--- title: "The Invisible Woman" year: 2013 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-invisible-woman" fi1m_id: "the-invisible-woman" imdb_id: "tt1700845" tmdb_id: 111473 wikidata_id: "Q7742499" fi1m_score: 67 critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 19 published: "2026-10-01T22:55:23.643554+00:00" updated: "2026-10-01T22:55:29.773474+00:00" region: "HK" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Invisible Woman (2013) Directed by Ralph Fiennes · 1h 51m · Drama, History, Romance ## Identity The Invisible Woman - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-invisible-woman - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-invisible-woman - **IMDb ID:** tt1700845 - **TMDB ID:** 111473 - **Wikidata ID:** Q7742499 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700845/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/111473, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7742499 **Fi1m score: 67** · Critics 66 from 19 reviews *In a sentence:* Joanna Scanlan quietly makes Charles Dickens look like rather a lot of work > Ralph Fiennes’s Dickens romance is worth considering for its performances, though the central relationship stays frustratingly distant. Felicity Jones does careful work; Joanna Scanlan, as the wife, makes the stronger impression. ## Synopsis Young actress Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones) attracts the attention of Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes), the married Victorian writer. She is drawn to him, but the prospect of a romance conflicts with her sense of propriety. Catherine Dickens (Joanna Scanlan), his wife, stands to be hurt by a relationship that already gives her husband more freedom than Nelly. Nelly must work out what she wants from Dickens, and what a place in his life would require her to accept. His marriage remains an obstacle to their attachment. ## Review Ralph Fiennes wants to give Nelly Ternan a life of her own in a romance dominated by Charles Dickens. *The Invisible Woman* is a decent, frustratingly distant drama, with performances that deserve a less cautious screenplay. Its sympathy for Nelly is never in question. The problem is that Felicity Jones has to supply so much of what we need to understand about her. As Dickens, Ralph Fiennes supplies the energy that such a cautious film needs. His liveliness makes Nelly’s attraction credible, and he avoids smoothing away the difficulties of the man she wants. Felicity Jones gives Nelly’s reserve a recognisable tension, making us sense both romantic expectation and the effort of keeping it in check. The performance asks for close attention, though there are passages when the film relies on her presence to hold our interest without giving her enough to play. Joanna Scanlan, playing Catherine Dickens, makes a sharper impression in much less time. We were moved by her resignation, because she makes the wife seem to understand the painful situation without having the freedom to change it. She gives Catherine an emotional life beyond being an impediment to somebody else’s romance. The performance brings the marriage into focus and makes us wish the central attachment were drawn with the same clarity. Abi Morgan’s screenplay gives proper weight to the unequal terms of the affair. Nelly’s wish to preserve her respectability is not treated as mere fussiness, which matters in a story so dependent on what she feels able to ask for. Yet understanding her hesitation only takes us so far. The romance needs to make her desire equally clear, and too often we are left with the broad predicament of a young woman attached to a married man. Rob Hardy’s composed images make Felicity Jones’s guarded expression worth studying, and the visual care helps sustain the quieter passages. Their polish can also make the unhappiness seem too neatly presented. Maria Djurkovic’s production design is equally assured about the Victorian setting. That confidence in the period detail is useful when the scenes themselves are slow to develop. Nicolas Gaster gives the performances space in the editing, though the movement between timelines is less persuasive. Instead of deepening our involvement, the structure can make a slow film feel further interrupted. Ilan Eshkeri’s score does little to overcome that reserve; the actors’ quieter moments supply the strongest feeling. At times the measured pace becomes tedious, and the film’s consideration starts to feel like an unwillingness to move on. Period romance can accommodate this much restraint, but it needs to make the things people cannot say unmistakable. The actors sometimes achieve that, especially Joanna Scanlan, who makes Catherine’s disappointment easy to understand. For viewers interested in Dickens, or in the women expected to fit around him, there is enough here to warrant the patience. Choose it for the performances, with no expectation of being swept into the affair. *Fi1m score 67, published 1 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond positively to The Invisible Woman, with praise clustering around the performances rather than the affair itself. Felicity Jones’s controlled, expressive portrayal of Nelly draws the broadest approval, while Ralph Fiennes’s Dickens is frequently admired for his energy and humanity. Joanna Scanlan’s brief appearance as Dickens’s wife also makes a strong impression. Supporters find the relationship sensitively handled and emotionally affecting, and the film’s visual compositions earn approval even from some less persuaded by its storytelling. The spread is wide, however: what some find moving, others find too restrained to engage with. Reservations centre on stately pacing, excessive polish and an affair that does not always become a compelling drama. The New Yorker admires Fiennes but finds the relationship insufficiently clear; Digital Spy faults the way the timelines fit together. Even favourable reviews acknowledge stretches of tedium or heavy-handedness, making this a qualified rather than settled consensus. ## Straight answers **Is The Invisible Woman worth watching?