Gentleman Jack Suranne Jones on the Diaries and Working with Sophie Rundle

[@ladyredl3210]

I'm crying, and I want to give her a big hug! These are the straight allies we need. The respect Suranne has is clear and I'm profoundly grateful to her, and her great performance! GJ is awesome and makes my lesbian heart so happy!

[@lornabeckford5419]

Me too! Amen to "All" of that 🤩 They have great chemistry, for sure. Superb acting from the entire cast...Kudos to Sally! This show should get "All" the Awards out there🏆 I can't wait for Season 2!

[@claragomezb.7849]

1:49 - 1:58 Can we take a minute and thank this team of people for thinking this way? I mean, most shows these days seem to always pick sex scenes over character respect / development or a good plot. Sometimes they even use sex to try and cover bad writing.

[@suesorensen2440]

I can't help but wonder, how many people were like Ann Lister back in the day. By chance If they had kept a journal, one can only imagine that it was tossed out, or burned immediately once discovered . How lucky we are to have these journals, intact, thanks to a family member who decided to tuck them away into a wall..... peace!

[@michellealvarez7665]

Suranne Jones is divine, magical, and spectacular. SO grateful she took on this "one in a lifetime" role.

[@moester75]

How the hell did “Gentleman Jack” not get even any nominations last night and furthermore how the hell did Suranne Jones not win best actress for her absolutely nailing the role of Ann Lister? This is a disgrace man and that award show has no credibility at all. I do hate Hollywood.

[@pjsopinion8028]

I agree 100%!!! If anyone deserved it she did, and the series as well!

[@moester75]

It was to spite me why she wasn’t nominated I believe. I’m sorry I spoke up for her. She absolutely nailed the role of Lister I would have sworn Jones was a true blue lesbian in real life.

[@danypizarrocortez4342]

Then...why you see the serie? O you are a hater

[@reedyjester772]

I mean damn .... Ann lister was one kinky fantastic woman... Suranne jones... 😍😍 say no more.

[@ruthmoore1448]

Well, that clears up a couple of questions. I was wondering why Miss Lister never seemed to have a return of pleasure. Thanks for this interview. Really great acting !

[@unnamed3932]

This is explicit: according to journal extracts I have read Anne Lister often did have a return of pleasure when she and her partner had genital to genital sex (being 'near') and achieved orgasm (a 'kiss') that way. A wonderful series tastefully done with good writing, directing, and brilliant acting by both Suranne and Sophie.

[@dysfunctionalisme]

I love that she speaks so fondly of AL. She's a geek/nerd for sure. Definitely sounds like she read a lot of materials on AL and knows her inside out as much as she can 😍💗

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I love that at 2:22 and 2:40 Suranne Jones goes full out Gentleman Jack with those looks at the camera! Be still my beating heart!

[@kimharrison4563]

Most of the actors in Sally Wainwright’s work be they straight or gay, do amazing work in her productions. Take Sarah Lancashire In LTIH. If you watch you could be totally convinced that they were lesbian in real life..they aren’t but there’s nothing half arsed about their intimacy. Should lesbian roles just be played by lesbians..Absolutely not, The person right for the role should get the part.

[@kabardinka1]

While I love Sally Wainwright's work, there were absolutely some limitations in LTIH, both in terms of physically depicting the lesbian relationship and, more importantly, killing off the character of Kate, a lesbian WOC, for what I felt was a pretty unneeded plot twist (and I think the series started going down after the character was killed off).

[@katarzyna2478]

Suranne Jones is absolutely fantastic person, very simple, mindfull, open and friedly.How openly she is speaking about Ann Listers sexuality.What a brilliant sense of humour.I read about her how amazing actress and charitable person she is.And all the same such modest.I like her and Sophie R.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I’m so grateful that you post all these wonderful interviews with Suranne Jones! Please post all of that you are able to find! Gentleman Jack joy! 🌈💜🎩

[@drindigo3282]

I am so happy with this series. All of them did such an amazing job! Director..the actresses..all were superb! They are just so respectful of their work..I mean they did a research on the subjects and brought out the best in the characters. I really believed everything. Couldn't imagine anyone else in their roles!

[@caitlinkelly6120]

Wonderful series and a great tribute to Ann Lister--what a force of nature!

