Radio Times

I saw Joe Wright's sumptuous 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (showing on Tuesday 2 December as part of ITV3's Jane Austen Week) the afternoon it opened. It was in a small Surrey town and I was the only man in the cinema, surrounded by the very keenest ladies of a certain age. Filing out afterwards, I heard a group of them agree: "Well, he was no Colin Firth." I kept my mouth shut.

I hesitate to use the well-worn phrase, but it is a truth universally acknowledged: Colin Firth is the definitive Darcy. Anyone who saw the classic BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's novel is united in agreement with this agreeable fact. When Firth chucked himself into that pond wearing only his breeches and a big undershirt, television history was made. At a stroke, he erased all previous screen Darcys, including Laurence Olivier in the 1940 Hollywood version. Why?

When Firth/Darcy sloshed across the screen with his clothes so clingy that The Times claimed "you could count the small change in his pocket", it seemed to arouse an ardour previously repressed in the nation's womenfolk.

Eleven million watched the first run (they say 100 million around the world) and the Radio Times Darcy poster sold like hot cakes. Martin Amis wrote dryly in The New Yorker: "Jane Austen is hotter than Quentin Tarantino." He put it down to "Darcymania". In other words, Colin Firth.

Well, sorry to ruin this particular party but Firth is not the best Darcy. He has now been eclipsed by Matthew Macfadyen in the 2005 movie.

I know I'm not going to win friends or influence people with this opinion, but it is sincerely held. "Tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me", if I may borrow Darcy's assessment of Elizabeth Bennet to describe Firth.

Damp linen aside, he is a stiff Darcy; suitably snooty and unreadable to start, but not much warmer when later transformed. Macfadyen, wider-eyed and less chiselled, brings an awkwardness and imperiousness that's more credible as a cover-up for romantic depth. When Keira Knightley's Lizzie thaws to his matrimonial possibilities, so do we.

Also, Firth devalued his Darcy by sending himself up as the character he inspired in the Bridget Jones films. I have revisited his 1995 Darcy and I can see the attraction; but he's the same stiff Darcy when he comes out of the water, just wetter.

Macfadyen's proposal in the mist actually brought a tear to my eye.

Rather than call for my head, give the film another chance. And without prejudice, please.

Honestly, Colin Firth portrays the true character of Mr. Darcy. Macfadyen may show more passion, sensitivity, etc., but that isn't Fitzwilliam. That's more Mr. Bingley. Darcy is proud, arrogant, and cold, and that doesn't change a whole lot after he and Elizabeth fall in love. He does soften a bit (which Firth portrays perfectly), but he doesn't turn into a swoony sentimental romantic.

I didn't care for the Knightley version of P&P because it was much too modern; it didn't capture the spirit of Austen's original at all. While that might appeal more to the modern audience, I was offended by how much it departed from the original's spirit. Especially the last scene; it was much, much too modern in feel. When I watch Pride and Prejudice, I want to go back to that era. The new version just doesn't do that for me; it doesn't pull me in, and I frankly get bored. It's too over-the-top. A&E really captured the spirit of the novel. The new one might be fine for teenage girls who never read the book and just want a new generic chick flick, but it will never find a place on my DVD shelf. Give me my 5 hours of A&E, please.

Sorry, Collins, MM was it for me till EC showed up in Lost In Austen. Can we hope that you will pen a few phrases of praise for his work there in the future? =)

Elliot Cowan is the best thing that has ever happened to Darcy.

End of story.

Matthew MacFadyen is just amazing , after i saw the movie i felt so touched he played so incredibly well i must say i fell in love with his character ... i cant watch pride and prejudice with another guy as darcy i simply cant ..so Matthew is the best end of story :)

Mathew Macfayden's Darcy might be more likable, but he's not Darcy. Darcy's not warm ok? Neither is he shy, socially awakward or unsure of himself. He's bloody snooty and arrogant. As for Macfayden shows more passion, if it shows, he's not Darcy. Darcy is proud and reserved. I think he ruins Darcy with the stupid sensitive guy elements.

I wholeheartedly agree ... Macfadyen took my breath away ... Firth was good of course. Butthe double "I love, I love you" at the end, made my heart skip a beat.

I wish that I was Jemima Rooper in Lost in Austen, so that I could go into the story and marry Macfadyen as Darcy. He's the only way to go.

Elliot Cowan was great too! A nice second to Matthew, Firth is third in my book.

