The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister (2010) is a British drama film directed by James Kent, based on the true story of Anne Lister, a 19th-century landowner, diarist, and one of the first openly lesbian women in history. The film stars Maxine Alderton as Anne Lister, and it is based on Lister’s personal diaries, which were written in code to keep her lesbian relationships hidden from the public. The diaries are a record of her life, thoughts, and her romantic relationships with women.

The film explores Anne Lister’s intellectual and emotional life, focusing on her struggles with societal expectations, her sexual identity, and her romantic feelings, particularly for her lover, Ann Walker (played by Christine Bottomley). The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister highlights Anne’s strength in asserting her independence while navigating the constraints of her time. It portrays her as an innovative, ambitious woman who rejected traditional gender roles and embraced her sexuality despite the social challenges she faced. The film is both a historical drama and a poignant exploration of love, desire, and personal freedom.