[@labonirosalee7800]

Wow now suranne has become my favorite and her acting in this kills me.. I watch Every day and I go through every scene.. really fantastic. What a bossy kind of attitude she got

[@wouldbealex]

Internalized homophobia sucks, ya'll. That needs some grace from those of us that got past it. Ugh. It's harsh when it's inside, digging at you. Ugh...

[@KelleyG-mj8vy]

The look at 2:24 “we did the homework” hahahah.

[@buckspath]

Suranne is a goddess.

[@SheridanMarie]

Who zoomed in TOO CLOSE!?

[@SpirituallyRefined]

I absolutely love love love Anne Lister and Suranne Jones has done a great justice to playing the part brilliantly!

[@pjsopinion8028]

Suranne Jones did an AMAZING job with this role! What a phenomenal actor. Beautiful, funny and so talented.

[@ChrisWilliams-nf8kl]

I suppose you have to bear in mind Ann Lister wasn't *just* a lesbian, while that's nevertheless key to her character and her place in this period of history. But she's just a huge character - a 'force of nature'. The role needed someone who could embody that and Suranne Jones gives what's probably the performance of her career so far. It's so obvious that the entire production comes from a place of love and respect for this woman and her story and Wainright is such a brilliant author that is able to draw characters with such uncanny accuracy... it's hard to see how most people wouldn't be won over. This is after all not one of the best gay dramas of recent times, it's just one of the best dramas, full stop. The bottom line is does it convince? The other thing to ask is if straight actors can't play gay roles, should all the astonishingly great gay actors of the past have been confined to playing straight characters? I hope that's enough of a rhetorical question. There's also this debate of people playing across racial lines. For me personally, so long as the actor is able to bring a deep psychological embodiment of character [if that isn't too pretentious] THAT'S the most important criteria- bring something powerful, interesting, compelling to the role. I don't think Hamlet has after all ever been played by a real Danish Prince. Personally I have no problem with a black Hamlet, but equally no issue with a white Othello. So long as it's underpinned by respect and good acting, cast the best actor for the part regardless of sexuality, race or how many limbs they have if they can handle the demands of the role [a unidexter Tarzan?] Acting is make-believe and I think in some of these discussions we have forgotten that. I think the near universal acclaim [and popularity] of this series is a hugely positive thing. Ann Lister is shown as a woman who faces obvious challenges, but she doesn't allow herself to become the victim of her circumstance. That's an inspiration to everyone - gay, straight, white, black. It's a very universal story and the brilliance of its telling is the thing that makes it spark so many conversations and inspire such thought on all sorts of issues.

[@GeaVox]

WELL DONE! Not including a lot of sex in the series, the best decision!

[@adrukova1407]

I think it needs just a little bit more... 🥰

[@MrDaytrack]

If there's not another series ... I'll commit suicide! God; I loved it. I beg thee, Gentleman Jack ... more please ... MORE PLEASE! And, I'll be your slave forever. Hugs! William

[@lalahaha8508]

I mean she may not be a lesbian but ME as a lesbian she definitely gave me BDE daaamn

[@christelle8572]

Easy to see why, between the attitude, the way she walks as Anne Lister and the clothes... She definately plays the role very very well! 👍👍👍

[@sersi8698]

JESUS CHRIST GOD BLESS GENTLEMAN JACK

[@20toots]

Shes wonderful🥰🥰🥰

[@gaynorroberts8201]

Is it worth actually reading the diaries (i.e. purchase the book), or, is the series true to them? Thank you.

[@MaeveTheWitch.]

2:41 she nailed it! 🤣

[@katymiles5682]

I’m giggling and kicking my feet at suranne describing stone butches… Anne lister is just like me fr heheheh

[@sarahjones-jf4pr]

Suranne Jones could turn me gay!!!

[@carolynandcocohaywood2638]

Fantastic series with brilliant actors, love Suranne’s Ann Lister.

[@melmortimer1545]

Surrane jones...is very natural...shes gorgeous...the interveiwer...was very flirty with surrane...great drama...played by two very good actresses...cant wait for next series...miss devil..😈

[@donnabeem3036]

I loved every thing about it.hope thay Mack a burner one

[@andrearenee7845]

It is amazing how a story like this has stayed out of film till now. Guess it was waiting for the right actors, and a worthy auditence. Just the way the notoriety is so strong and the conversations around this woman trail blazer is uncanny. Now that America looks at it's failed patriarch presence in business, government, and even justice no wonder there is such a thirst for these kinds of stories to emerge. I hope films like this more come to light. And IN ABUNDANCE...

