We know him as a classic author, but Charles Dickens was once a dashing celebrity with legions of swooning fans – and a much younger mistress.

That's the picture painted by this intriguing film based on the Claire Tomalin book.

Director Ralph Fiennes also stars as Dickens, who meets a spirited young actress, Nelly (Felicity Jones) while casting one of his plays.

A love of literature brings them together, but Dickens is married and a moral dilemma follows for the principled Nelly.

It's an enjoyable costume drama that's beautifully shot and cast: Jones is delightful as the bright, sparky young woman and Kristen Scott Thomas is fun as her relatively unconventional mother, all too aware of the glint in Dickens' eye.

It's not always an easy story to relate to, but hats off to Fiennes for not making the man a saint.

The Invisible Woman is in cinemas Friday 7 February

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Felicity Jones' style file