Anna Karenina (2000 TV series)
Four-part British TV adaptation of Tolstoy's 1877 novel.
Anna Karenina is a British television miniseries in four parts, based on Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel. David Blair directed the adaptation, which first aired in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 between 9 and 30 May 2000, and later in the United States on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in 2001.
The story begins with Anna traveling by train from St. Petersburg to Moscow to visit her brother, Stiva. Stiva is married to Dolly but has been having an affair with the children's governess, and he asks Anna to help mend his marriage. Anna herself is married to Karenin, a high-ranking official, and has an eight-year-old son. During her journey, she meets Count Vronsky, the son of her fellow passenger, and they eventually begin an affair.
Meanwhile, Stiva's friend Constantine Levin is courting Dolly's younger sister, Kitty. Both Levin and Kitty are unmarried, but Kitty is initially drawn to Vronsky and turns down Levin's first marriage proposal. Levin then leaves Moscow for his countryside farm. Nikolai, Levin's brother, lives with a former prostitute named Masha and is perpetually in debt.
The cast includes Helen McCrory as Anna, Kevin McKidd as Vronsky, Stephen Dillane as Karenin, Mark Strong as Stiva, Amanda Root as Dolly, Douglas Henshall as Levin, Paloma Baeza as Kitty, Abigail Cruttenden as Betsy, Paul Rhys as Nikolai, Gillian Barge as Princess Shcherbatskaya, Malcolm Sinclair as Prince Shcherbatsky, Victoria Carling as Annushka, and Tom Ward as Yashvin.
The series received a positive review from Mark Lawson in The Guardian.
- Type
- Television adaptation
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Network
- Channel 4 (UK), PBS Masterpiece Theatre (US)
- Air dates
- 9–30 May 2000 (UK), 2001 (US)
- Director
- David Blair
- Based on
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)
Lore & Background
The series follows Anna Karenina, who travels by train from St. Petersburg to Moscow to visit her brother Stiva. Stiva is married to Dolly but has been having an affair with the governess, and he needs Anna's help to repair his marriage. Anna herself is married to Karenin, an important official, and has an eight-year-old son. On the journey she meets Count Vronsky, the son of her travelling companion, and they eventually begin an affair. Meanwhile, Stiva's friend Constantine Levin courts Dolly's younger sister Kitty. Kitty initially rejects Levin's proposal because she is attracted to Vronsky, and Levin returns to his farm in the countryside. Levin's brother Nikolai cohabits with a former prostitute named Masha and is constantly in debt.
Reader's Guide
This adaptation of Tolstoy's classic novel aired on Channel 4 in the UK in May 2000 and on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in the US in 2001. Directed by David Blair, it features a cast including Helen McCrory as Anna, Kevin McKidd as Vronsky, Stephen Dillane as Karenin, and Mark Strong as Stiva. The series received a positive review from Mark Lawson in The Guardian. Its significance lies in bringing Tolstoy's story to a television audience, condensing the novel into four parts while maintaining key plotlines of love, infidelity, and social consequence.
Did You Know?
- The series aired in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 from 9 to 30 May 2000.
- It aired in America on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in 2001.
- Helen McCrory played Anna, Kevin McKidd played Vronsky, and Stephen Dillane played Karenin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anna Karenina (2000 TV series)?
It is a four-part British television miniseries that adapts Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel of the same name. David Blair directed the production, which was made in the United Kingdom.
Where and when did Anna Karenina (2000 TV series) first air?
The miniseries premiered on Channel 4 in the UK, broadcasting its four episodes between 9 and 30 May 2000. American audiences later watched it on PBS Masterpiece Theatre in 2001.
Who directed Anna Karenina (2000 TV series)?
David Blair was the director behind this adaptation. He oversaw the four-part production for its Channel 4 debut.
How many episodes does Anna Karenina (2000 TV series) have?
The series is structured as a four-part miniseries, with each part airing as a standalone episode during its May 2000 UK run.
What is the story of Anna Karenina (2000 TV series) about?
The plot follows Anna as she travels from St. Petersburg to Moscow to help her brother Stiva mend his marriage to Dolly after his affair with their governess. Anna is herself married to Karenin, a high-ranking government official, and the story unfolds the tensions in her own life alongside her brother's crisis.
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