Set in Victorian London, Daniel Deronda is sensitive and charming, the illegitimate son of an aristocrat, haunted by the secrets that shroud his birth. Beautiful and vivacious Gwendolen Harleth is a gambler and short on cash. When they meet at the roulette table, sparks fly. But above all Gwendolen needs money, and the icy aristocrat Henleigh Grandcourt is more than happy to provide. As her situation becomes more and more oppressive, she turns to Daniel for help - only to discover his involvement with a young Jewish singer Mirah Lapidoth. Torn between his attraction to Gwendolen and his passion for Mirah and the plight of her people, Daniel is forced to look at his own mysterious past.