Natalie Dormer donated her entire salary from The Lady due to Sarah Ferguson’s ties with Jeffrey Epstein

Natalie Dormer is best known to many as Margaery Tyrell, one of the most generous and compassionate figures in Game of Thrones. Beyond Westeros, Dormer has taken on varied roles, most recently portraying Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, in the ITVX and Acorn TV drama The Lady.

The four-part miniseries explores the story of Jane Andrews, a former royal dresser later convicted of murder. Dormer stepped into the role of the Duchess, but her connection to the project changed when newly surfaced emails linked Ferguson to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In the messages, Ferguson allegedly referred to Epstein as a “supreme friend,” drawing renewed scrutiny. Dormer responded by confirming she would not be promoting the show. She also announced she had donated her entire salary from the series to charities supporting children, including NAPAC and the Centre on Child Sexual Abuse.

Read More: Who is Natalie Dormer?

Natalie Dormer distances herself from The Lady after new revelations come to light

Natalie Dormer confirmed she would not promote The Lady after completing filming. She said her decision came from learning about Sarah Ferguson’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement, Dormer acknowledged the challenge of portraying a real-life figure. She said actors must balance honesty and empathy when depicting complicated people. While she approached the part of the Duchess of York with seriousness, she stressed that the new information about Ferguson had forced her to reconsider her involvement. Dormer said:

“When I agreed to take the role in The Lady, I knew portraying Sarah Ferguson would require nuance. Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Ferguson’s behavior, which I believe is inexcusable.”

Dormer also revealed that she gave away her entire salary from The Lady. She donated the money to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse. Both organizations support children who have survived abuse and campaigns to improve protection and awareness.

Dormer added that her decision not to promote the series was not related to her work with Left Bank Pictures, the production company behind The Lady. She praised the team as professional and supportive collaborators. She said her choice was focused entirely on the controversy surrounding Ferguson and her own principles.

Read More: Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer supports Reading Prison arts centre call

What was Sarah Ferguson’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein?

Credits: Rex/The Sun

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is the former wife of Prince Andrew and a public figure known for charity work, media appearances, and authorship. She has remained in the spotlight for decades, balancing royal duties, personal projects, and high-profile scrutiny over her finances and relationships.

Ferguson had past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier later convicted of sexual offenses and accused of running a trafficking network. While she was never implicated in his crimes, she interacted with Epstein in philanthropic and social contexts, drawing occasional media attention even before the recent revelations.

Following Epstein’s 2008 conviction, Ferguson publicly condemned him. She stated she abhorred sexual abuse and emphasized that she would not associate with him again. She also took steps to distance herself from his influence and reaffirmed her commitment to charitable work and protecting children from exploitation.

In 2011, however, leaked emails surfaced in which Ferguson allegedly wrote to Epstein, saying: “You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” The messages suggested she maintained contact and offered support despite her prior condemnation.

The emails reignited public scrutiny and led to widespread criticism from media outlets and charitable organizations. As a result of the email revelations, several charities ended Ferguson’s ambassador roles.

Read More: Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer opens up about Margaery Tyrell’s death