It’s the second day of our Pride and Prejudice contest — welcome! As mentioned above, we’ll be giving away two copies of the new 10th Anniversary release of the BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice, which stars Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. This limited edition includes both the DVDs of the award-winning miniseries and the illustrated companion book.
To enter, all you have to do is put a comment on any of our Risky Regencies posts from this week, answering whatever the question of the day is. (And please, do answer the question!) You get one chance for every day this week (Mon – Sat) on which you comment on that day’s post.
On Sunday, October 8, we’ll select the two winners at random from all eligible comments.
To learn more about this fabulous prize, take a look at the A&E online store!
Now… On with the day’s question!
One of my earliest posts on Risky Regencies — about a year ago — was entitled “Who’s Your Favorite Austen Heartthrob?” I asked readers to vote for their favorite cinematic Jane Austen men in three categories — and if I recall correctly, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy won in all three!
(Though Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley and Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth made strong showings.)
So . . . let’s see if a year (and increased familiarity with a certain Matthew McFadyen) will change the result!
By the way, feel free to vote for your favorites even if you aren’t eligible for this week’s grand prize. (To be eligible, you must reside in the US or Canada… And, of course, the Risky Regencies bloggers and their families and employees are not eligible. But they are all welcome to vote nonetheless!)
Now… On with the Very Important Vote.
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”? (Be sure to name both the role and the actor!)
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
3) Which would you most like to marry? (This of course takes into account your answers to questions 1 and 2, but also practical matters — like who your in-laws will be,
and just how disgustingly wealthy he is.) 🙂
To help jog your memory, I am displaying here pictures of various of Jane Austen’s gentlemen from different film and TV adaptations of her novels. (In fact, all six of her novels are represented here! Though only the most devoted fan of Jane Austen adapations is likely to be able to identify every gentleman here!)
Of course, if you’ve only ever seen one or two Jane Austen adaptations, please go ahead and comment anyway, and tell us what you thought of the actors in it! Or, if you’ve seen absolutely no Jane Austen adaptations ever, then tell us what you think of any of the men pictured here!
By the way — the gentlemen are welcome to participate too!
Just say which of these Jane Austen men you would most like to be… And yes, you may take into account whether you’d rather be married to Jennifer Ehle or Gwyneth Paltrow or Keira Knightley or Amanda Root or whoever! 🙂
Have fun!
Cara
Cara King — author of MY LADY GAMESTER, winner of the Booksellers’ Best Award for Best Regency of 2005
Since I’ve watched only P&P (mini-series and movie) and ‘Sense and Sensibility'(1995), I’d have to go with-
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”? (Be sure to name both the role and the actor!)
COLIN FIRTH as ‘Mr.Darcy’
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
ALAN RICKMAN as ‘Colonel Brandon’
3) Which would you most like to marry? (This of course takes into account your answers to questions 1 and 2, but also practical matters — like who your in-laws will be, and just how disgustingly wealthy he is.)
COLIN FIRTH (Mr.Darcy)/ ALAN RICKMAN (Colonel Brandon)
It looks like the 2 Jills are thinking alike.
1 – Colin Firth – the perfect Mr. Darcy
2. Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon (But I will admit that in my more youthful and impetuous days I could have had my head turned by Alessandro Nivola and his portrayal of Henry Crawford.)
3. My answers mirror Jill’s here as well, so I’ll go with Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley so I can be set apart and because it’s Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley!
Who is gentleman #3 below your name, Cara? I vote for him on all three!!(but only because you can’t offer Gerard Butler)
I would have to say Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy for all three questions.
Sigh. I love contemplating men. Even fictional ones.
1. Essential Hotness? I’d have to say Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley.
2. Truly, madly deeply in love with? Why, the devoted Colonel Brandon as played by Alan Rickman of course. I love those intense eyes, that fabulous voice, and the way he looks when he asks Elinor to give him *something* to do when Marianne is sick.
3. Which would I most like to marry? It would have to be Colonel Brandon as portrayed by Alan Rickman. He’s just so intense and calm and hot. Just plain hot.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Colin Firth as Darcy. But I’d have to fight too many women for him, and I’d be just as happy with Rickman/Brandon.
1) Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
2) Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon
3) Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) or Alan Rickman (Colonel Brandon)
I know I’m not as well versed in all things Austen as you ladies, but I rather enjoyed watching Matthew McFadyen as Mr. Darcy. I’ve enjoyed watching Colin Firth in other things, but since I haven’t seen him as Darcy can’t comment on that. Though it does seem the consensus that he is the perfect Darcy. And not really character-wise, but I thought Rupert Friend as Wickham was nice to look at. 🙂
1) Colin Firth, of course!