** *The Invisible Woman* is worth considering for its performances and its interest in the women around Dickens; we scored it 67. We recommend it chiefly to patient viewers drawn to period drama: Joanna Scanlan makes Catherine Dickens affecting, but the central romance remains distant and the measured pace sometimes becomes tedious. **How long is The Invisible Woman, and what is it rated?** *The Invisible Woman* runs 1h 51m. It is a drama and history film. **Where can I watch The Invisible Woman in Hong Kong?** *The Invisible Woman* is available to rent from Apple TV from HK$28.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is The Invisible Woman, and is it suitable for children?** *The Invisible Woman* carries a UK 12 certificate, so it is not a choice for younger children. The certificate alone does not establish how violent or frightening it is; our review chiefly identifies adult relationship tensions, marital unhappiness and a slow, restrained approach that is more likely to engage adults than children. **How does The Invisible Woman compare to Bright Star?** *The Invisible Woman* is our weaker recommendation beside [*Bright Star*](https://film.one/film/bright-star), which gives more room to the woman’s daily life within a literary attachment. We find *Bright Star* more affecting, despite a disruptive supporting performance; *The Invisible Woman* suits an interest in Dickens, but its strong actors cannot quite overcome the central romance’s distance. **Is The Invisible Woman based on a true story or a book?** *The Invisible Woman* is adapted from a book by Claire Tomalin and concerns the relationship between Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan. Prior reading is not necessary to follow the romantic predicament, though we cannot establish the adaptation’s fidelity from our review; our reservation is that the film leaves Nelly’s desire insufficiently clear. **What should I watch after The Invisible Woman?** After *The Invisible Woman*, try [*Bright Star*](https://film.one/film/bright-star) (2009, Fi1m 82): Another literary attachment, with more room for the woman’s daily life. Then [*The Heiress*](https://film.one/film/the-heiress) (1949, Fi1m 90): Family pressure and romantic hope, with a far sharper dramatic edge; and [*In the Mood for Love*](https://film.one/film/in-the-mood-for-love) (2000, Fi1m 91): Restrained desire made painfully clear through rooms, clothes and missed chances. ### Reviews we read (19) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (90/100, inferred): Turan calls the film exceptional and praises its sensitive, evenhanded treatment of a complicated relationship. He singles out Ralph Fiennes’s performance and Felicity Jones’s expressive portrayal of Nelly Ternan. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-invisible-woman-review-ralph-fiennes-20131225-story.html) - **Variety**, Scott Foundas (90/100, inferred): Foundas finds the film exceptionally classy, vibrant, and brilliantly acted. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s emotionally controlled performance as Nelly. [Read](https://variety.com/2013/film/global/the-invisible-woman-review-telluride-toronto-1200601472/) - **Radio Times**, Trevor Johnston (4/5): Johnston gives the film a positive four-star review. He singles out Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of Dickens as particularly effective. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9w0pv8/the-invisible-woman/) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The review describes the film as a touching insight into its subject. It notes that, despite the title’s superhero-like suggestion, the film’s special powers are not superheroic. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-invisible-woman) - **The Guardian**, Catherine Shoard (75/100, inferred): Shoard finds the film a mature, affecting romance, though its approach can be heavy-handed. She singles out Nelly’s reticence and the unusual power dynamic as the story’s source of force. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/06/the-invisible-woman-toronto-2013-review) - **Film Comment**, Graham Fuller (70/100, inferred): Fuller’s assessment appears positive, describing the film as a sensitive account of Dickens’s relationship with a young actress. The page provides no further detail about what the review singles out for praise. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/the-invisible-woman-ralph-fiennes-review/) - **IndieWire**, Chris Willman (B-): Willman finds the familiar affair story dramatically limited, though Fiennes gives a strong performance. He singles out Joanna Scanlan’s brief, affecting portrayal of Dickens’s wife as more compelling than the titular character. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/telluride-review-the-invisible-woman-starring-ralph-fiennes-felicity-jones-94205/) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film richly affecting despite occasional over-polish and a clumsy final scene. He especially praises Ralph Fiennes’s vivid performance as Dickens and Felicity Jones’s startlingly vivid portrayal of Nelly. