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Eleanor Tomlinson joins BBC drama Poldark


Eleanor Tomlinson has been cast in ‘Poldark’.

The ‘White Queen’ actress will star in BBC One’s rebooted new adaptation of Winston Graham’s novels, which are set in 18th century Cornwall, and will be playing the outspoken and free-spirited Demelza in the romantic saga opposite Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark.

The novels were first turned into a successful BBC drama series almost forty years ago and Eleanor hopes she can help the remake to live up to the original.

She said of the role:"I am conscious of the fact that the original series had a huge following and was tremendously popular. All I can promise is that I will do my utmost to do justice to the spirit of Winston Graham’s iconic character."

The period drama follows the story of Ross as he returns from the American War of Independence to Cornwall and struggles to cope with how his home county has changed since his departure.

Eleanor is known for playing Isabel Neville in ‘The White Queen’ and Georgiana Darcy in ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’, while Aidan plays Kíli in ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy and John Mitchell in the supernatural series ‘Being Human’.

Other leading roles have been snapped up by ‘Lark Rise To Candleford’ star Ruby Bentall as Ross’ cousin Verity, and Heida Reed, who will play his former fiancée Elizabeth.

The new ‘Poldark’ series will land on BBC One in 2015 and producers have apparently confirmed that a post-watershed slot will make this version even steamier than the original.