10 Movies & Shows Like Fingersmith (2005)

Description: A period drama exploring themes of sexual identity and class struggle, featuring a strong female protagonist navigating a world of secrets and societal constraints.

Fact: This miniseries was one of the first mainstream British TV productions to depict a lesbian relationship openly and was based on the debut novel by Sarah Waters.

Description: A period drama set in the 1950s, blending political intrigue with personal drama, featuring strong female characters challenging societal norms in a high-stakes environment.

Fact: The show was created by Abi Morgan, who also wrote the screenplay for 'The Iron Lady,' and it explores the early days of television journalism.

Description: A mystery series with strong female leads who use their intelligence and resourcefulness to solve crimes, set in post-WWII Britain with a focus on women's roles in a male-dominated society.

Fact: The show is inspired by the real-life Bletchley Park codebreakers, though it fictionalizes their post-war lives as amateur detectives.

Description: A romantic drama set in a Victorian department store, focusing on the ambitions and relationships of its employees, with lush visuals and a focus on class dynamics.

Fact: The series is based on Émile Zola's novel 'Au Bonheur des Dames,' though it relocates the story from Paris to Northern England.

Description: A psychological thriller with themes of deception, forbidden love, and intricate plotting, set in a historical period with lavish costumes and detailed production design.

Fact: The film is based on the novel 'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters, though it transposes the setting from Victorian England to 1930s Korea. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.

Description: A psychological thriller set in late 19th-century New York, blending crime-solving with explorations of gender and social inequality, featuring a strong female lead in a male-dominated field.

Fact: The series is based on the bestselling novel by Caleb Carr and was one of the first major TV productions to be shot entirely in Budapest, standing in for historic New York.

Description: A period drama set in post-WWII Paris, revolving around a fashion house and the dark secrets of its founding family, with themes of ambition, betrayal, and reinvention.

Fact: The show was praised for its stunning costume design, which played a central role in depicting the glamour and grit of the fashion industry in the 1940s.

Description: A historical drama centered on a bold, unconventional woman navigating love and business in 19th-century England, with themes of gender roles and personal freedom.

Fact: The series is based on the diaries of Anne Lister, a real-life landowner and lesbian whose coded journals detailed her life and relationships.

Description: A historical drama filled with secrets, scandals, and societal tensions, set in 19th-century London, with a narrative that unfolds through intricate plotting and hidden connections.

Fact: The series was created by Julian Fellowes, the writer behind 'Downton Abbey,' and is based on his own novel of the same name.

Description: A dark, atmospheric drama set in Victorian London, focusing on the lives of women in different social strata, with themes of ambition, exploitation, and hidden desires.

Fact: The series was praised for its unflinching portrayal of Victorian society's underbelly, including its depiction of prostitution and the struggles of women to gain independence.