A more gentleman-like manner
This is just SO Darcy.
Found at the IMDb P&P message board (not a place for the faint of heart): The Evening Standard interviewed Matthew Macfadyen, asking about his interview in the Telegraph last year that set off alarm bells amongst the Janeite faithful (including some members of the AustenBlog Staff!)
Macfadyen had not read the book or seen Colin Firth’s legendary take on the brooding, breeched one before filming started and, as a result, had a torrid time with some members of the press. ‘I had one really bad interview,’ he admits. ‘I hadn’t even started rehearsing and the interviewer kept asking, “How is your Darcy going to be different?” and I thought, “Oh, f*** off!”.’
For the record, he has read the book now (‘beautiful, fabulous’) and sees Darcy as ‘a young man who’s lost, who’s grieving for his parents and has this huge responsibility of running the house and looking after his sister – which is construed as hauteur and arrogance. People are usually only haughty because of fear.’
Is anyone else reminded of the kinder, gentler, wised-up Darcy after Elizabeth’s blistering dressing-down?
The comment about Darcy grieving is excellent in our opinion; also it plays into the director and screenwriter’s view of the characters of P&P having a great deal of responsibility at a young age. It is a theme we have explored in our own readings and writings on the novel. Well done, Mr. Macfadyen; well done, indeed.
(Dorothy, take a nice hot pot of Orange Pekoe to Julie B. directly. Don’t forget the vinaigrette.)
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Thank God! I am slowly but surely getting used to the idea of MacFadyen as Darcy and this interview helps a little! At least he has read the book now.
are you sure this matthew guy can handle it??? Colin Firth is the only Mr. Darcy!!! I can’t imagine him doing the part justice. has he even seen the ’96 version? because Firth hit it right on!!
I am quite, quite sure this Matthew guy can handle it. Each Darcy will be different, but I’ve always had the suspicion that Mr. Firth was a bit too kind to Mr. Darcy. He played him shy, which I don’t think he was.