2) Colin Firth as Mr. D’Arcy … of course!
3)Colin Firth as Mr. D’Arcy OF COURSE!!!!
😀
1&2&3 My answer to all three would be Colin Firth as Darcy. He’s got essential hotness, I could totally fall in love with him AND he lives in Canada, so of course I could marry him. LOL
I really enjoyed Sir Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy. He displayed the best acting ability and was definitely a man. Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon was easy to fall for. To marry it would have to be Colin Firth.
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy for all three!
Of course you all know how I love my Matthew! I vote for him in all 3. 🙂
Diane, out of curiosity, which Austen hero would you like to see GB portray?
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”?
Hands down Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. I have a real thing for that nose of his . . .
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
I’m going to have to go with the flow and say Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. Marianne didn’t deserve him!
3) Which would you most like to marry?
Oooooooo, so hard to choose, cause they’re all contenders for different reasons, but I can’t escape my teen crush: David Rintoul as Darcy. I’m saddened and amazed that I can’t find a picture of him in the role anywhere online. He didn’t age all that well but he was HOT in that role, and so stiff you just itched to muss him.
Diane, the third guy beneath my name — do you mean the one who looks like he has a pool queue in one hand, and a cigar in the other? If so, that’s Alessandro Nivola, playing Henry Crawford, in the (mostly abysmal, IMHO) Mansfield Park movie done in 1999. (The one that took such liberties! But he does look quite nice in that picture, doesn’t he?)
Cara
1) Colin Firth as Darcy, without a doubt. He explemplifies Austen’s Darcy plus has an irresistible dash of *hotness* that makes him a winner for this category.
2) Colin Firth as Darcy, without a doubt. I’m already in love with him, if that matters, lol.
(Hmm,there’s a trend starting here!)
3) Darcy again. He’s an irresistible challenge. And the almost no-laws is a definite plus. Georgiana is easy to handle while Lady Catherine won’t dare flout Darcy’s haughtiness or his favor. Bingley was a hot contender, but those sisters of his – sheesh! Keep me away from those claws.
Kalen — there’s actually a picture of David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy near the bottom of my post. I admit it’s not a *good* picture — but it’s a picture nonetheless. 🙂
Cara
I’d have to pick Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley for all three. But Colin Firth is right up there too. But, reallly, let’s be honest–I wouldn’t be disappointed with any of them.
You’re right! I totally missed him. I’m pretty sure that movie is the single greatest reason I read and write romance (when the dog comes around the corner and you know before Lizzy does that he’s there–yipes!–I love that scene; probably cause I was only 12 or so when I saw it for the first time and I had yet to read the book so it was a surprise to me, too).
Amazing how things like that stick with you. LOL!
Thanks for the question, Cara.
I know it’s incredibly boring, and I am a great admirer of Alan Rickman’s many charms, but I have to give Mr. Firth’s Mr. Darcy my vote for all three questions.
Matthew McFadyen is a fine looking man himself, but I thought he played Darcy too modern – which may have been what the director of that film wanted – but by playing Darcy like a moody deer in the headlights he lost track of Darcy’s quintessential virtue: he is a strong, reliable, honorable gentleman.
Oh, I love Regency men in cravats. This is my current avatar on one of the message boards I visit: http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b55/Manuelita/NoCravat.gif
And I love Mr. Darcy – in all his incarnations. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b55/Manuelita/Darcy.gif
1) Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is hawt!
2) Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy! (Although “truly, madly, deeply” makes me think of Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon 😉 )
3) Um, let me think … I would marry Mr. Darcy who has 10 thousand pounds per year and Pemberley, as played by Colin Firth, of course.
Keira Knightley’s Mr. Wickham (who kinda looks like Orlando Bloom from certain angles) is definitely more of what I picture a handsome, charming, rake to look like. Quite an improvement from the BBC version.
Later on will you post who the actors and roles/movies are of all the cuties you have pictured in today’s blog? There were a few that I didn’t know.
Well, the links didn’t show up too well. The end of the first one is NoCravat.gif and the second one ends with Darcy.gif.
My answers for 1, 2, and 3 would all be: Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. He is simply the most attractive man in every way, to me.
