The film adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy, based on Karen Cushman’s 1994 Newbery Honor-winning novel, is set to hit screens soon. Amazon Studios plans a limited theatrical release on September 23, followed by streaming availability on Prime Video starting October 7.
The movie is both written and directed by Lena Dunham, known for her work on Girls and Tiny Furniture. It is produced by Tim Bevan (Les Misérables), Eric Fellner and Jo Wallett (Emma), with executive producers Liz Watson (Industry) and Michael P. Cohen (Generation). The cast includes Bella Ramsey as the spirited Lady Catherine “Birdy,” Andrew Scott as her stern father, Billie Piper as her mother, Joe Alwyn as her adventurous Uncle George, Dean-Charles Chapman, newcomer Michael Woolfitt, Rita Bernard-Shaw, and Ralph Ineson.
Fourteen-year-old Birdy (Ramsey) longs for excitement and adventure like her uncle George (Alwyn), who has gone off to fight in the crusades. To keep her from shirking the duties expected of a young lady, Birdy’s mother (Piper) insists she maintain a diary chronicling her daily struggles and complaints. When Birdy learns her father (Scott) plans to marry her off to the wealthiest suitor to solve his financial problems, she enlists help from her friends—the goatherd Perkin (Woolfitt) and servant girl Meg (Bernard-Shaw)—to sabotage every proposal.
The rights to the book were first optioned in 1996 and renewed several times, but the project didn’t fully materialize until 2012, when agent Holly Frederick shared Lena Dunham’s heartfelt letter to Cushman expressing her desire to adapt the story. Cushman was thrilled to receive the letter, having admired Dunham’s film Tiny Furniture. “Lena told me she’d wanted to make Birdy into a movie since she was eight,” Cushman said, crediting Dunham for making that dream a reality over the years.
Filming faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially scheduled to start in early 2020, production was halted. Cushman, her husband, and daughter planned to travel to England to watch the filming but were unable to do so because of the pandemic restrictions. When filming resumed in 2021, the set was closed to visitors. Cushman joked that this was probably for the best, as she might have overwhelmed the actors—especially Andrew Scott and Joe Alwyn—with fangirl excitement. However, she did get to see many photos of the cast in costume, making the production feel more tangible.
Although Cushman was lightly involved behind the scenes, she did not write the screenplay. She reviewed an early draft from Dunham and provided feedback, which was thoughtfully incorporated. Cushman praised the final script and film, calling it “my book but her movie.” She recalled that before the book’s publication, she imagined Anna Paquin playing Birdy, then later thought of Jena Malone as Birdy’s mother. Though unfamiliar with Game of Thrones at the time, Cushman believes Bella Ramsey is the perfect fit for Birdy, and she commends Dunham for assembling an excellent cast.
Not all scenes from the book made it to the film; for example, the scene with Birdy and a dancing bear at the fair was omitted. However, a memorable moment involving Birdy’s mother giving birth remains. Cushman noted the emotional depth added by Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Birdy’s father, revealing a more compassionate side during that pivotal scene.
Currently, Cushman is promoting her new book War and Millie McGonigle, set in 1941 San Diego, and is working on another novel titled Sally O’Malley Discovers the Sea, about a young girl living alone in 1894 Oregon.
Cushman hopes viewers will connect with Birdy’s determination to carve out her own future despite societal and familial pressures. “I want audiences to see her fighting for what she values,” Cushman said. “No matter the circumstances, who we are is something no one can take away.”
