Amazon’sMy Lady Janeincludes several intriguing characters, but some of them are a cut above the rest. Adapted from Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows’ novel,My Lady Janeis a retelling of the real-life JaneGreystory, the woman who had a brief reign as England’s first queen. Set in the 16th century, the series sees the titular character’s unexpected rise to the throne and the steps she takes to bring unity between Verities and Ethians before she is sentenced to death.
The characters in the eight-episode Amazon Prime Video show each bring something unique to the story.While the series has a lot going for it, including the addition of a fantasy twist to a British monarch’s story and a compelling plot,MyLady Jane’s charactersare what made the series so enthralling. However, it’s worth noting that although almost every character inMy Lady Janehas interesting qualities, some leave a lasting impression.
10Lady Margaret Grey
The Scheming Aunt
Jane’s youngest sister, Margaret, is always up to mischief.As the prankster in the series, Mary contributed to some of the funniest moments in the show. She helps Jane pretend she has the affliction on her wedding day and is also fascinated with learning how to swordfight. The youngest Grey daughter isn’t heavily featured in the show, but every time she is, she lights up the screen.
Margaret is a fascinating character because, for someone young, she is incredibly self-aware and knows exactly what she wants.
Every series needs a diabolical character, and Margaret was the one inMy Lady Jane.Margaret is a fascinating character because, for someone young, she is incredibly self-aware and knows exactly what she wants. The fact that she murdered Lord Leicester without thinking twice shows that she was willing to do anything for her sisters. She’s not only smart but is loyal to a fault, which is something she proves every time she disobeys her mother to help Jane and Katherine.
9Susanna
The Loyal Servant
As the eldest of the Grey children, Jane didn’t have a close relationship with her sisters.Her eccentricity meant that she didn’t make friends easily but that all changed when she met Susanna, who quickly became her closest confidant.Unbeknownst to Jane,Susanna is an Ethian, something that is revealed when the two run away when Jane discovers she has to marry Lord Guildford Dudley.
While Susanna doesn’t have a big role inMy Lady Jane, her presence in the series is still memorable.Susanna is important because she shows Jane that there is a whole other world out there that she knows nothing about or understands. Although hiding her Ethian side wasn’t great, Susanna contributed to how Jane began to view her kind as humans, and not just beasts that needed to be eradicated from the face of the earth.
8Lord Stan Dudley
The Ambitious Father
Lord Stan Dudley appears as Frances Grey’s lover. Stan has an incredible sense of humor that adds light to the show.He is also in love with Lady Frances Grey,but she often uses him to get information that his father is keeping from her. Despite knowing that Frances doesn’t exactly feel the same way, Lord Stan still tries to win her over.
8 Reasons My Lady Jane Season 2 Needs To Happen (& Amazon Should Green-Light It)
After the massive success of My Lady Jane season 1, there’s no reason why Amazon shouldn’t start production on season 2 as soon as possible.
It’s easy to dismiss Stan as just Lady Frances Grey’s lover, but there is more to him than meets the eye.Stan is not only sweet and loyal, but he loves his family. Every scene that he appears in adds something interesting to the series, more so because he is funny without really intending to be. Stan and Frances’ relationship inMy Lady Janeis one of the best subplots in the show.
7Lady Frances Grey
The Unwilling Mother
Jane’s mother, Lady Frances Grey, spends most of the series catering to her self-interest.The Grey matriarch forces Jane to marry Lord Guildford Dudley so that her family doesn’t have to live in poverty. When she discovers that the Guildfords don’t actually have money, she gets Katherine to marry the despicable Lord Leicester despite promising Jane that she wouldn’t do so.
Frances is one of the most intriguing characters in the series. Although she is aware that her ambition isn’t always good for her daughters, Frances is unapologetically herself.
She’s willing to use anyone to live a luxurious life. Fortunately, Frances does grow as a character at the end of the series because she helps Jane and Lord Guildford, proving that somewhere deep down, she does love her daughter even though she doesn’t show it.
6Lord Dudley
The Tragic Husband
Guildford’s father, Lord Dudley, is one of the most important characters inMy Lady Jane.Lord Dudley knowingly has his son marry Jane, even though Guildford is an Ethian and has no money. Given the fact that Lord Dudley is actually in debt, he has even more reason for Guildford to not only be Jane’s consort but the King of England as well.
My Lady Jane Season 1’s 9 Biggest Unanswered Questions & Mysteries
Prime Video’s My Lady Jane season 1 only covers half the story from the book, so many questions and mysteries exist for season 2 to explore further.
