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Meet Henry and Catherine

July 28, 2006
by Mags

Alert Janeite and Internet Sleuth Sylvia M. turned up an article listing the leads for NA2: Felicity Jones and JJ Feild.

Here is a photo of Felicity (who looks just right) and here is JJ’s Web site (not bad either–love that smile).

We vaguely remember JJ as Frank Cheeryble in Nicholas Nickelby. Might have to rent that one again…

ETA: Alert Janeite Maisy sent a link to another pic of Felicity.

Also, thanks to Alert Janeite Kelley who sent in the news, but we didn’t read our e-mail till just now. *Editrix slaps self with Clue Trout*

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  1. Kathleen permalink
    July 28, 2006 12:09 pm

    Mr Feild is not half bad, woof, woof! Good Henryesque smile, me likes! Now, if they include the snark and wit I will be content.
    Felicity looks good either. He was Frank Cheeryble in the TV version of Nicholas Nickleby but had completely slipped off my radar when I watched the series due to the presence of Mr James D’Arcy in the title role (insert a large shallow woof).
    Well, the leads look fine, but my major preocupation will be the script. Will they capture NA?

  2. July 28, 2006 12:30 pm

    I hate my time zone; everything important happens while I’m schlepping my son to orchestra camp :)

    Hey, those are a cute pair of kids! Not bad.

  3. July 28, 2006 1:33 pm

    They seem perfect for the parts! Good job, casting directors! :)

  4. July 28, 2006 6:57 pm

    I just realized something…didn’t Jonathan Coy, who was John Thorpe in NA1, play JJ’s uncle in Nicholas Nickleby?

    Ah, Six Degrees of Jane Austen. What fun it is.

  5. Cinthia permalink
    July 28, 2006 7:05 pm

    OK, I’m going to be the only one complaining? ;)

    Just judging by her looks, I think Felicity Jones is a good choice. But not so JJ Feild, he has light brown hair and blue eyes, not exactly Da Man’s dark hair and dark eyes (btw, my reference is Last Orders, as I’ve not seen NN).

    And the note in the news seems to conffirm our fears that there will be no modern abbey building: “When she visits the imposing medieval abbey of the title”

  6. Anonymous permalink
    July 28, 2006 9:23 pm

    *screams, squees, jumps for joy, &tc* (Hello, am I the only one excited here?!) I cannot believe they actually got it right! Felicity Jones and JJ Feild (weird, that seems like it should be Field) might not be absolutely perfect for Catherine and Henry, but they are darn well close!

    FJ looks young, innocent, naive, and when they get on her Catherine costume and she puts on her Catherine pose/expression, I think she’ll be really good

    JJF looks…*gulp* hot. Okay, and what I think is a good picture of Henry Tilney. Blue eyes not good at all, but (cross your fingers) perhaps the movie people will be smart enough to die his hair and put brown contacts on him. But besides that, maybe I’m overreacting, but that smile! I certainly think he could pull it off with flair. However, like Kathleen says, will they give him a good script?

    More connections: JJF acted alongside Matthew MacFadyen and Kelly Reilly (Caroline of P+P3) in different movies.

  7. Anonymous permalink
    July 28, 2006 9:25 pm

    Heehee, Mags! Just yesterday you were posting about having no news on NA2. Maybe you should again, then they might give us some more good news!

  8. Ali permalink
    July 28, 2006 9:48 pm

    Loved them! I am just so happy that they are about to film NA soon!! I’ve wanted for so long to see a good adapation of this book, so I hope this one does it some justice. The leads look great particularly Catherine…

  9. July 29, 2006 12:44 am

    Approved! :-D Commence with filming!!!

  10. July 29, 2006 12:46 am

    OHMYGAWD!!! He was in “The Railway Children”!! I have that DVD and I love it!!!

  11. Julia permalink
    July 29, 2006 2:47 am

    I really like the cast on first look, and that is more than I could say for the other adaptions in the past few years. Catherine looks great!
    I honestly don’t think JJ Feild’s eye or hair color is of any importance as long as he captures Henry’s spirit.

  12. July 29, 2006 5:15 am

    I agree with that Julia, it’s more important for an actor to capture the spirit of the character than to look exactly like the description in the book!

