Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer Boycotts New Show, Donates Salary

Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer declines to promote her new show, The Lady, and donates her salary following revelations about a figure involved. The ITV and BritBox drama TV show follows a Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews, who worked under Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson as a royal dresser. Dormer will portray Ferguson in the new series.

Now, Variety reports that Dormer will not be promoting The Lady after learning of connections between the real-life Sarah Ferguson and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her decision comes after a 2011 leaked email wherein Ferguson apologized to Epstein for cutting contact after his first imprisonment in 2008.

In addition, Dormer will be donating her salary to multiple charities focused on combating child abuse. Making a statement about her decision, she called Ferguson’s connection to Epstein “inexcusable,” saying it would go against her values to promote The Lady. She also named the organization she will be donating her salary to. Check out what Dormer had to say below:

When I agreed to take the role in ‘The Lady,’ I knew portraying the script’s Sarah Ferguson would require nuance. People are layered, their journeys are full of highs and lows, and as an actor, my job is to lean into those elements and bring them to life with honesty and empathy. Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson’s behavior, which I believe is inexcusable. For that reason, I will not be taking part in the promotion of the project.

In keeping with my commitment to the well-being of children, I have donated my entire salary from this project to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (hosted by Barnardo’s).

Natalie Dormer sitting at a table outside in The Wasp — The Wasp stills

In addition, Dormer stated she didn’t lay blame at the feet of production company Left Bank, whom she praised as an “extraordinary company” she was glad to have worked with. But, given that she was portraying the Duchess of York, and given the recent revelations about her positive connections to Epstein, she can’t in good faith promote The Lady anymore.

According to a spokesperson for Sarah Ferguson, her emails to Epstein were written to counteract his threats to sue her for defamation, and she is regretful of her association with him.

Dormer has had plenty of recent success in film and TV recently, from the critically praised film Audrey’s Children, about Ronald McDonald House Charities figure Dr. Audrey Evans, and leading the South African crime thriller White Lies. Her moral standing emphasizes how she’s unwilling to compromise on promoting something where she played someone so connected to Epstein.

It’s unclear what this means for The Lady, however, which is expected to be released sometime in late 2025 or early 2026. The project is unlikely to be cancelled, but Dormer’s refusal to promote it means it may not get as much traction as it could have with her involvement.

Even though Dormer’s lack of involvement may make promotion of The Lady more difficult, her decision not to promote it and donate her salary is admirable. She’s sticking to her values after learning of Ferguson’s Epstein connection, though still has nothing but positive things to say about the production of the miniseries itself.

Given Dormer’s best projects always see her as front-and-center, though, she’s probably still delivered a very memorable performance with The Lady. Even though she won’t be promoting it, her involvement likely ensured Ferguson was portrayed with the kind of tact Dormer always brings to her onscreen presence.