Elliot Cowan is the ultimate Darcy, for exactly those reasons that others have posted before. He gets it just right - haughty, snooty, and initially unlikeable, but with real tenderness, passion and vulnerability.

Sure CF was amazing (nothing beats him smiling while watching Lizzy sing at Pemberley) but he was somewhat lacking overall in the passion stakes. EC however, captured it all perfectly. How I'd love to see him in an actual version of P&P, though he said he would not have been interested in that role. MM captured Darcy's vulnerability in a way I did not find appealing and I just thought his Darcy was wet.

Like Rina, it's EC's Darcy that I really fell in love with - definitely the perfect Darcy!

Agreed with bedarcy. Elliot Cowan is everything a Darcy should be. Jane Austen would be proud.

After seeing Elliot Cowan's Darcy, I fell in love with Darcy as I never have before. What passion and vulnerability! We all know Mr. Darcy has that in him but it was wonderful to finally have an actor who actually revealed that side of the man! This isn't to say that Cowan's Darcy wasn't proud, arrogant and rude. He definitely was.

I find it hilarious that many didn't like him in the first two episodes. I thought "Well, great! That's exactly how we shoud feel about Darcy at this point!" ;) Incredible and touching portrayal - Cowan's my favourite Darcy.

I agree that Matthew is the BEST Darcy…you start out hating him then end up loving him and feeling sorry for him. He played the part very well and nailed Mr. Darcy!! Matthew is a wonderful actor. I will NOT watch another person as Mr Darcy if it isnt Matthew.

I agree that Matthew is the BEST Darcy…you start out hating him then end up loving him and feeling sorry for him. He played the part very well and nailed Mr. Darcy!! Matthew is a wonderful actor. I will NOT watch another person as Mr Darcy if it isnt Matthew.

Im afraid I may in the minority here. But I do agree, Matthew MacFadyen is the BEST Darcy.

He play's him as he was supposed to be portrayed.

Colin Firth is fine, but ihe had taken the broom from up his bottom he would have been much more acceptable.

Darcy is a very awkward character,he is unsure of himself, he has had little to do with women and well find's himself being portayed as aloof. Matthew managed to show all his qualities good and bad, with total belief.

Whereas Colin, did an amiable job of being far too aloof.Shame he is a great actor. Matthew is just Greater..

I loved Matthew but Colin's Darcy was definitive. and no one can ever beat HIM.

How about Richard Armitage in the movie North and South? I know he is not a Darcy, but if you try to watch his performance in this movie, you might find some real Darcy qualities in this man. He really is very Darcy.

I loved Matthew but Colin's Darcy was definitive. and no one can ever beat HIM.

I have to agree with Andrew Collins. Do not get me wrong, I was a through and through Colin Firth fan; he was the living embodiment of Darcy as Darcy should be, well, how I imagined him to be. He was cold, rude, aloof, arrogant, brooding, pensive and sneered down his nose on many occasions with no hint of decent human emotion. Firth portrayed him as having this strong, impenetrable wall; he hid the sensitive male side and portrayed the society appropriate aloof and removed character of Darcy to a t.

As a consummate lover of all things Austen, but especially Pride and Prejudice, I was therefore somewhat pleased, though sceptical, that a new film adaptation had been released but refused to see the film based on the fact that, and this is my personal opinion, that Kiera Knightly cannot act and that she would never, in a million years, be able to portray the lovable, warm character that so embodies Elizabeth Bennet and endears her to the hearts of the nation. On that basis, I steadfastly refused to watch the film.

It was under duress that I eventually relented and rented it out. Several other sceptics in my circle had viewed the film and had been more than mildly surprised. (I'm 22 by the way, and first read Pride and Prejudice 11 years ago - it's a life long love affair as I'm sure many agree) Knightly was still awful. The wigs, granted, had myself and my best friend in stitches as another blogger noted but it was Matthew MacFadyen's performance left me thinking, "Colin who?" Blown away does not even begin to describe how true to the nature of Darcy his portrayal was. I was surprised to read that MacFadyen had never read the book prior to filming and THAT, I truly believe, has added to the genuine vulnerability he epitomises in the most recent adaptation. He comes across as being shy and vulnerable; we see this fleetingly in early scenes and again much later on, but hand on heart, my heart caught in my throat on so many occasions while watching the film. Yes, he was still retaining some of the classic Darcy characteristics but he was adding the human touch to the most standoffish and arrogant character of our time, and that, really touched a nerve with me. I was left feeling that Darcy had constantly been misinterpreted by those around him. He hid his true self in a bid to protect a most human and sensitive side. I have not cried at a film as much as I have this one. I was, truly, beside myself with joy and happiness. The scene where Darcy and Elizabeth dance together for the first time had me spellbound. It is a scene I will never tire of watching and as for his proposal in the mist, I had me in raptures but also a shed load of tears. To finish, MacFadyen has done the impossible; he has delivered with aplomb a new take on our original conceptions of Darcy. No one would have thought that Firth would be knocked from his throne as The Darcy, but he has.

