Daisy Lewis who shot to fame in Downton Abbey as Sarah Bunting has turned her hand from acting to writing (Picture: Nick Briggs)

Downton Abbey star Daisy Lewis has written a film biopic about the first female MP Nancy Astor.

Daisy – who played feisty schoolteacher Sarah Bunting in the hit ITV drama – decided to write the biopic after becoming fascinated by women in frontline politics today.

Talking exclusively at the Bluebird Chelsea Gala Dinner in aid of Lady Garden Gynaecological Cancer Fund, Daisy said: ‘Since Downton Abbey, I’ve been writing which is really exciting.

Daisy – who was joined at Bluebird Chelsea on Tuesday night with Anouska Beckwith, Mika Simmons, Tamara Beckwith and Astrid Harbord – said the film is a ‘very interesting time socially and politically’ (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty)

‘I’ve written a biopic about Nancy Astor who was the first female MP.


‘She was amazing and a really strong fantastic role model – it’s covering the period 1905 when she comes to England to 1930.



‘It was a very interesting time socially and politically and now with women in politics, I feel it’s an interesting proposition. It’s the story of a woman finding her own voice.’

The Downton star looked a vision in red as she was joined by pals such as Ollie Locke at the Bluebird Chelsea Gala Dinner in aid of the Lady Garden Fund (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty)

Daisy refused to say who producers are looking to play Nancy, only saying: ‘As a writer, it’s not my job, that’s the job of the producers.’

And the star said she didn’t bother speaking to Samantha Cameron’s mother Lady Annabel Astor or other members of the Astor family for research, but revealed she has done the character ‘justice’.

Taken on November 1st,1919: American-born British politician Nancy Witcher Langhorne, Viscountess Astor (1879 – 1964), who became the first woman member of parliament standing for the Conservatives. (Picture: G. Adams/Topical Press Agency/Getty)

‘I know a lot of the Astors because I grew up at Cliveden. My dad turned it into a hotel so I have a real connection to that.

Ollie Locke and Chloe Delevingne also attended The Blossom City Gala Dinner at Bluebird Chelsea (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty)

‘I can only see her as she was you know because I’ve been looking at the pictures so much…when it’s someone’s life you’ve got to be very sensitive and she’s such an amazing woman I want to do her justice.’

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