and Lord Warburton, who is attentive to Pansy just to get closer to Isabel. Isabel sees the mutual love between Pansy and Rosier and is deeply moved. Gilbert sees through Isabel's schemes to prevent Pansy becoming engaged to Warburton, but he is too late; Lord Warburton leaves Italy. Gilbert angrily slaps Isabel and steps on her dress so that she falls on the ground. Serena deeply regrets organizing the fateful union between Gilbert and Isabel. Isabel learns that Ralph is overtaken by consumption and is on his deathbed. She asks Gilbert to let her to go to England to be with her dying cousin, but receives a cold and negative answer. Pansy is sent to a convent away from her lover. Isabel is pitied by Gilbert's sister, who finally opens Isabel's eyes, telling her that Gilbert's first wife was childless and Pansy is, in fact, Gilbert and Serena's daughter. Isabel finally decides to go against her husband's wishes and leave for England. She visits Pansy and proposes the girl to flee, but Pansy refuses, saying that she wants to please her father. In the convent, Isabel also encounters Serena, but proudly ignores her attempts to start a conversation. However, in the last minute before Isabel leaves, Serena runs to her - she has guessed Isabel is going to England to Ralph and reveals to Isabel that Ralph is the one that persuaded the uncle to give Isabel her fortune. On Ralph's deathbed, Isabel tearfully confesses that he's been her best friend and she loves him. Henrietta and Caspar attend Ralph's funeral. In the garden, Caspar tries to persuade Isabel to let go of her fear of her husband. They kiss passionately, but Isabel runs away to the house. She suddenly stops before the house door, and leans against it, looking back into the garden. Cast Nicole Kidman as Isabel Archer John Malkovich as Gilbert Osmond Barbara Hershey as Madame Serena Merle Mary-Louise Parker as Henrietta Stackpole Martin Donovan as Ralph Touchett Shelley Winters as Mrs. Touchett John Gielgud as Mr. Touchett Shelley Duvall as Countess Gemini Richard E. Grant as Lord Warburton Viggo Mortensen as Caspar Goodwood Christian Bale as Edward Rosier Valentina Cervi as Pansy Osmond Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Bob Bantling Reception The Portrait of a Lady received mixed reviews from critics. It holds a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 72 reviews, with an average rating