Matthew MacFadyen, well, well done.

I enjoy both Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr.Darcy. CF is haughty alright but is not passionate enough (for me) while MM is sweet but not proud enough. I found in Elliot Cowan's Darcy a perfect combination of pride and passion. So EC is my favourite Darcy.

First of all, let me answer "startup"s question: I've read ALL Austen novels, several times. P&P I'm "in a fair way of almost knowing by heart". And I've seen all available adaptations (including P&P 1940, 1967, 1980).

I'm disposed to expand and revise a little my previously stated opinion by emphasizing that I've always found Colin Firth to have delivered a faithful and properly handsome impersonation of Darcy (but then so did Sir Laurence Olivier). Nevertheless, apart from the fact that the "wet-shirt-scene" never did anything for me, the whole scene of the second proposal -where Darcy should "express himself as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do", with an "expression of heartfelt delight" on his face (P&P, Ch.58) - was acted so utterly dispassionately that I was really disappointed. So CF was a very good Darcy, but not perfect: he didn't "bewitch" me. The previous Darcys (Lewis Fiander 1967, and David Rintoul 1980) I couldn't be prevailed upon to like at all. So MM's Darcy, though not perfect either (not haughty enough), was the first to "bewitch me, body and soul" - but not the last.

Taking into account the criteria of appropriate haughtiness, adequately passionate expression of sentiment, as well as temptingly tolerable handsomeness, I will have to declare that Elliot Cowan from "Lost in Austen" is the best and most bewitching Darcy I've ever seen. "And now despise me if you dare!" (P&P, Ch.10)

The wonderful thing about Colin Firth's Darcy is the subtlety with which he delivers his character. I could quite belive that this Mr Darcy just stepped out of Jane Austen's novel. Elliot Cowan is definitely gorgeous to look at and certainly impressive, but I wasn't convinced that he wanted to be Austen's Mr Darcy at all and felt he was rather rebellious. I must admit that I only saw about 15 mins of Joe Wright's P&P and then fell asleep as I could no longer bear seeing poor Jane Austen's novel being devasted any longer. Forever a fan of Firth!!

Of course I enjoyed Colin Firth's brooding performance immensely, but does no-one else remember David Rintoul stony looks in 1980...? His performance was what first sent me to Jane Austen's books, and so can be blamed for me my favourites nearly off by heart now...Matthew Macfadyen might be the right age, and he is definitely good looking enough, but he was severely limited by the script, (and by being cast opposite Keira Knightly, who though she did well, was just not 'right' for Elizabeth) and he just seems a bit too fey for my taste. I also felt that the 'chemistry' between KK and MM was not there (unlike Ehle and Firth!) I did quite like the more 'earthy' home life of the recent version, but the wigs were truly hysterically awful and gave my sister and I the giggles so somewhat took the edge off the romantic effects!

Although Mr Darcy is my favourite, I also have a great fondness for the tortured and resentful Captain Wentworth, though none of HIS screen representations have been anywhere near how I imagine him when I read the book. What do you think...?

Have you read the book, any of you? Colin Firth is Mr Darcy through and through. If Jane Austen was alive today she would have picked Firth herself.

I fully agree with your comments and that Matthew Macfadyen is definitely the best Darcy ever in every way! He was sooooo loveable, unlike Colin Firth who I didn't find nearly as attractive either.

I have fully concurred with the above opinion regarding MM being the best Darcy - until September 2008! Since "Lost in Austen" I consider Elliot Cowan to be everything a Darcy should be : Not only is his acting tremendously tolerable, but he also is definitely handsome enough to tempt me into declaring him the best Darcy ever. Fans of "LiA" will recognize the slightly modified quote when I state: "Never mind the CF and the MM - bring on the EC-Darcy!"