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/movie-review-the-invisible-woman.html) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page appears to be a review of the matching film, but its verdict is inaccessible. The blocked page provides no praise or complaint to identify. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-invisible-woman-2013) - **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall prevents access to the critic’s verdict. No praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-invisible-woman/5060141.article) - **Empire**, Angie Errigo (60/100, inferred): Errigo finds the film beautifully crafted but frustratingly elusive in its emotional engagement. She particularly praises Felicity Jones’s performance and the exquisite visual compositions. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/invisible-woman-review/) - **Slant Magazine**, Andrew Schenker (2/4): Schenker finds the film flat and conventional, with its central romance lacking conviction. He praises Joanna Scanlan’s performance as Dickens’s wife for bringing resigned understanding to the role. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-invisible-woman/) - **Evening Standard** (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film beautifully acted and elegantly shot, but ultimately a fudge that misses the heart of Nelly’s story. They single out the tense encounter between Nelly and Dickens’s wife as a harsh, lovely moment the film needed more of. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-invisible-woman-film-review-9113866.html) - **The New Yorker**, David Denby (35/100, inferred): Denby finds the film handsome but ultimately unsatisfying, with the Dickens–Ternan affair failing to develop into a compelling story. He praises Ralph Fiennes’s energetic portrayal of Dickens and the film’s Victorian recreation, but faults the story for leaving the relationship’s nature unclear. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/01/06/home-truths-2) - **Paste**, Geoff Berkshire (8.9): Berkshire finds the film a radical, emotionally balanced biographical story. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s nuanced performance and the film’s striking visual motifs. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-invisible-woman) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (4/5): Pape finds the film refined and compelling, though it occasionally becomes tedious. He praises Abi Morgan’s screenplay for making Dickens feel human and giving Nelly equal depth. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-invisible-woman-review/) - **Den of Geek**, Ivan Radford (3 out of 5): Radford finds the film thoughtful and engaging, though its pacing can feel overly stately. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s performance and the cast’s quiet, intimate moments. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-invisible-woman-review/) - **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (2/5): The review finds the film patchy, with Dickens remaining remote and the story’s timelines failing to come together. It praises Felicity Jones’s presence and her portrayal of Nelly’s struggle between propriety and romantic dreams. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a542753/the-invisible-woman-review-ralph-fiennes-directs-charles-dickens-drama/) - **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film overly tasteful and emotionally restrained, leaving Nellie insufficiently developed. He singles out Felicity Jones’s face and movement as memorable. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-invisible-woman-2013-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Details - **Director:** Ralph Fiennes - **Director:** Ralph Fiennes - **Writer:** Abi Morgan - **Novel:** Claire Tomalin - **Cinematography:** Rob Hardy - **Editor:** Nicolas Gaster - **Music:** Ilan Eshkeri - **Production design:** Maria Djurkovic - **Costume design:** Michael O'Connor - **Producer:** Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Stewart Mackinnon, Christian Baute - **Cast:** Ralph Fiennes as Charles Dickens; Felicity Jones as Nelly Ternan; Joanna Scanlan as Catherine Dickens; Kristin Scott Thomas as Catherine Ternan; Tom Hollander as Wilkie Collins; Michelle Fairley as Caroline Graves; John Kavanagh as Reverend Benham; Amanda Hale as Fanny Ternan - **Runtime:** 1h 51m - **First release (the US):** 31 August 2013 - **Genres:** Drama, History, Romance - **Budget:** $12 million - **Box office:** $3 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV77JsmAAAo ## Where to watch in Hong Kong - Apple TV: rent HK$28.00, hd - Apple TV: buy HK$98.00, hd *Checked 2026-10-01.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, ID, IE, IT, JP, KR, MX, NO, PA, PH, PL, SE, SG, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2014: Best Costume Design (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Bright Star* (2009), Fi1m 82: Another literary attachment, with more room for the woman’s daily life. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bright-star.md) - *The Heiress* (1949), Fi1m 90: Family pressure and romantic hope, with a far sharper dramatic edge. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-heiress.md) - *The Story of Adèle H.* (1975): For a more unsettling account of a woman consumed by attachment. - *In the Mood for Love* (2000), Fi1m 91: Restrained desire made painfully clear through rooms, clothes and missed chances. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/in-the-mood-for-love.md) - *The Wife* (2017): A famous writer’s marriage examined with particular attention to the neglected partner. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-invisible-woman