Vanity Fair, is a film based on William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel of shameless social climbing in the early 19th century.

Born to a starving English artist and a French chorus girl, Becky is orphaned at a young age and learns to rely on her wits and feminine guile, sharpened at Miss Pinkerton's academy.

She secures employment as a governess in the home of eccentric Sir Pitt Crawley (Hoskins), who soon falls under her spell.

So too does Amelia's brother Joseph (Maudsley), and Becky gladly fans the flames of his ardour, hoping to improve her social standing by marrying the lovesick fool.

However, Becky's heartless plans fall foul of Amelia's fiance George Osborne (Rhys Meyers), who shudders at the prospect of a governess for a sister-in-law.

So he poisons Joseph's ear, swiftly terminating the relationship.

Unperturbed, Becky seeks powerful allies elsewhere and she ingratiates herself with Sir Pitt's rich spinster sister Matilda (Atkins), who invites Becky to London, where the young woman secretly marries dashing heir Rawdon Crawley (Purefoy).

When the truth finally emerges about their illicit union and Becky's selfish plotting, Becky is ostracised by the upper echelons of polite society, and by her nearest and dearest.

However, the resourceful and feisty heroine refuses to relinquish her dreams, finding a patron in the powerful Marquis of Steyne (Byrne), whose demands on his pretty charge ultimately prove her undoing.

Witherspoon devours the chance to portray one of literature's greatest female characters, throwing herself into the role with gusto and an impeccable cut-glass English accent.

She is supported by a fine ensemble cast, including Atkins in imperious form as the domineering matriarch.

Damon Smith