The Invisible Woman

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The Invisible Woman

R

2013

1h 51m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

153 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Nelly Wharton Robinson (Felicity Jones) recalls a fateful time from her past when, as a young actress, she met author Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) and secretly became his mistress and muse.

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Critics Consensus

Its deliberate pace will frustrate some viewers, but for fans of handsomely mounted period drama, The Invisible Woman offers visual as well as emotional cinematic nourishment.

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Felicity Jones gives a strong depiction of repressed emotion. Up against Fiennes' Dickens -- all bonhomie, energy, mercurial self-consciousness -- she's a melancholy figure.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 16, 2014

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David Stratton

The Australian

The Invisible Woman , overall, is a film of intelligence and subtlety, and Jones's performance as Nelly reflects exactly those qualities - she brings Nelly, with all her complexities, doubts and conflicted loyalties, vividly to life.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 16, 2014

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Fiennes and his team recreate 19th-century England with a precision that, in its more stifling moments, rekindles memories of Merchant Ivory.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 14, 2014

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Comes with great expectations, most of which, unfortunately are not met.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 1, 2021

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

A dark, brooding piece, Fiennes's film is a fairly trite and superficial rendering of an episode in the life of one of the greatest and most popular writers of all time...

Aug 13, 2020

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Love period pieces. Love Ralph Fiennes. Pacing is a little off and is frustrating to the watching the plot unfold.

Jun 9, 2020

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Glafira Regina O

Director Ralph Fiennes made a biographical melodrama about the love affair between actress Ellen Ternan and Charles Dickens. The first hour of the film was very interesting and captivating to watch, but toward the end it gets a bit boring. I can't say that I really liked it, but I also can't say I regret watching it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Audience Member

Story line drama telling by honestly, just An Author selfish love himself destroy life of teenager girl. I cannot accept him!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/08/24

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isla s

This is a slow and emotional watch, ideal for fans of period drama. I found it quite engrossing and intriguing to get to know Dickens' love interest at the time its set. The cast do well giving good performances and the dialogue was quite thoughtful at times, although at other times its more a case of what isn't said, than what is and indeed I ebjoyed the dialogue free scenes as they had an almost dream like quality to the and allow the viewer to contemplate what the characters on screen may be thinking etc. Its a thoughtful watch, a bit sobering at times, perhaps even somewhat haunting but a good one. In any case I'd recommend this film. I even enjoyed the piano music played while the credits rolled at the end of the film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Barclay

The train wreck which was the climax was seriously flawed. Whether Mr. Dickens was forced to betray and then abandon his injured lover was as motiveless as Nelly's subsequent sequestering alone by herself. There as so many loose ends in this script that it must be summarized as a loose end which probably has little relevance to the real Charles Dickens.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/22

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georgan g

Beautiful to watch. Acting perfect. Based on truth.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Bill

Your review will help others decide whether to watch.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/21

Full Review

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Ralph Fiennes

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Charles Dickens

Felicity Jones

Nelly

Kristin Scott Thomas

Mrs. Ternan

Tom Hollander

Wilkie Collins

Joanna Scanlan

Catherine Dickens

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Synopsis

Nelly Wharton Robinson (Felicity Jones) recalls a fateful time from her past when, as a young actress, she met author Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) and secretly became his mistress and muse.

Director: Ralph Fiennes
Producer: Gabrielle Tana, Stewart Mackinnon, Christian Baute, Carolyn Marks Blackwood
Screenwriter: Abi Morgan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Headline Pictures, Magnolia Mae
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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