[@carolinethom3022]

there is a one part drama about Anne Lister with Maxine Peake that was filmed a few years before gentlemen Jack

[@js9304-f6o]

Ann Lister sounded like a straight transgender man more than a lesbian honestly.

[@unnamed3932]

Not if you read her journal extracts regarding her sexual practices--just another way of being a woman imo.

[@maggiehemming7904]

Rubbish

[@yukinofairytail7137]

Well there's no way for us to find out but I think she was rather genderfluid than actually trans. It doesn't seem like she was that against her female body… but yeah she was not 'just' a lesbian, like ann walker for example, she was even a bit more extraordinary than that.

[@maggiehemming7904]

@@yukinofairytail7137 you know nothing about lesbianism clearly

[@yukinofairytail7137]

Maggie Hemming I am a lesbian.

[@olartedaisyagusa3784]

Hi I'm 32 years old single lesbian live in Japan, I don't want a girl living in Asia for a reason,,

[@チャムちゃん-s7p]

What? Why don't you want a girl living in Asia?

[@olartedaisyagusa3784]

@@チャムちゃん-s7p where are you from what's your age and are you boy or girl?

[@チャムちゃん-s7p]

@@olartedaisyagusa3784 I'm an 34 years old girl from Vietnam. I used to live in Japan and I'm going back there again. Are you Brazilian?

[@olartedaisyagusa3784]

@@チャムちゃん-s7p can you email me

[@olartedaisyagusa3784]

@@チャムちゃん-s7p olartedaisyagusa

[@jansimons1475]

Jodie Foster, Ellen Page, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia DeRossi, Jane Lynch, Holland Taylor, Sarah Paulson, Sara Gilbert, Sue Perkins...hmmm. There's just no lesbian talent out there. We better cast straight girls. But hey--acting anyone can play anything without actually being that amiright?!

[@dorjanasirola6450]

"But hey--acting anyone can play anything without actually being that amiright?!" Um yes, that is quite literally what acting is. Arguing one has to be a lesbian to play a lesbian is silly to start with (btw, has it ever occurred to you that by the same logic the women you mentioned should not have been given any of the straight roles they have ever played?). Complaining that an actor who did a phenomenally good job with the role - to the extent that it is unimaginable anyone could possibly have done better - should not even have gotten it due to her sexual orientation, is right in WTF territory.

[@jansimons1475]

@@dorjanasirola6450 I was making an observation; you made it an argument. I for one, think Suranne did an amazing job but I can imagine any number of actors playing that part. Maxine Peake did Anne Lister in 2013, she was great. That said, it takes nothing away from Suranne's performance, you seem to take it very personally that it somehow does? Um you need to chill the f*@k out

[@dorjanasirola6450]

@@jansimons1475 As it appears the moderators cut what you are actually replying to (along with your last injunction to myself), I'm not sure there is much point in continuing this discussion as it stands. I will say, though, that I feel quite strongly the whole "lesbians for lesbian roles" standpoint is in the final analysis damaging to our community, as it would inevitably and obviously lead to further ghettoisation. The point is not that any number of people could have played a particular role, the point is a) could they have played it better? and b) should who a role goes to be decided on sexual orientation? I happen to disagree on both counts (and the concrete example under discussion here is Anne Lister in "Gentleman Jack", not in the 2010 film or any future production - it is the same historical character, but obviously not the same roles). I thought this was pretty clear in the disappeared part of my post, and I find the implication that one must be some star-struck teenager to make what I think is an entirely legitimate argument, rather patronising and unnecessary, never mind incorrect.

[@scarfhs1]

@@dorjanasirola6450 I agree, if the rules becomes only gay/lesbian actors to play gay/lesbian roles then dose't it also imply only straight actors play straight roles? As a viewer I want the best actor for the role.

[@csmith5420]

My only issue would be if the straight actress(es) are too tentative, scared to really sell a kiss. I’ve watched shows, movies where the acting and chemistry was good, but the kissing was awkward. It might not even be that the actresses are reluctant or scared, they just are used to kissing men who may take the lead, or direct the kiss, if that makes sense. They should do chemistry AND kissing tests!