Exclusive: Sense and Sensibility writer explains why Marianne has her hair down following backlash

The writer behind the new Sense and Sensibility adaptation has explained why Marianne Dashwood has her hair down following a backlash from some fans. The new version of the Jane Austen classic is due out in cinemas later this month.

Featuring Normal People's Daisy Edgar-Jones and The Sandman's Esmé Creed-Miles as siblings Elinor and Marianne, the story sees the sisters experience love and heartbreak after moving from a grand estate to a modest cottage.

However, the trailer for the movie attracted some criticism for the latter's hairstyle, not seen as historically accurate for the early 19th century period.

Related: UK film release dates

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy at last night's (15 September) world premiere, writer Diana Reid defended the choice, revealing it was decided by director Georgia Oakley.

"She just wanted everything to feel really naturalistic and paired back," she explained. "I think we wanted it to feel like they really lived in this world and I think that we all have our own attitude to whatever the rules are of our time.

"We felt, especially characters like Marianne, even though it was probably the most decorous thing to keep your hair up, she's not the kind of character who cares about that. It was like an opportunity to show character and show how they relate to the conventions of their own time."

Oakley also spoke to us about the relevance of Austen – whose 250th birthday was marked last year – today, noting that she was "writing about themes that were relevant to her at the time but are inherently contemporary".

"There's so much in there about what a young woman is told she can reasonably expect from life and the gap between that and what life is prepared to offer her," she said.

"I think that is something that most women can relate to. We live in a world where the rules were made by and for men and that nothing has changed in that respect. So a lot of that, the kind of undercurrent of the story, is still extremely relevant today."

Alongside Edgar-Jones and Creed-Mills, Sense and Sensibility also stars Caitríona Balfe as Mrs Dashwood, Frank Dillane as John Willoughby, George MacKay as Edward Ferrars and Fiona Shaw as Mrs Jennings.

The movie has attracted a positive reception in first reactions from critics, with Variety's Jazz Tangcay calling it a "delight", while Inverse's Lyvie Scott said it was "breathlessly bohemian and achingly sweet".

Sense and Sensibility is released in the UK on 25 September, and in the US on 16 October.

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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.