She’s perfick! Bridgerton actress Sabrina Bartlett gets a taste of country life as she slips into Catherine Zeta-Jones’ role in Darling Buds of May remake
Miss Bartlett had her dark hair long and wavy, and wore a yellow blouse, blue trousers and a beige jacket as she rode a horse through the Surrey countryside
It is the role which launched the career of Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Now Bridgerton star Sabrina Bartlett is playing Mariette Larkin in the remake of The Darling Buds Of May – and the resemblance is striking.
The original ITV series made Miss Zeta-Jones, now 51, a household name in the early Nineties, playing the daughter of Sir David Jason’s Pop Larkin, famous for his catchphrase ‘perfick’.
Miss Bartlett, 29, who played opera singer Siena Rosso in Netflix bodice-ripper Bridgerton, has been seen on set in character for the first time and is the image of her predecessor, who played the eldest of the Larkin children when the series aired from 1991 to 1993.
In keeping with the rural 1950s setting, Miss Bartlett had her dark hair long and wavy, and wore a yellow blouse, blue trousers and a beige jacket as she rode a horse through the Surrey countryside.
Bradley Walsh, 60, plays Pop Larkin, the family patriarch originally played by Sir David, 81, while Joanna Scanlan, 59, takes over from Pam Ferris as his wife Ma Larkin.
Tok Stephen is Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton, Mariette’s love interest previously played by Philip Franks, and former Doctor Who star Peter Davison, 69, will appear as a vicar.
The new version aims to bring the story of the beloved family from the HE Bates novels to a modern audience. It will again be shown on ITV but this time the series is called The Larkins.
![The original ITV series made Miss Zeta-Jones, now 51, a household name in the early Nineties, playing the daughter of Sir David Jason¿s Pop Larkin, famous for his catchphrase ¿perfick¿](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/04/04/21/41334372-9435599-image-m-28_1617568352710.jpg)
The original ITV series made Miss Zeta-Jones, now 51, a household name in the early Nineties, playing the daughter of Sir David Jason’s Pop Larkin, famous for his catchphrase ‘perfick’
When her casting was announced Miss Bartlett, who has also starred in Poldark and Game Of Thrones, said: ‘I am really, really excited to be taking on the role of Mariette Larkin. I can’t wait to bring these heart-warming stories to life alongside such a wonderful team. It’s just the perfect dose of escapism we all need right now.’
![It is her racy role in the phenomenally popular Bridgerton that has been her biggest to date](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/04/04/21/41334368-9435599-It_is_her_racy_role_in_the_phenomenally_popular_Bridgerton_that_-m-31_1617568413891.jpg)
It is her racy role in the phenomenally popular Bridgerton that has been her biggest to date
Miss Bartlett grew up in London and graduated from acting school in 2013.
Her first major role was in the BBC First World War drama The Passing Bells in 2014 and she went on to feature in a number of period dramas including Victoria and Knightfall.
But it is her racy role in the phenomenally popular Bridgerton that has been her biggest to date.
Her character, the free-willed Siena, has a romantic relationship with Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest son of the well-to-do household.
But because of her position in society as a singer, she is not able to publicly court the object of her affections and when he finally realises his love for her, she rejects him.
Off-screen, Miss Bartlett is in a relationship with actor Tom Greaves who has had roles in Strike and Peter Rabbit.