User reviews

This BBC drama is centred on Alison Wilson, a woman who lives happily with her husband and their two sons... until her husband dies and a man comes to the door stating that he is the son of Mr Wilson's wife... who he never divorced despite what he told Alison. Alison is determined to discover the truth and as she investigates she learns more of her late husband's secrets. Intertwined with her investigations we see flashbacks of how she met during the war when both worked for the Intelligence Services... something that explains many of his lies.

This is one of those dramas that would seem somewhat far-fetched if it wasn't based on real events. That reality is emphasised by the fact that the actress portraying Alison Wilson is none other than her actual granddaughter Ruth Wilson. She does a really good job in the role and is ably supported by a quality cast that includes Keeley Hawes, Iain Glen, Fiona Shaw and Ian McElhinney. The story is populated with interesting characters and provides some impressive twists and surprises. Overall I'd definitely recommend this drama; the story may be personal in nature but it feels like a mystery or spy thriller at times.

The BBC proved once again that 2018 has really been the year for drama, Mrs Wilson follows the likes of Killing Eve, The Bodyguard, with another exceptional series, Mrs Wilson. A show that must have been incredibly close to home for the lead actress, Ruth Wilson.

The story was fascinating, the way it was told was captivating, how on Earth could someone you love so much, hide so much? Fascinating, it just gets deeper and more complicated with each scene.

The performances all round are excellent, but the problem is, that when Ruth Wilson is on screen, she's just so captivating, that it's hard to focus on anything else, she really is that good.

Superbly acted, fantastic production values, and a captivating story, if I had one criticism, I would say I think it could have been done over two parts.

Excellent. 8/10

Worth watching for the amazingly talented and beautiful Ruth Wilson at her very best! This is such an almighty tall tale, when I saw it was a "true story" or "based on real events" I had my doubts! And then just before I watched episode 3 I learnt it was Ruth's actual grandmother she was playing! You see every kind of emotion on her face as her character learns more about the man she loved, and how blurred her reality actually was.

Ruth is AMAZE - she deserves a BAFTA or something! She totally outshines Keeley Hawes -who, it is rumoured, is the favourite, for all of her 8 mins in the Bodyguard. But like, whatever.

Usually on here critical of some rubbish I've seen. This though was a wonderful, true story that is quite unbelievable. The acting performances were spot on and the script beautifully delivered. Ruth Wilson who really annoyed me in The Affair I have to say puts on breath taking performance playing the part of her Grand mother. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be blow away by this short series.

I'm a sucker for anything Ruth Wilson is in since I first saw her in Luther. Amazing.

She's the centerpiece of "Mrs. Wilson" too. The whole thing was pretty good with good acting by all and good production quality. The fact that it was based on a true story is cool. It felt a little rushed towards the end and might have benefitted from another episode somewhere in the middle. If the concept looks good to you give it a spin.

Ruth is absolutely incredible!! What an amazing fascinating mindblowing true story. The acting perfect. Hats off.

This was a three-part miniseries, each episode about 55 minutes, now available via streaming services.

Back around 1940 a 20-ish young lady began working in London as a typist for a secret wartime surveillance operation. Her work required her to type for a distinguished older gentlemen, Alex Wilson. After her residence was damaged in a bombing raid he took her in, they became lovers, they were married, they eventually had two sons, the younger being Nigel. But that is only the beginning, Alex led a life was filled with secrets.

That young lady was Alison and after she was married became Alison Wilson, the series is partly based on a memoire she wrote in the mid-1960s as a way to tell her sons the truth of their father. Of note the actress Ruth Wilson is the real-life granddaughter of Alison and the younger son Nigel depicted in the series became Ruth's father. At the end of the last episode we see photos of everyone and it is clear that Ruth Wilson inherited her distinctive upper lip from her dad. (Not a criticism, to me Ruth is a real beauty.)

This is a very well made and intriguing almost 3-hour series. Ruth Wilson of course is superb and her comments about playing her own grandmother are very interesting and worth looking up on the internet. Search "Ruth Wilson on playing her grandmother."

My wife and I watched it on Amazon streaming via Roku.

I enjoyed this. It was only three episodes which is perfect. Ruth Wilson did amazing with the acting. Such a bizarre and messed up story that makes me glad I'm single! The only unbelievable thing was the age - the only thing they did to make her look 20 years older was put her hair up?

This is a very interesting limited TV series inspired by the life of lead actor/producer, Ruth Wilson's grandmother. Well told and well performed with intricate twists and turns, all the more fascinating as you are always aware that it must have been bizarre for Ruth Wilson to walk in her grandmother's shoes. Fantastic cast. I give this series an 8.5 (captivating) out of 10. {BioPic Mystery}

Amazing new british biography-drama. Look forward for new episodes. Great cast, great story!

Well, based-on-real-events provides some additional value, plus there are interesting performances, but questions remain open and use of same actors-actresses within the time gap of 20 years but limited make-up diminished their convincingness somehow. Besides, it astonished me, even in the pre-mobile and pre-Internet era, how a man could keep secret so many marriages and families within one country when a specific address was given by Mr. Wilson...

But still, as mentioned, Mrs. Wilson is a solid series with fine performances.

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. I thought it was well paced and very interesting. Three episodes to tell this true story was just right or would have dragged on. Ruth Wilson was superb . Must've been so tough playing her fathers mum lol . Incredible story . The closing scene was so emotional and score was amazing . Very moving .Well worth a watch .

Ruth Wilson can do no wrong. She is a superb actress. The characteristic I like about her best is that she's never Ruth Wilson, she's always the character she plays. Didn't explain that very well but I know what I mean.

The story is unbelievable and the physical meetings between the various members of the various families are so tense you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Great acting all the way around and the director should get some credit.

Also great WWII and late 40's English scenery.

Nicely woven tale that slowly draws the viewer in then smacks you in the face. Immpecable acting by all involved. Its made even more intriguing knowing that it is a true story, being portrayed by the main character's descendant. Kudos!

Another great performance by the mesmerizing actress Ruth Wilson who plays the naive third of four wives, Alison Wilson, of the real life bigamist Alexander Wilson, real or imagined, slight of hand is how this cheating husband lived at least four separate lives. Alexander Wilson was an English writer, spy and MI6 officer. Alexander Wilson the author fooled his four wives by writing under the names Alexander Wilson, Geoffrey Spencer, Gregory Wilson, and Michael Chesney. The story line is based on real events of Ruth Wilson's own family tree so who better to play Mrs. Alison Wilson but one of her own grandchildren, Ruth Wilson.

This is a dramatic reenactment of how the lives of the bigamist Alexander Wilson's wives and many children from his four concurrent (and illegal) marriages and parenthood suffered at the hands of a man who although very loving and family orientated, abandoned them all while serving a six (6) month term of hard labor in prison.

Mrs. Wilson is not only well written, but exceptionally acted by all who participated in this 3 episode TV mini-series. Mrs. Shullivan and I both thought that the third and closing episode was superb and allowed the audience to understand and appreciate the pain and suffering that bigamist Alexander Wilson left behind by suddenly dying of a heart attack for his four (4) wives to deal with upon his sudden death.

Ruth Wilson is a wonderful actress and made this watchable but in the end I found it disappointing. But it's a true story so not really fair to criticise. Not the most exciting of dramas.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, Ruth Wilson was excellent and it bought back the feel of the 60's. Looking forward to the next episodes.

But how can you make a hero out of a man like alec wilson. The story was entertaining but didn't really portray the man in a way to make us understand his motivations.Still don't know who he was and why he did what he did.