He has 10,000 a yr — and a smoldering gaze. There have been numerous Jane Austen movie and TV diversifications through the years, starring numerous actors because the good-looking males who steal the hearts of the books’ heroines.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, arguably Austen’s most well-known hero, made his debut in her 1813 novel Satisfaction and Prejudice. The primary movie adaptation of the traditional novel premiered in 1940, however it will be one other 50 years earlier than Colin Firth broke hearts in what’s arguably probably the most memorable Darcy efficiency of all time.
The Oscar winner performed the rich Englishman within the BBC’s 1995 model of Satisfaction and Prejudice reverse Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet. Whereas the 327-minute collection may be very trustworthy to Austen’s novel, one of the crucial well-known scenes just isn’t within the novel: Darcy taking a swim within the pond at his residence, Pemberley.
In 2013, U.Ok. viewers voted the scene probably the most memorable scene in British TV historical past, surpassing iconic moments from Physician Who, Downton Abbey and Sherlock. That very same yr, a 12-foot sculpture of Firth as Darcy was erected in a lake in London’s Hyde Park to advertise the launch of a brand new U.Ok. TV channel. The art work went on tour across the nation earlier than taking on everlasting residence in Lyme Park, the place the unique scene was filmed.
As Firth famous throughout a 2014 interview, nevertheless, followers usually misremember that scene as exhibiting him exiting the lake whereas dripping moist in a sheer shirt — however that by no means occurred. Darcy goes for the swim in his white shirt, however when Elizabeth runs into him later, he’s already gotten out off-camera and began to dry off.
“He’s been terrorizing the nation. Assault of the 50-foot miniseries actor,” Firth quipped of the statue throughout an look on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I by no means bought out of a lake in a moist shirt. … They’ve turned me into Ursula Andress popping out [of the water in Dr. No]. A stunt man jumped right into a form of algae-ridden pond after which it lower to me wanting somewhat damp.”
After Matthew Macfadyen performed the identical function in Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation of Satisfaction and Prejudice, he and Firth had a dialog in regards to the “bizarre stress” that comes with enjoying such a beloved half. “I performed him like a kind of grumpy adolescent, in all probability as a result of I felt fairly grumpy as a result of I used to be scared,” the Succession star advised Vainness Truthful in Might 2022, explaining that the duo chatted about their previous roles whereas making the movie Operation Mincemeat.
Firth, for his half, was impressed that Macfadyen conveyed a lot emotion in a vastly shorter period of time. (The 2005 model is simply 127 minutes lengthy.)
“I believe what was masterful about Matthew’s interpretation was that he did handle to inform that complete story in a extra condensed type,” the King’s Speech actor advised the outlet. “And I believe that’s very troublesome as a result of it’s so depending on a gradual reveal.”
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Preserve scrolling for a glance again at a number of the most memorable Austen heartthrobs of movie and TV:
