Actress Garai to headline BBC's 'Emma'

LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- Actress Romola Garai says she is thrilled to portray the heroine of 19th century novelist Jane Austen's classic "Emma" for the BBC.

Garai, 26, said she has long been a fan of the 1815 literary classic that follows the life of a young privileged woman named Emma Woodhouse, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to be taking on the role of Emma, who is arguably Jane Austen's greatest heroine. I've loved the book for many years and she is a character very close to my heart -- so it's a great privilege to now be playing her," Garai said.

The BBC production of "Emma" will be shown in four hour-long parts and the British broadcaster has vowed to offer a fresh take on the literary classic. No dates for the broadcasts were reported.

The Telegraph said "Emma" was previously made into a BBC program in 1972 and was brought to the big screen in 1996 through a film starring actress Gwyneth Paltrow.