Natalie Dormer Refuses to Promote Sarah Ferguson Drama After Epstein Scandal

Natalie Dormer has decided not to promote the upcoming ITV and BritBox drama The Lady, in which she plays Sarah Ferguson.

The actress made the decision after new details emerged about Ferguson’s links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Dormer also announced she has donated her entire salary from the series to charities that support victims of child abuse.

The controversy comes after a leaked email from 2011 showed Ferguson apologizing to Epstein, despite previously publicly distancing herself from him following his 2008 conviction for sex offenses.

In the email, Ferguson wrote, “You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family,” and added she “humbly apologized” to him while acknowledging he felt let down.

She had previously called her involvement with Epstein, including borrowing money from him, a “gigantic error of judgement” and said she would have “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

The Lady, produced by Left Bank Pictures—the company behind The Crown—mixes fact and fiction. It focuses on Jane Andrews, a former royal dresser for Ferguson, who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend in 2001.

Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Andrews, while Ed Speleers plays her boyfriend. The series was filmed earlier this year and is expected to release in late 2025 or early 2026.

Speaking to Variety, Dormer said, “When I agreed to take the role in ‘The Lady,’ I knew portraying the script’s Sarah Ferguson would require nuance. People are layered, their journeys are full of highs and lows, and as an actor, my job is to lean into those elements and bring them to life with honesty and empathy.”

“Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson’s behavior, which I believe is inexcusable. For that reason, I will not be taking part in the promotion of the project.”

Dormer also explained her decision to donate her salary: “In keeping with my commitment to the well-being of children, I have donated my entire salary from this project to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (hosted by Barnardo’s).”

She added that her decision does not reflect on her experience working with Left Bank, calling the production company “an extraordinary company to collaborate with.”

Since the revelations, Ferguson has lost support from several charities where she held patron or ambassador roles, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Children’s Literacy Charity, and the British Heart Foundation.

A spokesperson for Ferguson told the BBC that the email was written under advice to respond to Epstein’s threat of a defamation lawsuit, and that Ferguson still regrets her past association with him. “This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats,” the spokesperson said.

Dormer made a strong and principled choice. She has taken a difficult but ethical stand by aligning her actions with her values and supporting organizations that protect children. Do you think actors should step away from projects when the subject becomes controversial? Share your thoughts in the comments.