From Jane Austen to Bridgerton: Actress nails how every British period drama heroine behaves

Many Jane Austen-themed period dramas transport viewers to lavish settings filled with gold-flecked Victorian mirrors, charming wealthy men, and melodramatic heroines in extravagant costumes, eager to escape their oppressive mansions. In a performance sure to delight any fan, English actress Bebe Cave–who goes by @bebecave on Instagram–reenacted her own version of Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice," originally played by Keira Knightley, and Jo March from "Little Women."

In the video, Cave donned a classic 19th-century Victorian dress in white and peach tones, featuring a low-neckline hem. She completed the look with a pair of snow-white socks and black shoes, fully embodying the era’s signature style. “I don’t want to be a lady,” she screamed, her lips painted in a vintage rose shade. “I want to wear trousers, have a sword and kill people,” she declared, capturing the rebellious spirit of period drama heroines. Her performance humorously highlighted the recurring theme of women yearning for freedom and power while being constrained by societal norms. Despite their oppression under the patriarchy, these characters often clung to their wild, untamed sides—waiting for the right moment, or the right man, to help them break free.

“I’m not like you Rebecca. I’m plain,” Cave murmured while strolling through what looked like a forest garden. She batted her kohl-smudged lashes dramatically at the camera, blinking rapidly before flopping onto the dirt-covered ground. “I bet you didn’t know girls could fight like this,” she shouted, wielding a twig as if it were a sword. Her performance only got more exaggerated as she pleaded, “Stop objectifying me! My perfect little body is not for you. It’s for the forest,” before hopping onto a tree branch. Every movement and expression hilariously captured the signature tropes of period drama heroines—the overly self-deprecating monologues, the misplaced defiance, and the ever-present air of being a damsel in distress, just waiting for the right man to rescue them.

The next scene showed her standing in front of a lake, her face dressed in an emotive expression. “At least, the birds can fly away,” she said in a reflective tone and then screamed, “This country manor is a prison!” The bright red blush on her cheeks added to the overall effect of the performance. Sighing, she looked up into the air and said, “Jane, all you think about is the next dance. Why don’t you think about science.” “Well, maybe I am not like my other sisters,” the character said as the white ribbon in her hair dangled on the screen as she bobbed her head with excitement.

The performance then shifted to the topic of her corset. “Get me out of this corset. I don’t care how snatched it makes me look,” the woman raged. The frames that followed in the video showed Cave bouncing, hopping and tripping through the forest and uttering poetic words, unleashing her free feminine spirit. “I read books and write plays and think about war. I go on adventures and stumble through the forest and forage and find little mushrooms and all the men in town are in love with me. I am not even interested in marriage and still, all the men in town fancy me the most.” She jumped to hug a branch and smell the scent. She then showed a scratch she had got from somewhere on her elbow, and exclaimed with wild excitement, “I am wild. Untamed!” The performance wrapped up as she ran towards the “boys.”

In the comment section, @happymoneysaver said, “This is the best reel I’ve seen in ages.” @butterscotchmusic joked, “I’m not like the other girls.” @jennycestquoi quipped, “Jane Austin should write a new one just for you!” @lalafavre_photography added, “Oh my god, I am cringing so hard!” Many people likened her character to that of “Jo” in “Little Women.” Others were reminded of the “pick me” princesses these classic movies featured. “Picketh me, chooseth me, loveth me,” @wardahasann joked.

You can follow Bebe Cave (@bebecave) on Instagram for more engrossing performance videos.