When Scary Fangirling Becomes A Good Thing
Alert Janeite Lisa just sent us word that the portrait of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy used in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice has sold at auction for £12,000–twice the estimated price.
Today, a handful of die-hard fans were engaged in a bitter bidding war to own a piece of the smouldering aristocrat who won the hearts of millions in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice.
[. . ]
Even before the sale began, the painting was subject to a number of advance bids, a spokesman for the London auction house said.
We are pleased that the charities will share such a large sum, and we dare say Mr. Firth is as well. Nonetheless, we find this scary fangirl behavior slightly disturbing, but at the same time are consumed with curiosity to know who won the auction! 
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….and yet again!! they talk about the scene just after *this* painting – that of Darcy emerging from the lake.
*ready to pull my hair out*
Wait. You mean he didn’t walk out of the lake?
*runs and hides*
My sister said that maybe Colin Firth bought it himself.
Wouldn’t that be funny!? (It says fans not partiularly fan-girls.) Maybe Jennifer Ehle purchased it. Whoever it is would have to have money to throw around already or had a loan taken out for it. Perhaps the Queen wanted to add it to her collection!:) Maybe she’s a secret fan-girl!
The worst part of this wet shirt stuff is that it overshadows the greatness of how they are bumping into each other with no warning. She used this a lot, didn’t she? Captain Wentworth bumps into Anne in Bath. Emma bumps into Mr. Knightley at the end while walking in her garden (okay, that wasn’t random on his part). Mr. Tilney bumps into Catherine coming out of his mother’s room. Sense & Sensibility has tons of them: Marianne bumps into Colonel Brandon when she is expecting Willoughby, Willoughby bumps into her at a ball, Edward bumps into Lucy Steele on his visit to Elinor.
It’s the surprise and the tripping over their words that makes those scenes so great. She is tongue-tied because she has just found out what a great guy he is, not because she is giddy over his wet shirt.
At the risk of revealing that I may have a romance gene missing somewhere, the first thing I thought way back when I first saw Firth/Darcy post-plunge was how uncomfortable it must be to have all those wet clothes on.
I thought he was really hot after he had hastily dressed to catch up with Lizzy and the Gardners. I guess I prefer my guys dry
“I thought he was really hot after he had hastily dressed to catch up with Lizzy and the Gardners.”
Me, too!!! And his hair looked still wet, and he seemed flustered and so eager to make a good impression. I luv luv luv when he and Lizzy are walking and he hesitantly says: “Will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?” (Vol III, Chapter I, 43)
Even though it would be such an honor for Lizzy to be introduced to his family, he actually seemed unsure that she would be interested in pursuing any further contact with his society. It made him seem vulnerable and human. THAT’S when I fell in love with THE MAN (not to be confused with “Da Man” of another book).
(END OF FANGIRL SQUEEING.)
As for the portrait not looking like him, the text says “Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father’s life time.” I’m at work and don’t have time to dig any further, but we know his father had been dead for (how many?) years — it’s reasonable that Darcy’s appearance would have changed as he aged and took on the responsibilities of his estate.
(NOTE TO MAGS — Thanks AGAIN for the e-texts! And now I can’t wait to get home and pull out my much-worn copy of P&P to reread some favorite sections.)
>Wait. You mean he didn’t walk out of the lake?
LOL! Mjryan!! Good one!
Yes, Yes, we all agree he must have got out of the lake and walked.
The point is – they don’t show it!!!
They just him walking.
oops! That should read;
“They just show him – walking.”
I’m at work and don’t have time to dig any further, but we know his father had been dead for (how many?) years — it’s reasonable that Darcy’s appearance would have changed as he aged and took on the responsibilities of his estate.
Deb R, per Darcy’s own letter (P&P Vol. II chapter 12, or general chapter 35) we know:
My excellent father died about five years ago
So the portrait is at least 5 years old. However, in the same paragraph that you found where Mrs. Reynolds informs that it was painted during Mr. Darcy Sr.’ life, Lizzy’s impression of the portrait also tell us that it is still very look alike Darcy:
she beheld a striking resemblance of Mr. Darcy, with such a smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen, when he looked at her.
So Darcy’s appearance has not changed that much as you supposed.
Ooops! That anonymous was me.
“Perhaps the Queen wanted to add it to her collection!:) Maybe she’s a secret fan-girl!”
I almost died laughing!
According to ABC News (in Australia) it was definitely a female fan:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/23/2473112.htm?section=entertainment
bought by a woman bidder who wished to remain anonymous at its gentleman’s library sale.