SnoopyStyle Maud Lilly (Elaine Cassidy) grew up in the Institute of the Insane after her mother's death. She is taken in by her cold-hearted uncle (Charles Dance) who keeps her under his control. She doesn't know that she stands to inherit a fortune if she gets married. Richard Rivers (Rupert Evans) is a con-man who has weaseled his way into her life looking to elope with Maud and then steal her inheritance. Her maid, who is his accomplice, gets replaced and he loses access. He hopes to hire Sue Trinder (Sally Hawkins) as part of the scheme by slipping her in as the new maid. Sue was left to Mrs. Sucksby (Imelda Staunton) as a baby. They lived in the shadow of the hangman's noose with pickpockets and thieves making a low living in the London slums. However it's a world of secrets, double-crosses and hidden history.Sally Hawkins and Imelda Staunton are the best actors around and they don't disappoint. Elaine Cassidy starts out as a naive innocent and her turn is effectively done. The turn is shocking for people who haven't read the novel and it's lots of fun. The constant stream of reveals does get a bit tiring and the first half can be a bit slow. However this is still very watchable from start to finish.

Ruby Nattrass The work placed in to the mini series is amazing and had defiantly left me with a good feeling. The series is a tear jerker but worth every moment! I will have to admit that I, myself had not had high hopes yet defiantly the best lesbian love story I have watched so far!!! I will say I regret not having watch the series sooner. I watched the entire series throughout one sitting and I'm just wanting more! The series itself starts off slightly slow yet within 15 minutes you can hardly blink with out thinking you have missed out on something and other than that the storyline is so original and raw as well as addictive. The characters and ending is as smart and awesome as it can ever get and you would never be prepared for the twist. So without no further ado go enjoy yourself you will not regret it!

dan.adams A quite superb rendition of a grand Victorian tale. A bit of Dickens, a bit of Collins and a bit of something entirely new. This story is about girls,not usually my cup of tea but I found FS utterly compelling.What's more I warmed to the plight and feelings of the ladies.I really didn't give a fig about the fate of the men in this show. I'm trying to remember,when was I last left utterly bewildered by a sudden turn of events at the end of Part One of a mini-series?Never,as I recall. But,rather like a cliff-hanger movie serial,all became clear as the tale thus-far, was recapped from another point of view. I really have no criticism of Fingersmith.I watch mini-series night and day and somehow had missed this one which I can now say,"is a jewel among mini-series",as it's heroines are amongst literary characters.

wondernat I'm usually disappointed by what the media dubs "lesbian" movies these days: murderous bisexuals; psychotic murderous lesbians; women who experiment with other women, but end up with men at the end; ridiculously good-looking women who only get w/ each other to turn men on, etc.Thankfully, FINGERSMITH is on a very high pedestal above this garbage. It is a credible love story acted MARVELOUSLY by every cast member, down to the least of the supporting actors. Aside from having a very engaging central conflict, the romance between the heroines is well developed and believable thanks to Cassidy and Hawkins.I have also seen TIPPING THE VELVET, but FINGERSMITH is far superior to the former, both in character/conflict development and the quality of the acting.FINGERSMITH is both satisfying and enjoyable to watch, offering lesbians everywhere a great follow-up act to BOUND.