Synnøve Karlsen on Miss Austen, Jumping Between Worlds and What’s Next
bodysuit WOLFORD, tights FALKE, earrings UNCOMMON MATTERS, ring DINOSAUR DESIGNS, shoes NEOUS
Some stories stay with you long after the last page, and Miss Austen is definitely one of those. It’s a powerful mix of love, loss, and legacy. At its heart is Cassandra Austen, Jane’s devoted sister and protector, the woman who famously burned her letters. Bringing her to life is Synnøve Karlsen, an actor who makes every character feel so natural. Miss Austen is now airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, with new episodes every week.
Karlsen is a pro at shifting between worlds. One moment, she’s lost in the intricate world of Regency England, and the next, she’s in the middle of a futuristic empire. With roles ranging from psychological thrillers to historical dramas and now sci-fi, her career shows that great storytelling knows no boundaries.
In the following conversation, Karlsen talks to PIBE about taking on Cassandra’s role, what draws her to such fascinating characters, and why, despite all the time-traveling, 2025 feels just right for her.
Left: top THE FRANKIE SHOP, earrings UNCOMMON MATTERS • Right: top AGOLDE, brief SKIMS, tights FALKE, bangles DINOSAUR DESIGNS, earrings UNCOMMON MATTERS
You’re taking on the role of Cassandra in Miss Austen, Jane Austen’s big sister. How much research did you do to get into character? And what’s your favourite Jane Austen story?
Synnøve Karlsen: Research was pretty key for me when approaching a character. The world in which one lives informs so much about a person—how they go about their daily life and how they see the world. The 19th century, at first glance, seems so foreign and unknown, and detailed research can bring you much closer to understanding how women lived back then. I read a brilliant book called Eavesdropping on Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins, which was filled with wonderful details about that time period and really helped bring the 19th century to life in my mind.
Pride and Prejudice is my favourite Jane Austen novel.
The series is set against the backdrop of 19th-century England. How did the period setting and costumes help you step into Cassandra’s world?
SK: Costume is definitely a big help when stepping into a time period like this, and it informs so much about how you move and navigate your way through the world. It was a pretty revolutionary time in fashion – women wore stays instead of tight corsets, and the silhouette was much more column-like. This was so freeing for women, as they were much less restricted, so I enjoyed exploring how relaxed Jane and Cassandra could be when behind closed doors and out of the public eye.
Left: dress ILA • Right: coat THE FRANKIE SHOP, tights FALKE, earrings UNCOMMON MATTERS, shoes NEOUS
The show explores this beautiful, complicated bond between sisters and Cassandra’s decision to burn Jane Austen’s letters. What do you think it says about the lengths we go to protect the people we love?
SK: I think it says a lot about the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love, and the legacy of those we love after they are gone. There’s an old saying that “you live only as long as the last person who remembers you.” I think there’s something quite sacred about that. I love that Cassandra and her family were the last ones to have truly known Jane Austen. As for the rest of us, and as Cassandra aptly puts it, everything we need to know about Jane Austen exists within the pages of her books.
You’re jumping from Miss Austen to Foundation Season 3, a whole different world of space, time, and galactic drama. How’s that transition as an actor? Do you have to switch gears mentally, or do you find similarities in how you approach characters, no matter the setting?
SK: They are definitely very different roles, and it was quite strange jumping back and forth between them. I don’t really have a specific approach to any character – my process varies depending on the role. It was a bit of a gear shift going from Cassie to Bayta, but a fun one!
You’ve worked across genres like historical drama (Medici), psychological horror (Last Night in Soho), and now period drama and sci-fi. Which role felt most like, “Yes, this is me”, and which one made you think, “How I’m going to pull this off”?
SK: To be honest, every time I get offered a job, I’m happy for about five minutes, and then I freak out and start to worry. I’m definitely a worrier by nature... but Foundation was a job where I had real concerns about whether I could pull it off. But then you just have to remind yourself that they’ve chosen you for a reason, and that the best way to do justice to the part is to also try and enjoy it. Once I take the pressure off myself and stop worrying about “pulling it off,” I actually do my best work.
coat KULAKOVSKY, bodysuit WOLFORD, tights FALKE, earrings UNCOMMON MATTERS, shoes JENNIFER CHAMANDI
What’s the first thing you do after wrapping a big project? How do you unwind and recharge after stepping out of these transformative roles?
SK: I usually just want to come home and get into bed – where I usually remain for a week or so. Then, if there’s an opportunity, I like to take a trip away with a friend or my boyfriend. It can be a strange experience going from such a hectic schedule, working around the clock for months, to suddenly nothing. So I try to approach that transition carefully and make some nice plans for myself afterward.
If you had to pick a time period to actually live in, whether it’s Austen’s England, the Italian Renaissance of Medici, or even Foundation’s futuristic universe, where would you go? Or are you perfectly happy with 2025?
SK: Definitely not Renaissance Italy… I think going back in time at all would be tough – women have a hard enough time as it is in the present day! I guess it could be interesting to jump forward in time. Probably best for me to stay in 2025; I’m all over the place enough as it is.
And finally, what’s on your wish list for the future? A dream role, a genre you’ve yet to tackle, or perhaps even something behind the camera? Where’s Synnøve Karlsen heading next?
SK: Recently, I’ve been thinking that I’d love to do a classical play. Writing has always been a passion of mine, so I hope to someday get something out there. I have plenty of career dreams, but I quite like to keep them to myself – I’m a bit superstitious in that way. It also sounds a bit cliché, but my dream is just to carry on acting. I’m really grateful that I get to do this for a living.
Interview / Lucas Pontidas, Managing Editor, PIBE
This PIBE exclusive has been produced by:
Photography / David Reiss
Styling / Anna Hughes-Chamberlain
Make up / Joey Choy
Hair / Davide Barbieri
Talent / Synnøve Karlsen