If you’ve watched Call the Midwife in recent years, you’ve likely seen a young nun with a gentle smile and a quiet determination. That’s Sister Frances, played by Ella Bruccoleri. Now, the British actress is stepping into a very different role: Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s world, in the BBC’s upcoming adaptation The Other Bennet Sister. Here’s what we know about her career, her background, and why she left Poplar.

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Nationality: British ·
Education: Oxford School of Drama ·
Known For: Sister Frances in Call the Midwife, Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister ·
Current Role: Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister (BBC)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • British actress from North Yorkshire (Wikipedia)
  • Played Sister Frances in Call the Midwife from 2018–2022 (Wikipedia)
  • Graduated from Oxford School of Drama (Wikipedia)
  • Lead role in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister (2025) (BBC Media Centre)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact birth date and age
  • Marital status and partner
  • Parents’ identities
  • Whether she has a role in Bridgerton (confirmed no)
3Timeline signal
  • 2018–2022: Sister Frances in Call the Midwife (Wikipedia)
  • 2025: Stars as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister (BBC Media Centre)
4What’s next
  • Lead role in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister (10-part series) (BBC Media Centre)
  • Based on Janice Hadlow’s novel reimagining Mary Bennet (BBC Media Centre)
Key facts about Ella Bruccoleri
Full Name Ella May Bruccoleri
Nationality British
Education Oxford School of Drama
Known For Sister Frances in Call the Midwife, Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister
Years Active 2018–present
Notable Co-Stars Linda Bassett (Nurse Crane), Jenny Agutter

The table shows a performer whose career arc is tightening around two major BBC period productions.

Why did Ella Bruccoleri leave Midwife?

Ella Bruccoleri left Call the Midwife after series 12, which aired in 2022. She had played Sister Frances for four seasons, from 2018 to 2022, according to Wikipedia. The decision was reportedly to pursue other opportunities, including her new lead role as Mary Bennet in the BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister.

Reason for departure from Call the Midwife

  • She left after series 12 to pursue other opportunities (Radio Times described it as a shift after her work on Call the Midwife).
  • She played Sister Frances from 2018 to 2022 (Wikipedia).
  • She is now starring as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister (BBC Media Centre).

The implication: Bruccoleri’s departure was a calculated step toward a leading role, moving from an ensemble period drama to a title character in a literary adaptation.

What is Ella Bruccoleri’s nationality?

Ella Bruccoleri is a British actress. She was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, to an Italian family, according to Wikipedia.

Nationality

  • Ella Bruccoleri is a British actress (Wikipedia).
  • Her nationality is British.

Ethnicity

  • She was born to an Italian family (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Her Italian heritage gives her a distinctive background, but she identifies as British and was raised in North Yorkshire.

Was Ella Bruccoleri in Bridgerton?

No, Ella Bruccoleri has not appeared in Bridgerton. She is known for Call the Midwife and The Other Bennet Sister, not the Shondaland series.

Ella Bruccoleri’s role in Bridgerton

  • She has not appeared in Bridgerton (confirmed by her filmography on Wikipedia).
  • She is known for Call the Midwife and The Other Bennet Sister.

The catch: The confusion may stem from both being period dramas set in the 19th/20th century, but Bruccoleri’s roles are distinctly BBC, not Netflix.

How old is Ella Bruccoleri?

Her exact birth date is not publicly listed on Wikipedia or IMDb. She graduated from the Oxford School of Drama in 2017, which suggests she is likely in her late 20s or early 30s.

Birth date

  • Her exact birth date is not publicly listed on Wikipedia or IMDb.
  • She graduated from Oxford School of Drama in 2017 (Wikipedia).

Age

  • She graduated from Oxford School of Drama, indicating she is likely in her late 20s or early 30s.
Why this matters

For fans wondering about her age, the lack of public data is a deliberate privacy choice. Unlike many actors, Bruccoleri keeps her personal details off the record.

The catch: Without a confirmed birth year, any age estimate is speculative. The best anchor is her 2017 drama school graduation.

What is Ella Bruccoleri doing now?

She is starring as Mary Bennet in the BBC adaptation The Other Bennet Sister, a ten-part series based on Janice Hadlow’s novel. The show is set across Longbourn, London, and the Lake District, with the Brecon Beacons standing in for the latter, according to Radio Times.

Current projects

  • She is starring as Mary Bennet in the BBC adaptation The Other Bennet Sister (BBC Media Centre).

Upcoming roles

  • Lead role in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister (2025) (BBC Media Centre).
The upshot

Bruccoleri is transitioning from a supporting role in a long-running series to a leading part in a major BBC adaptation. This is a significant career leap that will define her next phase.

Timeline

  • 2018–2022: Played Sister Frances in BBC One’s Call the Midwife (Wikipedia)
  • 2025 (expected): Stars as Mary Bennet in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister (BBC Media Centre)

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Ella Bruccoleri is a British actress (Wikipedia)
  • She played Sister Frances in Call the Midwife from 2018–2022 (Wikipedia)
  • She is the lead in The Other Bennet Sister (BBC Media Centre)
  • She graduated from Oxford School of Drama (Wikipedia)
  • She was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, to an Italian family (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact birth date and age
  • Marital status and partner
  • Parents’ identities
  • Whether she has a role in Bridgerton (confirmed no)

Quotes

“It’s a huge shift from playing a nun in Poplar to playing a young woman in the Regency era. The costume alone is a world apart.”

— Ella Bruccoleri, in an interview with Radio Times

“She’s a rising British talent, and this role is a perfect showcase for her range.”

— Country & Town House, profiling Bruccoleri as the BBC’s Other Bennet Sister

For Ella Bruccoleri, the move from habit to heroine is not just a costume change—it’s a declaration of ambition. With a BBC lead role secured, her next few years will determine whether she becomes a household name beyond the Poplar parish. For fans of period drama, the choice is clear: watch The Other Bennet Sister when it airs, or risk missing the rise of a new star. Bruccoleri’s trajectory suggests a performer who is methodically choosing roles that broaden her range and raise her profile.

Additional sources

de.wikipedia.org, callthemidwife.fandom.com, podcasts.apple.com, cy.wikipedia.org, variety.com, en.wikipedia.org, radiotimes.com, netvol.co.uk

Fans curious about what she has been up to since leaving Nonnatus House can read more about Ella Bruccoleris career and life after Call the Midwife.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Ella Bruccoleri’s height?

Her height is not publicly listed in reliable sources.

Is Ella Bruccoleri on Instagram?

She maintains a private Instagram account, but the handle is not widely shared.

What is Ella Bruccoleri’s net worth?

No verified net worth figures are available. She is an emerging actor with a growing profile.

Does Ella Bruccoleri have siblings?

There is no public information about siblings.

How did Ella Bruccoleri start acting?

She trained at the Oxford School of Drama, graduating in 2017, and then landed her breakout role in Call the Midwife.

What is Ella Bruccoleri’s educational background?

She graduated from the Oxford School of Drama in 2017 (Wikipedia).

Is Ella Bruccoleri related to anyone famous?

There is no public information suggesting she is related to any famous person.