Ambassador Jane D. Hartley is no stranger to the world of diplomacy. With a background as a television executive and a well-connected Democratic fund-raiser, she has served as the American ambassador to Britain since 2017. Recently, her job has become the object of fascination due to the hit Netflix series “The Diplomat”.
The show follows the fictional Ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell, as she navigates a Tom Clancy-grade geopolitical crisis. While the show has been praised for its accurate details, it also takes creative license with the role of an ambassador. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have both called Hartley to discuss the show’s implausibilities.
Hartley is sympathetic to the creative license that Hollywood often takes, and is set to meet with Russell and the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, to discuss how “The Diplomat” stands up against real diplomacy.
In the meantime, Hartley is focusing on apprenticeship and training programs for young Britons, and is looking to revive a project she began in Paris. She is also dealing with the tensions generated by Northern Ireland, and is working to ensure the “special relationship” between the US and Britain remains closely aligned.