"Wonderful" period drama with Bill Nighy is now streaming on the BBC

Bill Nighy's 2020 period drama Emma is now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer – but you'd better get a move on, as it's only available for the next 24 days. Based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel of the same name, the movie centres around Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman who enjoys matchmaking in her local community.

Though she has been successful with some of her meddling, other attempts prove disastrous.

When Emma tries to help her friend Harriet Smith secure a desirable suitor, things begin to spiral out of her control. And while setting up others, Emma discovers surprising feelings of her own.

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The romantic comedy stars Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role, alongside Nighy as her father Mr Woodhouse and Mia Goth as Harriet.

Johnny Flynn (George Knightley), Josh O'Connor (Mr Elton), Miranda Hart (Miss Bates) and Callum Turner (Frank Churchill) also appear.

Directed by Autumn de Wilde, the adaptation currently holds an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 260 reviews. Critics praised the "fresh" take on the story, with RogerEbert.com describing it as "both elegant and comedic".

"Very witty and well-acted... Emma has been adapted a number of times, but this has enough intelligence in its adaptation to stand out from the crowd," said the BBC.

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"Emma. pulls off a wonderful oxymoron: It's a substantial confection. I delighted in nearly every minute of it," wrote Baltimore Magazine.

TIME Magazine noted that the movie "feels both modern and authentic in the best way, inviting everyone, diehard Austenites and newbies alike, into its embrace".

"It feels so alive, fresh, and new like you've never seen before," added FilmWeek.

Emma is streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.