Audiences Get A Glimpse Of Effie Gray

The first trailer for Dakota Fanning’s new film, Effie Gray, has hit appliances with video playing abilities everywhere and showcases Emma Thompson’s fourth scripted venture in which she also co-stars. The film is a British biographical production directed by Richard Laxton and charts one of history’s oddest Victorian love triangles between art critic John Ruskin (Greg Wise), his once childhood friend and subsequent wife, Effie Gray (Dakota Fanning) and her eventual lover, painter John Everett Mallais (Tom Sturridge).

Dakota Fanning takes on the title role in Effie Gray

Ruskin was a hugely influential figure, particularly in the latter half of the 19th Century: scholarly; brilliant; but socially awkward. In 1848, he married flirtatious and beautiful Effie but their love story started badly when, on their wedding night, they failed to consummate their union.

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Ruskin confirmed this failure in his statement to his lawyer during the annulment proceedings and wrote: "It may be thought strange that I could abstain from a woman who to most people was so attractive. But, though her face was beautiful, her person was not formed to excite passion. On the contrary, there were certain circumstances in her person which completely checked it."

Historians have speculated on Ruskin’s reasons for repulsion including revulsion of his wife’s smell or pubic hair or her menstrual blood. Others have suggested his religious scruples or his aversion to children may have prevented their union.

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Gray and Ruskin were married for six years, after which Effie successfully obtained an annulment before, a year later, marrying Pre-Raphaelite painter, John Everett Millais whom she would stay with for 41 years.

The film, also starring David Suchet, Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, nearly didn’t make it to the big screen following two separate accusations of plagiarism by two different playwrights. Fortunately for audiences, and Thompson, a judge ruled in favour of the film on both occasions and it opens in UK cinemas on 10 October.

Watch the trailer here.

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