With the show’s second season recently closing out, the actress reflects on her character’s growth and how she brought her story to life.
In November 2023, The Buccaneers premiered on Apple TV and became beloved for its cast of complex characters, exciting plotlines and steamy love affairs. Now, almost two years later, the show has just finished its second season, building off the success of the first and introducing a whole new set of thrilling stories, luxurious balls and enviable victorian-meets-contemporary outfits. At the center of the drama and relationship squares was Lizzy Elmsworth: an intelligent and polished eldest daughter and her friends’ favorite confidant played by actress Aubri Ibrag. While in the first season, Elmsworth was known for her composed and collected demeanor, in the words of Ibrag, this season the character got “messy.”
“What I love most about playing Lizzy is discovering all the different sides of her,” Ibrag said. “She’s passionate, impulsive, loving, angry. She experiences true love for the first time, and she’s forced to face the consequences of her own actions.”
While Elmsworth’s story took place in 19th century London, her growth this season was both relatable and inspiring. In the show’s first season, Elmsworth left America and entered the London social scene alongside her friends and younger sister. She faced social pressures and navigated relationships, retaining a sense of poise and selflessness even while facing hardships. But in the second season, Elmsworth loosened the reins and began to follow her heart.
“There’s this quiet revolution within her, she begins to loosen the grip of everything that’s kept her confined: the pressure to be proper, the shame, the fear of judgment, the looming threat of ruin as a woman in 19th century London.”
Aubri Ibrag
“There’s this quiet revolution within her, she begins to loosen the grip of everything that’s kept her confined: the pressure to be proper, the shame, the fear of judgment, the looming threat of ruin as a woman in 19th century London,” Ibrag said. “Those fears don’t vanish, but they begin to coexist with something new…the courage to pursue what she truly wants. And for Lizzy, that’s love.”
Although Elmsworth followed her heart this season, her pursuit of love and newfound courage to go against the grain was not without consequences. Her path was not a simple one but it was her bravery and ability to leave her comfort zone that has truly resonated with viewers.
“After everything she went through in season one, how deeply she was hurt, how much she withdrew from the world, it takes so much for her to let herself feel again,” Ibrag said. “But she does. She throws herself into love, even knowing it might destroy her. She unravels. And in that unraveling, there’s something really beautiful and brave.”
Elmsworth’s journey and love life—as well as her stunning outfits like her custom wedding dress designed by costume designer Kate Carin and her team—have all played a part in making her character shine this season. But perhaps what has made her story so lovable and entertaining is the hard work and attention Ibrag put into bringing her character to life.
“I have a baby pink, bejeweled Lizzy scrapbook that I use to construct her journey as a character. It’s basically Lizzy’s diary,” Ibrag said. “I created a whole backstory for her, her upbringing with Mabel, her relationship with her mother, Mrs. Elmsworth, and her dynamic with the other girls.”
Ibrag herself has loved acting “since I could walk and talk.” Prior to starring in The Buccaneers, the actress was a part of plays like Midsummer Night’s Dream and Absent Friends in school. When she finished her studies, Ibrag worked as a model and pursued acting professionally in Australia, starring as a series regular in the Netflix Australia teen mystery series Dive Club. She booked the role of Lizzy Elmsworth during her first ever American audition and moved to London for the show.
“This season holds so much for Lizzy: guilt, shame, anger, hope, bravery, loss, heartbreak and this fierce, undying love that drives so much of what she does.”
While The Buccaneers was primarily set in 1870s London, a majority of the filming took place in Scotland. The cast stayed in Glasgow whose elegant castles and stunning estates acted as the show’s picturesque backdrop. Ibrag described filming in Scotland for six months as “heaven,” and attested that she “went hiking in the Highlands on days off, ate far too much black pudding, and got to work and laugh with an amazing cast every day.”
While the second season ended on Aug. 6, Lizzy’s story does not appear to be over yet. The season left off on a cliffhanger with the character forced into a difficult situation where she must make a life-changing choice—the perfect wrap up to a tumultuous season filled with drama. “This season holds so much for Lizzy: guilt, shame, anger, hope, bravery, loss, heartbreak and this fierce, undying love that drives so much of what she does,” Ibrag said. “She’s pushed to confront parts of herself she’s kept buried, and she makes choices that surprise even her. It’s emotional, it’s messy, it’s bold and I think we are going to see a whole new side of her.”
Homepage image and above of Aubri Ibrag as Lizzy Elmsworth, courtesy of Apple TV. Inside top photo by Masha Mel. The Buccaneers can be seen on Apple TV.
