Natalie Dormer said she would not promote ITV and Britbox’s upcoming drama series, “The Lady.” She plays Sarah Ferguson following a revelation surrounding the Duchess of York’s connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Britt actress also said she donated her entire salary from the show to a charity focused on child abuse.
The news apologises for publicly rejecting Epstein publicly years after he was jailed for a sex crime in 2008 after leaked emails from 2011 were recently released and became visible by Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Ferguson.
“You have always been a steady, generous and best friend for me and my family,” she wrote, after saying in an interview that her involvement with Epstein, including borrowing money from him, was “a huge mistake in judgment,” and “has nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.”
In a leaked email to Epstein, she tells him she “humblely apologizes” and “I know you feel astoundingly about me.”
“The Lady,” a photo of the “Crown” producer’s left bank, is a partially defined drama that records the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews (played by Mia McKenna Bruce).
“When I agreed to play a role in “women,” I knew that Sarah Ferguson in the script portrayed the need for nuance. People are layered. “Since completing the project, new information has been revealed, making it impossible for me to adjust Sarah Ferguson’s actions and my values.
Dormer added: “In line with my commitment to the happiness of my children, I donated the entire salary from this project to the National Association of Child Abused (NAPAC) and the Center of Child Sexual Abuse Specialty Knowledge (hosted by Barnardo’s).”
Dormer said her decision was “not a reflection” on her experience working with the Left Bank. “They are an extraordinary company that works with us and we are grateful for the time we spent together,” she said.
A revelation involving Ferguson has led to many charities dropping her as guardian or ambassador. These include the Teenage Cancer Trust, children’s literacy charity, and the British Heart Foundation.
When the email was released, a spokesman for the Duchess claimed that they were written to counter the threat to sue her for defamation, according to the BBC, and that she still regretted her relationship with him.
“The email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try and relieve Epstein and his threat,” they said in a statement.
