extended family live. She has spoken in previous interviews about the formative influence of those summers — the landscape, the pace of life, the particular quality of light in the west of Ulster — on her imagination and her sense of self. She also spent five months in Ireland during the filming of Normal People, deepening her connection to the country.
The new Sense and Sensibility adaptation, directed by Georgia Oakley, is the latest in a long line of film and television versions of Austen's 1811 novel. The story follows the Dashwood sisters — the restrained, rational Elinor and the passionate, impulsive Marianne — as they navigate love, loss, and social expectation in Regency England. Edgar-Jones plays Elinor, the elder sister, whose emotional restraint and quiet strength are the moral centre of the novel.
Key Developments
In interviews to mark the film's release, Edgar-Jones spoke at length about the connection between her Fermanagh childhood and her preparation for the role of Elinor Dashwood. She described the "big long summers" spent wandering through the fields of Fermanagh as a formative experience that helped her understand Elinor's interiority — the way in which a character can contain enormous emotional depth beneath a composed exterior.
"There's something about the landscape of Fermanagh — the lakes, the quietness, the sense of space — that teaches you to be still," she said. "Elinor is a character who holds everything inside, who processes the world through observation rather than expression. I think those summers gave me a physical memory of what that kind of stillness feels like."
The film's ensemble cast is notable for its Irish connections. Caitríona Balfe, the Monaghan-born actress best known for her role in Outlander, plays Mrs Dashwood with warmth and authority. The combination of Edgar-Jones and Balfe — two of the most accomplished Irish and Irish-connected actresses of their generation — gives the film a particular emotional resonance that critics have noted.
Why It Matters
The new Sense and Sensibility matters because it represents a significant cultural moment — a major new adaptation of one of the most beloved novels in the English language, led by two actresses with deep Irish connections. The film's success will be watched closely in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where Edgar-Jones and Balfe are both regarded with considerable affection and pride.
Edgar-Jones's comments about the influence of Fermanagh on her preparation for the role are also significant because they speak to the broader question of how place shapes artistic imagination. The idea that a childhood spent in the landscape of west Ulster could inform a performance in a Jane Austen adaptation is a reminder of the unexpected ways in which cultural identity and artistic practice intersect.
Local Impact
In Co Fermanagh, Edgar-Jones's comments about the influence of the county on her work have been received with delight. The county, which is known for its lakes, forests, and distinctive landscape, has a strong tradition of artistic and cultural production, and the idea that its landscape has shaped one of the most celebrated performances of the year is a source of considerable local pride. Tourism Ireland has indicated that it will seek to capitalise on the film's release by promoting Fermanagh as a destination for visitors interested in the landscapes that inspired Edgar-Jones's performance.
What's Next
Sense and Sensibility is currently in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, with a wider international release expected in the coming weeks. The film is expected to be a strong awards contender, with Edgar-Jones and Balfe both regarded as potential nominees for major acting prizes. Edgar-Jones has indicated that she is in discussions about her next project, which is expected to be announced before the end of 2026. Her connection to Ireland and Northern Ireland remains strong, and there is speculation that she may take on a role in an Irish production in the coming years.