  13. Mandy N permalink
    July 29, 2006 8:00 am

    A big Yes ! I’m in accord with those who approve Felicity Jones and JJ Feild. When I first saw her pic I thought ‘so Catherine’.
    Yet, I wouldn’t mind if JJ Feild’s hair and eye colour were darkened for Henry. We’re lucky he’s the hero JA describes his looks-why not use her detail ?
    Otherwise, both are fab choices.
    And talent is a priority. :)

  14. July 29, 2006 11:39 am

    Oh, I’m so excited! Felicity is Catherine to a tea, she will be so adorable that I almost won’t mind having JJ as Henry. I’d prefer someone a little darker as Da Man, but I suppose JJ will do. I wouldn’t mind him having blue eyes so much if they darkened up his hair a bit and keep him from looking too blound as Peter Firth was in NA1. JJ does have a really cute smile though and he’s 6’1 and a sportsman so he couldn’t be all that bad. :)
    I’m really have to watch that ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, because I love James D’Arcy and Sophia Myles. I almost thought that Mr. D’Arcy would make a good Henry Tilney but he’s a little too old compared to Felicity who must be Catherine! :)
    I can’t wait to see who will be playing Eleanor, and General Tilney!
    Now for everyone’s next concern, the script…

  15. July 29, 2006 3:47 pm

    Now that I’m looking at JJ again he looks more like James Morland, Catherine’s brother, than Henry Tilney, especially in this pic: http://www.jjfeild.com/images/jj.jpg

  16. Reeba permalink
    July 29, 2006 3:50 pm

    I liked JJ Feild in Nicholas Nickelby, though only *now* after watching it again as soon as I read that he was to be Henry!! He does get sort of lost in the presence of the grand James D’arcy, but on his own in NA2 he should do well, I think.
    I confess I am a great fan of NA1 and so this one would have to be really good to impress – me!! ;-)

  17. July 30, 2006 2:10 pm

    Hi Mags!

    This isn’t really worth a post, but I read something that made me think of you. It was at the bottom of an article on a new Bronte biopic. They listed a few upcoming bios including… what is it called again? You know, the made up one! Anyway, it was described in only one sentence:

    “Jane Austen has a fling with an Irishman.”

    And I thought of you. :)

  18. Ina permalink
    July 30, 2006 4:47 pm

    Yes, they will do nicely. But I can’t help wondering who will play Isabella?

  19. July 30, 2006 7:33 pm

    Just rented Poirot: Death on the Nile (2004; David Suchet as Poirot). JJ Feild has a big part in this film with a wide range of emotions to play. All characters in an Agatha Christie mystery have something to hide and give themselves away bit by bit accordingly, and I thought he played his “clue” moments with the right amount of subtlety. My husband, who usually outguesses mystery movies, didn’t notice his clues.

    This Henry Tilney is in very good hands. I am confident that JJ will provide an appealing Henry with whatever material and direction he is given. I’ll also add that in the event the film differs greatly from the book, JJ Feild also would have the talent and potential to be an excellent Henry Tilney on the terms Jane Austen set.

    Depending on the Gentle Reader’s temperament, this is either a warning if you prefer not to see such scenes or an incitement to stampede your local video store: this Poirot movie begins with a sex scene. The couple is partially covered in bed, but there can be no doubt what they’re doing. And yes, JJ is very much in the scene. He also has a couple of other scenes where his shirt is off or he’s kissing/snuggling. He has a low purr of a voice and is quite … fit.

    He will be a very sexy Henry Tilney.

  20. July 30, 2006 9:05 pm

    Well, it’s good he likes to get his kit off…just saying.

    Of course, I’m one of those weirdos who thinks Henry’s intelligence and sense of humor are the sexiest things about him. Not that I’m above a spot of Great!Coat!Porn, mind you.

  21. Kelley B permalink
    July 31, 2006 11:43 am

    Love the looks of both actors and it seems JJ has the acting to chops to play Henry correctly. I just hope Mr. Davies has included Henry’s sense of humor in his script so we can actually get what we’ve all been waiting for….Henry Tilney in the flesh ;-)

  22. July 31, 2006 12:42 pm

    Hi Kelley,

    I’ve been hoping you would turn up — would you please email me (the “comments” address on my site)? :) Thanks.

  23. Ina permalink
    August 1, 2006 1:10 pm

    Intelligence and sense of humor are always the sexiest thing. Though physical attractiveness never hurts.

  24. LauraGrace permalink
    August 2, 2006 12:16 am

    Henry Tilney, indeed! He looks a bit young in many pictures… but if he’s matured since then? *Applauds the casting*

    *Also has something very snarky to suggest about his ears having to do with a rubber band, but… refrains…*

  25. August 15, 2006 5:44 am

    Hey guys,
    Wanted just to say Hello and to say that I CAN’T wait to see lovely JJ Feild it that film! I’m JJ fan since 2001 and I can tell you – he’s one of the best actors I know! =)
    I’m making a litlle fansite about him (not finished!), so feel free to visit Apsolute JJ Feild =)
    Greetings, IM x

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