Ooh, I love your pics, Manuelita! You even have Ewan McGregor as Churchill! (I think that makes you officially cool.)
And yes, doesn’t blogger just kill links in the stupidest way? I usually end up chopping them up into little bits on different lines to try to protect them. Silly blogger. 🙂
Cara
Colin Firth is a great Mr. Darcy. As far as Alan Rickman is concerned he is wonderful as the Colonel and to marry it would have to be Colin Firth as he is hot.
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”?
–Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
–Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy
3) Which would you most like to marry? (This of course takes into account your answers to questions 1 and 2, but also practical matters — like who your in-laws will be and just how disgustingly wealthy he is.)
–Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy (no parents, independently wealthy, well-liked by peers, friendly sister, glorious mansions, young, tall and well-developed, has all his teeth and hair, and is drool-worthy to boot)
Now, if Gerard Butler were to play Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley or even Mr. Collins, I would have him as the hottest man to fall madly in love with and marry (despite the spectre of Lady de Bourgh lurking nearby).
I believe that Jeremy Northam is simply the most appealing and attractive for the role of Mr.Darcy, for marriage and to fall for as well.
An Aside…
Congratulations Janet for winning a first in the “Reveal Your Inner Vixen” Contest by Maryland Romance Writers.
Historical:
(Final judging by:
Laura Cifelli/NAL):
1st Place: Janet Mullany: for “Blaithrigg’s Gold”
I have always enjoyed the old movie, starring Laurence Olivier. I cannot overlook his acting and his great looks as the role for Mr. Darcy. He is the consummate actor and he fits the marriage bill as well as the falling head over heels for too.
Colin Firth has the looks in every role and to fall for him is easy, then to marry is even better. He can act the Mr. Darcy part and has the English down pat.
Darcy, Brandon, Darcy.
Thanks for the pictures. I’m at work and needed a break!
1. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
2. Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon
3. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
I pretty much agree with most of the people here.
1-Jeremy Northam as Mr, Knightly
2- Jeremy Northam
3- Jeremy Northam
Give me Jeremy Northam, hands down!!!!
Oh, so little love for my dear Ciaran Hinds! I suspect that either (a) too few here have seen him in “Persuasion,” or (b) it’s been too long since they have.
Or perhaps they’ve seen him in too many things since then in which he was no longer an athletic, fit young man. (Can hurt one’s imaginings!)
I think my votes (as of today — they may change tomorrow) are:
1) essential hotness = Colin Firth as Darcy (all that repressed passion!)
2) truly madly deeply = Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth
3) marry = Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley (what a fun husband he’d be!)
Cara
Oh geez, it has got to be Colin Firth and Mr. Darcy on every single question you can possibly ask!!!! 🙂 LOL I did see Sense and Sensibility with Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant and two Emma’s, the one with Ewan McGregor the other I’m not sure of any of the actors names off hand, but either I simply haven’t watched those enough or Colin Firth/Mr. Darcy simply do it for me over all other seen JA movies. LOL 🙂
Lois
Later on will you post who the actors and roles/movies are of all the cuties you have pictured in today’s blog? There were a few that I didn’t know.
Sure, Manuelita! My pleasure!
The ones above my sig line, top to bottom, are:
1) Colin Firth as Darcy in the 1995 BBC/A&E Miniseries “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”
2) Crispin Bonham Carter as Bingley in the 1995 BBC/A&E Miniseries “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”
3) Laurence Olivier as Darcy (and Greer Garson as Elizabeth) in the 1940 Feature Film “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”
4) Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy in the 2005 Feature Film “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.” (Sorry for slightly misspelling his name earlier, Matthew fans!)
5) Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley in the 1996 Feature Film “EMMA”
6) Rupert Friend as Wickham in the 2005 Feature Film “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”
Then, below my sig line:
7) (on left) Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars in the 1995 Feature Film “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”
8) (blond guy on right) Peter Firth as Mr. Tilney in the 1986 Television Movie “NORTHANGER ABBEY”
9) (guy with dark curly hair at billiards table) Alessandro Nivola as Henry Crawford in the 1999 Feature Film “MANSFIELD PARK”
10) (dark-haired guy in naval uniform, looking extremely dishy) Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth in the 1995 Feature Film (in the U.S.) and television movie (in the U.K.) “PERSUASION”
11) (smiling guy who looks like Alan Rickman) Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon in the 1995 Feature Film “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”
12) (slightly blurry couple) David Rintoul as Darcy (and Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth) in the 1980 BBC Miniseries “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”
13) (man with wind-blown hair next to books) Greg Wise as Willoughby in the 1995 Feature Film “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”
Hope this helps!
