DUCHESS, THE (Keira Knightley)

LADY DIANA OF THE PAST - Vom Volk geliebt, aber nicht von ihrem Mann! Die schöne und glamouröse Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley) heiratet den älteren und abwesenden Herzog von Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes), der von ihr nur einen Sohn und Erben will. Er verliert das Interesse an ihr, als sie ihm "nur" Töchter gebären kann, und verletzt sie weiter, indem er ihre Freundin zu seiner "offiziellen" Mätresse macht. Doch die starke Georgiana lässt sich nicht so leicht einschüchtern. Sie findet in dem jungen Politiker Charles Grey einen eigenen Liebhaber. Doch es stellt sich heraus, dass für Frauen andere Regeln gelten, wenn es um Untreue geht...

In 1774, the young Georgiana Spencer is contracted in marriage to William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, with the expectation that she produce his male heir. She is quickly disillusioned by her husband, especially when Charlotte, William’s illegitimate child whose mother has died, comes to live with them while Georgiana is pregnant. William expects Georgiana to tolerate the child's presence and practice "mothering" on her.

When Georgiana gives birth to a girl, William is displeased. In his mind, he has fulfilled his obligations to her as her husband. However, by failing to provide him with a legitimate male heir, she has failed in her obligations as his wife.

Georgiana becomes a leading light in fashionable society. She socialises with the young Lady Bess Foster at Bath and invites her to live with them since Bess has nowhere else to go. William has an affair with her, causing Georgiana to feel robbed of her only friend and betrayed by Bess. Bess tells Georgiana that her motive is to regain her three sons (whom her husband has taken from her), so she continues to live with them.

Starring

Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney, Aidan McArdle, John Shrapnel