Suranne Jones says playing lesbian in Gentleman Jack has ‘changed lives’UK
Suran Jones has said that her role as Gentleman Jack “changed people’s lives”.The popular BBC period drama returns tonight (April 10) for a second series.The former Coronation Street star, 43, stars as landlord Anne Lister.Lister, locally known as Gentleman Jack because of her “masculine” appearance, is widely regarded as a business woman and the “first modern gay” in the adventurous UK.
Lister’s diary, which began in 1806 and inspired the BBC series, details her many secret love affairs with women.The second season is based on documents of her marriage and life with heiress Anne Walker at Shibden Hall in Yorkshire.
Speaking about the impact of playing Lister in such a high-profile drama, actress Jones said: “It’s extraordinary that it has changed people’s lives.This is something people can start a conversation with, maybe they did not have the tools to do it before.So being a part is amazing. ”
She added: “I think when we first talk about what’s going to be Sally’s Gentleman Jack, it’s like a steampunk period drama. There’s no other period drama like this.”