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“A truly heartrending dynastic saga of poverty, passion and power”

A Woman of Substance (1985)

First aired January 2, 19851h 35m/ep1 season · 3 epsEnded
7.5

10 votes

Drama

Overview

The life of Emma Harte, from kitchen maid at the beginning of the 20th-century, to respected businesswoman and grandmother in the 1980s. From humble beginnings, Emma Harte starts her business with a small shop, but over the next twenty years, she expands her stores and invests in the growing textile industry in Leeds.

Created By

Lee Langley, Barbara Taylor Bradford

Where to Watch

Streaming availability for India

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Top Billed Cast

Jenny Seagrove

Jenny Seagrove

Young Emma Harte

Deborah Kerr

Deborah Kerr

Older Emma Harte

Barry Bostwick

Barry Bostwick

Major Paul McGill

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson

Blackie O'Neill

Miranda Richardson

Miranda Richardson

Paula McGill Amory

Peter Egan

Peter Egan

Adam Fairley

Peter Chelsom

Peter Chelsom

Edwin Fairley

Barry Morse

Barry Morse

Murgatroyd

Jonathan Duttine

Jonathan Duttine

Joe Lowther

Diane Baker

Diane Baker

Laura O'Neill

John Mills

John Mills

Henry Rossiter

Mick Ford

Mick Ford

Frank Harte

Christopher Gable

Christopher Gable

Arthur Ainsley

Gayle Hunnicutt

Gayle Hunnicutt

Olivia Wainwright

Christopher Guard

Christopher Guard

Gerald Fairley

Dominic Guard

Dominic Guard

Winston Harte

Seasons

Status

Ended

Language

English

Type

Miniseries

Last Air Date

January 4, 1985

Networks

Channel 4

Production

Portman Artemis Productions

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User Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

7.0

This is maybe the only thing I’ve ever seen Jenny Seagrove in, in which I thought she was any good. She is the young “Emma” who works as a maid for the wealthy “Fairley” family at their stately home. The youngest son of the house, “Edwin” (Peter Chelsom) and she take a shine to each other but society isn’t ever going to let them marry and so ensuing events sow in her a determination not just to succeed but to destroy the “Fairley” dynasty too. She moves away and falls on her feet, becoming an apprentice to a Jewish tailoring family. Having some aptitude for design and learned some of the basic…

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