The Forsyte Saga
- 2002
- 2 Seasons
-
8.4 (923)
The Forsyte Saga is the story of the Forsyte family over several years. They are an upper-middle class family that is just a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors. The two main characters, Soames Forsyte and Jolyon Forsyte Jr., are first cousins. Soames sees himself as a man of property, though it does not bring him happiness. This strait-laced solicitor only has two weaknesses, his wife Irene and his daughter Fleur. Jolyon is an artist who abandons his wife and mother of his children for his children's nanny. The lives of the family intersect over 30 years. Granada Television, the only original ITV contractor still broadcasting, produced the miniseries with the help of PBS station WGBH. The show's executive producer was Andy Harries, who worked on such shows as DCI Banks and Wallander. Granada has produced such shows as the popular Brideshead Revisited. It has helped the careers of people such as Russell T. Davies and Sacha Baron Cohen. The story was adapted from the John Galsworthy serial novel of the same name. Galsworthy, who was a member of the Order of Merit, won a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932 for The Forsyte Saga. He based the story on his own family, who was new money like the fictional Forsyte family. At one time, he turned down a knighthood. His work The Skin Game was adapted to the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock. Damien Lewis stars as Soames Forsyte. He currently stars in Homeland. He studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Daniel Craig and Joseph Fiennes. Rupert Graves played Jolyon Forsyte Jr. The British born actor has also appeared in Doctor Who, Sherlock and MI:5. Irene Forsyte was played by Gina McKee. She has been in The Borgias and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.
