Cold Comfort Farm Have Always Been Starkadders at Cold Comfort Farm", set several years later and based on "Conference at Cold Comfort Farm", when Flora is married with several children, was broadcast. In 1995 a television film was produced which was generally well-received, with critics. Janet Maslin in the "New York Times" wrote that this screen version "gets it exactly right". The film starred Kate Beckinsale as Flora, Joanna Lumley as her friend and mentor Mary Smiling, Rufus Sewell as Seth, Ian McKellen as Amos Starkadder, Eileen Atkins as Judith, Stephen Fry as Mybug, Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Beetle, and Angela Thorne as
Samantha Beckinsale Samantha Beckinsale Samantha Jane Beckinsale (born 23 July 1966) is a British actress. Her TV appearances include Firefighter Kate Stevens in "London's Burning" and Lesley in the sitcom "Shelley" in 1989–92. She is the elder daughter of Richard Beckinsale, stepdaughter of Judy Loe, and half-sister of Kate Beckinsale. She was educated at Selston High School (previously known as Matthew Holland Comprehensive and after that Selston Arts and Community College). In 1990, Beckinsale was chosen by LWT to play Firefighter Kate Stevens in ITV's drama series "London's Burning", which ran from 1986 to 2002. In 1989, Beckinsale guest-starred as WPC Martin