Randy Shropshire/Stringer(LOS ANGELES) — Jackée Harry is taking on a role near and dear to her heart in Lifetime’s contemporary take on the classic novel Pride and Prejudice, titled Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta.
In the new film, Harry plays the classic character of Mrs. Bennet, a mother who wants one of her daughters to marry the new bachelor in town. However, in this iteration, Mrs. Bennet is no longer English gentry, but a preacher’s wife and relationship expert who feels compelled to see her five daughters happily married.
“I was so giddy to play her,” Harry tells ABC Radio. “I knew just what I wanted to do with it. When I got the script immediately. And I worked on it and it was a lot of work. We worked really, really hard.”
In fact, Harry reveals she’s been huge fan of not only the book, but the original 1940s Pride and Prejudice film.
“The original Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, oh yes it’s my favorite,” Harry says. “I relate to Mrs. Bennet — [Mary Boland]… I watch it all the time. So, definitely that was my source material. A lot of people are not familiar with it but I’m totally, totally familiar with with all those classics back then.”
While Harry was happy to jump on the project, the 227 alum reveals that one of the things that most impressed her about the production was the amazing people behind the scenes — including the film’s young African American director, Ronda Barka.
“Everybody kind of took it for granted but not me,” said Harry. “Because I rarely work for women producers, or directors. So, every time I get the opportunity I’m just giddy about it.”
Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta, also starring Tiffany Hines and Reginald VelJohnson, airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
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