Natalie Dormer’s refusal to promote a new TV series about Sarah Ferguson and her former aide has left those around her baffled, insiders have claimed.
"The Lady" will explore the life of Jane Andrews, Fergie’s one-time dresser, who was jailed for murdering her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman.
Since filming has completed, revelations have surfaced that the Duchess of York emailed the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, calling him her "supreme friend" and apologising for publicly repudiating him a few weeks earlier.
As a result, Ms Dormer, who plays Sarah in the ITV drama, has refused to promote the TV project.
Insiders have clarified that the project will not be shelved, as Fergie is not the main character in the storyline.
The show primarily focuses on Ms Andrews, who is being played by Mia McKenna Bruce.
A source told the Mail: "Nobody can really understand why Natalie Dormer decided to do this as everyone knew about Fergie and her links to Epstein already.
"The situation was plain when she took the role – you’d only have to spend 30 seconds on Google. But there you go."
Natalie Dormer’s refusal to promote a new TV series about Sarah Ferguson and her former aide has left those around her baffled, insiders have claimed
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Ms Dormer previously clarified her stance on promoting The Lady in a statement.
It read: "Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson’s behaviour, which I believe is inexcusable.
"For that reason, I will not be taking part in the promotion of the project.
"In keeping with my commitment to the wellbeing 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."
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Jane Andrews and Duchess of York pictured in 1994 | PARick Cressman, Thomas’s brother, was initially critical of the TV series.
Last year, he said: "It feels that Tommy can never rest in peace. It’s a very cruel thing that ITV have commissioned a drama about it.
"It gives [the film-makers] licence to say or do anything they like – true or not. It’s an abuse of my family."
Mr Cressman claims that the four-part dramatisation is an "out-and-out attempt to profiteer" from the death of his brother, who was murdered by Ms Andrews at their home in Fulham, west London.
Former aide to the Duchess of York, Jane Andrews, arriving handcuffed at the High Court in 2003 | GETTYProducer Sian McWilliams from Left Bank, who also made The Crown, said: "The Lady deftly explores the tragic series of events and poses the question – who is the real Jane Andrews?"
Director Lee Haven Jones added: "The series won’t be an apology for her actions. Jane Andrews killed somebody – it’s that simple.
"We will present the story of a very complex woman and do something which I think drama does very well and that is to humanise the people involved and attempt to provide an insight into how they operated, Jane included.
"But it will be fair towards her rather than sympathetic."