Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a 4-hour BBC television version of Thomas Hardy's 1891 book with the same name. The script was written by David Nicholls. It follows the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a young girl from a poor country family who discovers that her family has connections to a noble family.

The series began in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2008, and ended on October 5, 2008, with four episodes on BBC One. In the United States, it was shown as part of PBS's Masterpiece Classic in two parts from January 4 to January 11, 2009. In Australia, ABC1 broadcast the series as a two-part special each Sunday at 8:30 p.m. from April 11 to April 18, 2010. In Spain, it aired on BBC Series.

The cast includes Gemma Arterton as Tess, Hans Matheson as Alec, Eddie Redmayne as Angel, Ruth Jones as Joan, Anna Massey as Mrs. d'Urberville, and Kenneth Cranham as Rev. Clare.

Production

David Nicholls first read Hardy's famous novel when he was 16 years old. More than 25 years later, he revisited the story and believed it needed a new film version. He described the novel as "a story full of strong emotions, both very romantic and very violent." When adapting the novel for film, Nicholls focused on showing Tess as "a strong, active, and opinionated young working-class woman" rather than just a "passive victim." He also wanted to highlight that the story is about young people in love.

After finishing the project, Nicholls said he was "very happy" with the result. He hoped audiences would see that the film "truly shows both the good and bad parts of Hardy's masterpiece."

Nicholls worked closely with director David Blair to make sure the film's visual style matched the story's faithful adaptation. Most of the filming took place in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The team used high-quality 35mm film instead of digital video to create a richer and more romantic look. Nicholls noted that "any version of Hardy's work must show the beauty of his descriptions of nature without forgetting that the setting is harsh and difficult." He added that "the production should be beautiful but not 'pretty'; it should focus on characters in a landscape, not just the landscape."

The series used many real locations. Filming happened in parts of southern England, including Dorset, Hardy's home region. Nicholls remembered how he found "Tess and Angel's goodbye at Stonehenge in the morning light" to be "the most moving scene in English literature." He said it was "very exciting" to recreate this scene at dawn, on location, and at the correct time of year.

Cast and characters

• Gemma Arterton as Tess Durbeyfield – Tess is the main character of the story. She is from a poor, rural Victorian family and is the oldest daughter. She is kind, loyal, and tries to help her family. She is described as a "fine and handsome girl" and often draws attention from others. However, her life is affected by the mistakes and poor choices of those around her.

Arterton said, "I was drawn to the role because, at its heart, it is a simple story about love and chances that are missed. Everyone can understand it. It is also a great story." She sees Tess as "a simple country girl, very pretty, but not aware of her beauty. Even though people cause her problems, she becomes stronger, which is amazing about her."

• Hans Matheson as Alec D'Urbeville – Alec is the oldest son of Tess’s supposed wealthy relatives, the D’Urbervilles. He is selfish and controlling. After working at The Slopes, Alec’s family home, Tess becomes involved with him. He is described as the "tragic mischief" and uses his charm and kindness to influence her.

Matheson said, "Even though Alec does bad things, he is not fully aware of the harm he causes. It is important to see him as a person, not just a villain." He also noted that the story is "about the countryside, about spring and the seasons, and about love." He was surprised that so few movies have been made of the story, saying the novel is "very visual and easy to turn into a film."

• Eddie Redmayne as Angel Clare – Angel is a kind and smart young man who is the son of a clergyman. Tess first meets him at a May Day dance, but he does not notice her. Instead of becoming a priest, he chooses to work on a farm to help people. Tess later meets him again while working as a milkmaid, and they fall in love.

Redmayne praised the novel and Tess, saying, "Hardy had the courage to create a strong character, which is why she is still important today."

• Ruth Jones as Joan Durbeyfield
• Ian Puleston-Davies as John Durbeyfield
• Jodie Whittaker as Izz Huett
• Donald Sumpter as Parson Tringham
• Anna Massey as Mrs D’Urbeville
• Christopher Fairbank as Groby
• Jo Woodcock as Liza-Lu Durbeyfield

• Joel Rowbottom as Abraham Durbeyfield
• Steven Robertson as Cuthbert Clare
• Hugh Skinner as Felix Clare
• Laura Elphinstone as Car Darch
• Sara Lloyd Gregory as Nancy Darch
• Christine Bottomley as Kate
• Emma Stansfield as Mary
• Merelina Kendall as Miss Evans
• Sarah Counsell as Drunken woman
• Ellie Darcey-Alden as Modesty
• Julie Barclay as Mrs Baxter
• Cellan Geraint David as "Baby Sorrow"

Reception

The serial received mixed reactions from critics, with most offering warm but not highly enthusiastic reviews. Many praised the acting, especially Gemma Arterton's performance as the main character, but noted that some historical details were not accurate for the time period.

Euan Ferguson of The Guardian called the first two episodes "wonderful," saying they lacked the humor of Cranford but were more engaging than other adaptations of Austen's work. He also highlighted Gemma Arterton's performance as "very subtle."

Hermione Eyre of The Independent described the series as a "faithful adaptation" and praised Arterton's portrayal, noting that she brought energy and spirit to the role. She acknowledged that the version lacked the strength of Roman Polanski's 1979 film.

Robert Hanks of The Independent said the series looked beautiful but perhaps "too beautiful." While he called Arterton "gorgeous," he found most acting "fair to average," except for Anna Massey, who he called "very talented" as Mrs. D'Urberville. He also pointed out that the show did not fully capture the difficult and unclean aspects of life in the past.

Roger Webster, writing for the Thomas Hardy Society, praised the casting, screenplay, and visual style of the series. He concluded that the serial offers much as both a literary adaptation and a television drama.

In the U.S., Mary McNamara of The Los Angeles Times noted that David Blair effectively portrayed Tess as a "goddess of the Earth" and praised the show's visual beauty. She called Arterton's performance "excellent," saying it was crucial to the success of the series.

Brian Lowry of Variety also praised Arterton's acting, describing her as "wide-eyed and lovely" and noting how she showed the struggles of her character in a harsh society. He criticized the pacing, calling the series a "slow journey," but said the ending was strong enough to justify the effort.

David Wiegand of The San Francisco Chronicle found the direction "competent" but criticized the lack of realism, saying the characters and setting looked too clean and tidy for the time period. He called Arterton "excellent" and said the series could serve as a reminder of Hardy's lasting appeal until a better version is made.

Some viewers enjoyed the series but noted that the hymn "How Great Thou Art" was not accurate for the time period. A few viewers were upset enough to complain to the BBC about this choice.