My Lady Janecertainly has no shortage of ambitious characters, but Lord Dudley really is a cut above the rest. What makes Lord Dudley stand out is that he is a multifaceted character. He plays a key role in making Jane queen, thus placing his son in a position of power.Like Lady Frances, Lord Dudley is unapologetic about what he is willing to do to have influence.Although he is mostly known for his cunning ways, Lord Dudley has a soft spot for his children and wants what’s best for them, despite going about it in the wrong way.
5Princess Mary
The Future Queen
Portrayed by Kate O’Flynn, Mary is the main villain in the series. As the eldest of King Henry’s children, Mary was the one who should have been England’s ruler. However, her half-brother, Edward, is the one who ended up becoming king. For most of the series, Mary comes up with diabolical ways to murder Edward but always fails. When Jane is crowned queen, Mary is justifiably upset and continues her plot to usurp the throne.
Mary’s plot to kill her brother is obviously inexcusable, but it’s also easy to see where she is coming from. As the eldest, she should have been the one to rule England but was instead passed over because she was female.The fact that she fights for her rights, albeit in a deranged way, is what makes her one of the most intriguing characters. Her ambition is actually admirable, more so because she was fighting for herself during a time when women were expected to keep quiet and accept the role that men had chosen for them.
4King Edward VI
The Child King
Jane’s cousin and confidant, Edward, is one of the sweetest characters inMy Lady Jane.The sickly king ascended to the throne at the tender age of nine and had to rule a kingdom racked with division. Unbeknownst to him, Edward was being poisoned by Mary and Lord Seymour. Since he thought he was dying, Lord Dudley convinced him to make Jane his heir so that her son would one day be the king. SinceMy Lady Janewas canceled, whether Edward resumed his rule is still a mystery.
While for most of the series, he does nothing to stop the massacre of the Ethianians, his interactions with Petunia and Fitz help him see the error of his ways.
Initially, Edward seems like a pushover, but he can stand up for himself when the situation calls for it.For instance, when he discovered that his sister was trying to kill him, Edward didn’t run away and hide but sought to find the evidence that would prove that she was behind his unusual illness.While for most of the series, he does nothing to stop the massacre of the Ethianians, his interactions with Petunia and Fitz help him see the error of his ways.
3Lord Seymour
The Powerful Protector
A member of King Edward VI’s court, Lord Seymour is one of the antagonists inMy Lady Jane.Seymour is in love with Edward’s half-sister, Mary, and he helps her plot how she could usurp the throne and become the queen of England. He is incredibly devoted to his paramour and does everything she asks without question. Seymour tries and fails several times to murder Edward, but it doesn’t lessen his enthusiasm for helping Mary achieve her dream.
The main reason Lord Seymour stands out is that he is a typical villain whose mistakes contribute to what makes the show so funny.His never-give-up attitude and puppy love are some of the things that makeMy Lady Janeso entertaining.Although Seymour views himself as a smart man, the number of times he fails to properly execute his plans says otherwise. Like Mary, Seymour is cruel, and cunning and will use anyone to get what he wants, but all of these characteristics are what make him a compelling character.
2Lord Guildford Dudley
The Doomed Husband
Lord Guildford Dudley is Jane’s primary love interest and her husband in the series. Guildford, who is actually an Ethian, is forced into marrying Jane by his ambitious father.Unlike other Ethians, Guildford isn’t able to transform at will.Every day at sunrise, he turns into a horse and only becomes a man when the sun sets. He marries Jane with the hope that she will be able to cure his Ethianism, but he learns that such a thing isn’t possible.
Guildford is an incredible character because of his bad-boy persona and devotion to Jane.He does a great job of being the tortured hero that audiences root for. While Guildford is known for his charm, he is a much deeper character. He struggles with his past and has a difficult time accepting his Ethianism, but he eventually comes to love all parts of himself.
1Lady Jane Grey
The Nine-Day Queen
Portrayed by Emily Bader, Lady Jane Grey is the protagonist inMy Lady Jane. Of all the characters in the show, Lady Jane probably has the most interesting plotline because of how her story develops. She goes from detesting marriage to being wedded to an Ethian falling in love with him and then becoming the first queen of England. The series does an incredible job of showing how much Jane changes as her life takes an unexpected turn.
What makes Jane stand out from all the characters in the series are her feminist views and refusal to accept the status quo. As the first queen of England, Jane didn’t do what was expected of her but instead did what she believed was right by standing up for the Ethians because they were being marginalized in her kingdom. Her kind heart, resourcefulness, smart mouth, and wit are what make her such a compelling character. The fact that she wasn’t a queen inthe season finale ofMy Lady Janeis a shame because England could have benefited from having a leader like her.
My Lady Jane
Cast
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
