Hayley Atwell can do no wrong. Period. She’s kicked butt as a WWII-era superhero without superpowers when women were considered nothing more than window dressing, but alas, Peggy Carter is no longer among us (both in flashbacks, as the TV series Agent Carter was canceled, and in present day in the films as she *sob* passed away peacefully in her sleep in Captain America: Civil War).
But that won’t keep Atwell down. Now she’s going to push against societal norms in another period piece, since her fierce strength of character just can’t be tamed no matter what era she’s dropped into. That could not be more clear from the key art poster that Starz just released for her new limited series Howards End.
Often considered as English novelist E.M. Forster’s masterpiece, Howards End is the adaptation of the iconic story of Margaret (Atwell) and Helen Schlegel (Philippa Coulthard), two independent and unconventional sisters seeking love and meaning as they navigate an ever-changing world. Both described as intelligent and idealistic young women, they live together with their hypochondriac younger brother Tibby (Alex Lawther) in Edwardian London. Since the death of their parents and despite their interfering Aunt Juley’s (Tracey Ullman) best intentions, the sisters lead independent and slightly unorthodox lives. After meeting the wealthy and conservative Wilcox family on holiday, Margaret forms a friendship with the older and more traditional Ruth Wilcox (Julia Ormond).
But when Ruth unexpectedly dies, Margaret finds herself increasingly drawn to the newly widowed Henry Wilcox (Matthew Macfadyen), a self-made businessman who inherits his late wife’s beloved country home, Howards End. Meanwhile, the passionate and capricious Helen takes up the cause of Leonard Bast (Joseph Quinn), a young bank clerk who is struggling to make ends meet, trapped by his promise to marry his alluring but vulnerable lover Jacky (Rosalind Eleazar).
The key art poster shows off Atwell’s Margaret looking absolutely flawless in a lace white dress, sitting in a field in the countryside. Honestly, no matter how beautiful of a background or costume that she’s put into, she still looks ready to take on the world as an army of one. Check out the full-length key art poster above, and tweet me at @SydneyBucksbaum so we can gush together.
Howards End, the four episode limited mini-series from writer Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By the Sea), premieres on Sunday, April 8 on Starz.
Images: Starz
Where’s more Hayley news At? Well…
- She’d love to be in Captain Marvel.
- Listen to her reading The Martian Chronicles.
- And she’ll do whatever it takes to bring Agent Carter back.
