The Invisible Woman (2013), directed by Ralph Fiennes, is a beautifully crafted biographical drama that explores the secret and complex relationship between the famous English writer Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan, a young actress who became his lover. The film stars Fiennes as Dickens, Felicity Jones as Nelly, with supporting performances by Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander. Based on the book The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin, the movie offers a poignant, introspective look at the personal life of one of the most celebrated authors of the Victorian era.

Set in 1850s London, the film follows Nelly Ternan, a young woman caught in the shadow of a great literary figure. Nelly is introduced to Charles Dickens when she is just 18 years old and, despite their age gap and his status, they begin a passionate and secretive affair. The movie carefully examines their relationship, which was not widely known at the time, and shows how Nelly struggled with her love for Dickens, her own aspirations, and the societal constraints placed on her as a woman in the 19th century.

Felicity Jones delivers a remarkable performance as Nelly Ternan, capturing the emotional depth and inner conflict of a woman who is both drawn to and trapped by her relationship with Dickens. Nelly is portrayed as a quiet, intelligent, and strong-willed woman who finds herself both inspired by and isolated by Dickens’s brilliance. Her role as Dickens’s lover is a source of both joy and profound personal sacrifice, and Jones portrays her vulnerability and strength with grace.