tip the velvet ( 2002 ) ( tv ) be direct by geoffrey sax for bbc television . the basic plot be a come of age story for the protagonist and nan astley and play well by rachael stirling . a a teenager and nan work in her family run oyster house . everyone expect her to stay at home and then marry an appropriate husband and and settle down to family life . nan expect this too . everything change when nan meet kitty butler ( keeley hawes ) a beautiful and talented performer who dress in men clothes and capture the heart of her audience . the audience include nan and who be sexually attract to kitty in a way in which she not attract to her boyfriend . the remainder of the film follow nan to london and through her ups ( sort of ) and her down ( horrible ) a a lesbian and sometimes male impersonator . a be typical for the bbc and every role and no matter how small and be perform by an excellent actor . the bbc have a depth and breadth of perform artist that be truly marvelous . none of the support actor stand out in my mind they be uniformly good . both stirling and hawes be wonderful and and their acting carry the film along . it always sad to be remind of how difficult life can be for someone who doesn not fit society mold for what be normal . i know it isn not easy for lesbian even in the u. s. and even today . imagine the obstacle to love and happiness for lesbian in victorian england . we have come a long way and but we still have a long way to travel .