Bonus Episode: Caitríona Balfe on Sense & Sensibility
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What is the new Sense & Sensibility film and why is it being celebrated?
Welcome back to the Women's Podcast. I'm Rosheen Ingall. Hope you're all doing well, and if you want to get in touch with us, we're on social at IT Women's Podcast, or you can email us, thewomen's podcast at IrishTimes.com. This is a special bonus episode of the podcast to celebrate the launch of Sense and Sensibility, the new version of Jane Austen's classic novel, which is in cinemas now. I had a brilliant conversation with Irish actor Katrina Balf, one of the stars of the new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, alongside Daisy Edgar Jones. The film is a fresh take on Austin's beloved story of sisters, love, money and survival. But watching it got me thinking about how much has changed for women since Austin's time and how much perhaps hasn't changed.
In the Austin world a woman's future could depend entirely on And whether she was chosen by the right man. Two hundred years later, we like to think we've moved on, but have we really left behind the idea that a woman's worth is tied to how she looks, how she behaves, how desirable she is, or how well she pleases other people? I discuss all of that with Katrina, who grew up in County Monaghan. and has become one of our most successful actors. We also talk about the challenge of ageing in an industry that often celebrates women only when they're young and why so many of us are still recovering people pleasers. She is so interesting on the importance of embracing ambition She talks about moving into directing after years on Outlander, and also how her Irish storytelling roots were shaped by books, libraries, and a particular shaniky in The Gale Tot.
She also talks about women behind the camera, upcoming work including Tangled, where she stars as Queen Ariana and filming The Housekeeper. with Anthony Hopkins. We had a great chat. I know you're gonna really enjoy this. Here she is, the brilliant Katrina Balf.
How does Caitríona Balfe interpret the role of Mrs Dashwood?
Hello Katrina and welcome to the women's podcast. Thank you so much for having me. I'm delighted to have you. I went to see the film last night, absolutely loved it. And uh I was just wondering you play Mrs. Dashwood in kind of like she's quite optimistic and cheerful despite having pretty much lost a lot of things overnight. So I've wondered what you were bringing to the character there.
Yeah, there's a line in the script and it and it comes from the book about her optimism. And I think one of the things that I really didn't want to do was play her as silly or frivolous. But I w the sort of way I was looking at her was that here was somebody who had experienced pure love, not only for her three gorgeous daughters, but that uh she'd had this wonderful happy marriage but to an older man. And so, you know, his death wasn't a surprise and I think though she was grieving him and though she was obviously very sad about his his passing, but that this was sort of the natural order of life. And so that she had these beautiful three daughters to continue to live for. And one thing that I loved about her was her resilience.
And you really see that when they go to Barton Cottage. It's that they take this sort of new situation and they make the absolute best of it.
One of the kind of um I'm gonna say depressing, but it's a lovely uplifting film, it's great and there's a really happy ending and everything like that. But the depressing part of it is just reminded about how dependent women were on marriage and being chosen by a man and how that was kind of otherwise your your options were very limited in your life. So how did you feel about that aspect of the story and how it's told because it's it's told very well, I think.
Yeah, I mean look, that was the way it was until not that long ago. You know, th obviously this is two hundred years ago, but uh that was the way it was going probably till the seventies, maybe. But you know, I think what's really interesting is how the women found ways within that very restricted system to advocate for themselves or to navigate it and to find happiness. And you know, the interesting thing about Mrs.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the new Sense & Sensibility film and why is it being celebrated?
0:16–2:15
2
How does Caitríona Balfe interpret the role of Mrs Dashwood?
2:15–4:19
3
Does the story still reflect today’s ideas about a woman’s worth and marriage?
4:19–8:01
4
What does Balfe say about ageing and the pressure on women in the industry?
8:01–10:50
5
How did she transition from acting on Outlander to directing and producing?
10:50–14:48
6
How have women behind the camera changed since she started acting?
14:48–19:10
7
What influence did her Irish upbringing and storytelling traditions have on her career?
19:10–23:19
8
What upcoming projects (e.g., Tangled, Ascension) is Balfe excited about and what’s next for her?
23:19–23:57
Speakers
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