Romola Garai ‘excited’ to play Emma

Romola has landed the leading role in BBC`s latest Jane Austen adaptation.

London, April 04: English-Hungarian actress Romola Garai has landed the leading role in BBC`s latest Jane Austen adaptation, a production of Emma.

The 26-year-old will play the "handsome, clever and rich" heroine in the lavish BBC One costume drama that will be screened in the autumn. Garai was cast as Knightley`s younger sister in Atonement and the two actresses are firm friends. After appearances in several television dramas, including Dodie Smith`s `I Capture The Castle` and George Eliot`s `Daniel Deronda`, Emma will be Garai`s highest profile role to date. "I`m incredibly excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Emma, who is arguably Jane Austen`s greatest heroine. I`ve loved the book for many years and she is a character very close to my heart - so it`s a great privilege to now be playing her," The Telegraph quoted her, as saying. The high calibre cast of Emma includes Sir Michael Gambon as the matchmaking heroine`s doting father and Jonny Lee Miller as her suitor, Knightley. Filming begins next week at locations in Kent and Surrey. ANI