Colin Firth

I’m sure this has been debated here before, so please be patient with me...

I’m torn.

Colin Firth was an amazing dark, brooding Darcy. Firth is the master of the barely perceptible smile that takes him from standoffish to extraordinarily handsome and approachable. And I know the BBC version is far more accurate. And well Firth soaking wet from diving into the water…quite quite lovely.

But MacFadyen was a much more passionate, vulnerable Darcy that I adored. I mean, “I love you…most ardently.” And later still, “I love…I love…I love you.” Which I fear Jane Austen never wrote.

So I’m leaning towards MacFadyen. I will admit, however, I’ve seen the movie a bazillion times and just binged the BBC series for the first time.

Someone here suggested, you fall in love with the first version you’ve ever seen. And I have to say, the sweeping music…Darcy striding across the field at sunrise…his passionate declarations…pretty much did me in.

I think it’s MacFadyen for me.

Please don’t kill me or criticize me too harshly. I fear - I KNOW - I haven’t been the Jane Austen purist that I should be…

I’m actually afraid to hit “Post”!

H

First, let me say I like Colin Firth in many movies. But I think he didn't do justice to Mr Darcy.

This is what he said about his performance: “Women being attracted to him took me by surprise. I thought it would be quite fun and liberating to play someone who was completely and utterly dislikeable, unsympathetic, judgemental and snobbish. I didn’t have to think about bringing charm to the role – the way I saw it, I just had to stand there and make everyone hate me … then this weird thing happened where people liked him, which wasn’t what I was expecting at all! We’re 20 years on and I still don’t understand it.”

And this is what is obvious in his acting as well. But I don't agree. While we see Mr Darcy as dislikeable and unsympathetic in the first part of the book/movie, it is part of Elizabeth's prejudice and we see him through her eyes. Yet I always thought he was "socially awkward" combined with a bit of pride (he mentions this both to Elizabeth, the first in rosings and the second after his second proposal). So I always imagine Mr Darcy as much softer after Elizabeth reads the letter. (He has to be or otherwise Mrs Reynolds would never have given such praise.)

While Elizabeth wonders why he is so altered, I believe that the change of his behavior is not only a true change but also a change of perception in Elizabeth's eyes.

So in my opinion, Colin Firth does not do the "real" Darcy credit. But please, let's have a discussion on why I should revise my opinion. (By the way, watching the mini series as I write this.)