‘This feels like my childhood!'

Sabrina Bartlett on life as a Larkin and following in Catherine ZetaJones’ footsteps

- IAN MACEWAN

Sabrina Bartlett had big riding boots to fill when she was cast as Mariette Larkin. Catherine ZetaJones became a household name when she played Mariette in the much-loved 1990s adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, and ITV’s 2021 version, The Larkins, also has Ma and Pop’s eldest at the heart of the drama.

Mariette is torn between her desire to leave home and her attraction to love-struck taxman Charley (Tok Stephen), plus dashing property developer Tom (Stephen Hagan), who invites her on a date in this week’s episode…

We caught up with Sabrina, 30, whose TV credits include period drama hits Victoria, Poldark and Bridgerton, to find out more…

How have you found becoming one of the Larkins?

I felt very at home, but it was also a bit like falling down the rabbit hole, having a family of eight overnight!