Romola Garai 'excited' to play Emma in BBC's latest Jane Austen adaptation

London, Apr 4(ANI): English-Hungarian actress Romola Garai has landed the leading role in BBC's latest Jane Austen adaptation, a production of Emma.The 26-year-old will play the "handsome, clever and rich" heroine in the lavish BBC One costume drama that will be screened in the autumn.

Garai was cast as Knightley's younger sister in Atonement and the two actresses are firm friends.

After appearances in several television dramas, including Dodie Smith's I Capture The Castle and George Eliot's Daniel Deronda, Emma will be Garai's highest profile role to date.

"I'm incredibly excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Emma, who is arguably Jane Austen's greatest heroine. I've loved the book for many years and she is a character very close to my heart - so it's a great privilege to now be playing her," The Telegraph quoted her, as saying.

The high calibre cast of Emma includes Sir Michael Gambon as the matchmaking heroine's doting father and Jonny Lee Miller as her suitor, Knightley. Filming begins next week at locations in Kent and Surrey. (ANI)