Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer to star in Picnic at Hanging Rock

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Among many of the deceptive characters that appear courtesy of HBO's GAME OF THRONES, Natalie Dormer's Margaery Tyrell has always struck me as one of the most interesting. In my estimation, she's certainly one of the most complex characters on the show, or at least she was. However, Dormer's time on the epic dragons, sorcery, and deception saga has come to pass, and the brightly blue-eyed actress is moving on to other projects.

In her time since manipulating Tommen Baratheon, Natalie has attached herself to appear in the projects: THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, OFFICIAL SECRETS, PATIENT ZERO, and IN DARKNESS. Today, it's been announced that Dormer will star in PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, a six-part miniseries adaptation of Joan Lindsay's novel of the same name.

Joining Ms. Dormer for the period-piece drama will be co-stars Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Anna McGahan, Sibylla Budd, Lily Sullivan, Madeleine Madden, Ruby Rees, Inez Curro, and ASH VS EVIL DEAD actress Samara Weaving. In the miniseries, Dormer will portray Mrs. Hester Appleyard, an English headmistress, who, along with three schoolgirls, disappears in the year 1900.

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK will be produced by FremantleMedia and will debut on the showcase channel of Australian TV network Foxtel. In talking about the project, FremantleMedia Australia Director of Drama Jo Porter had this to share:

Picnic at Hanging Rock is celebrated as an iconic, female-led story and we are thrilled to be announcing our strong and diverse cast who will bring the characters to life in the most vivid manner. We have an exceptional mix and depth of established names and exciting young Australian talent who will redefine these characters for a new generation. Natalie Dormer is known for her bold choices in playing powerful, smart, and fearless women. Her rendering of Mrs. Appleyard is sure to be just as intriguing and complex.

As of the moment, there is no air date set in stone for the miniseries, though filming will begin in Australia later this month.