(And if anyone wants to know my recommendations and non-recommendations for which of these or other Jane Austen adaptations are worth watching, you can always check out my website at:
http://caraking.com/Movies.html
Cara
“11) (smiling guy who looks like Alan Rickman)” LOL!!
Thanks, Cara. I didn’t know #8, 9 or 13.
You probably already know this, but just in case, the Laurence Olivier version of P&P comes out on DVD on October 10th. I think this is the only version I have not seen.
Arrggh – I’m torn between David Rintoul and Matthew McFadyen as Mr. Darcy. Though leaning towards Matthew – there’s something so vulnerable about him, just below the surface that really gets to me. Ok, yeah, I’ll go with him 🙂
1. Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightly.
2. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.
3. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.
Colin Firth was just “it” for me in Pride and Prejudice, but Jeremy Northam runs a close, close second in Emma. Honestly, I’d probably be just as happy with either of them.
1. Though Colin Firth is a close second, I have to go with David Rintoul.
2. Colin Firth as Darcy
3. David’s Rintoul’s Darcy
gosh, I think I’m going to have to re-watch all these version after reading the diverse opinions everyone has
Dulcie is my new best friend! Someone else who likes David Rintoul. *GRIN*
Am I the only one amazed by how alike Alessandro Nivola and Greg Wise look? These guys could be brothers.
Am I the only one amazed by how alike Alessandro Nivola and Greg Wise look? These guys could be brothers.
Isn’t that weird, Kalen??? I’d never noticed it before I put this post together. Actually, I originally had the pictures of the two side-by-side in the post, but I changed it, worried that everyone would think I’d just put the same guy in twice! 🙂
Cara
hmmm…me thinks I’m missing something. I haven’t seen the one with Colin Firth so my answer are based on what I’ve seen.
For now..
I’d choose
1) Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy
2) Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy
3) Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy
1. Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley.
2. Alan Rickman as Col. Brandon. The man was THE hero of that movie. I didn’t care a fig for Hugh Grant’s character.
3. Jeremy/Knightley again. In-laws would be good and if he put up with Emma and her shenanigans, he’d put up with me, most likely.
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”? (Be sure to name both the role and the actor!)
Colin Firth as the only ‘true’ Mr. Darcy.
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
3) Which would you most like to marry?
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
Any questions on who I love the most???
By the way — the gentlemen are welcome to participate too! Just say which of these Jane Austen men you would most like to be… And yes, you may take into account whether you’d rather be married to Jennifer Ehle or Gwyneth Paltrow or Keira Knightley or Amanda Root or whoever! 🙂
Well…when you put it like that… 🙂
I have a sneaking fondness for Kate Beckinsale–though now that she’s become a vampire, it might be too risky. But her Knightley was such a drip! Couldn’t be him. No, no.
I spent most of the feature film version of Emma marveling at Gwyneth Paltrow’s neck, which I eventually concluded is due to advanced genetic engineering. However, man cannot live by necks alone. Whatever that means.
Though now that I think about it, since Kate Beckinsale is now a vampire, maybe she can live by necks alone. OK. Nice image. I think I’ll go lie down for a minute.
I’m extremely fond of Amanda Root’s portrayal of Anne in Persuasion. And Ciaran Hind’s Wentworth is a very dashing fellow. But those months at sea without a shower…not sure I could take it, really. Which leaves only:
Jennifer Ehle–the Elizabeth Bennet. Suffice it to say that in our household, “Jennifer Ehle” is an adjective (used to modify the word “cleavage”). It’s Lizzie for me!
Which I guess means that, like everybody else, I have to vote for Colin Firth’s Darcy as well!
Todd-who-only-mostly-keeps-his-mind-on-higher-things
Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth but I love every thing he does.
Alan Rickman because I love him as an actor but I loved that he character was so patient and so in love. *sigh*
CindyS
I’ve not seen him in it but Colin Firth looks to have the most hotness and would certainly be easy to fall in love with. But the marrying would be with Jeremy Northrup from Emma.
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”? I have not seen any of the movies. Judging from the photos, I would choose Colin Firth, Mr. Darcy.
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with? Same as above
3) Which would you most like to marry? Mr. Darcy would probably be too young for me and not interested in an older lady. Elizabeth’s father would be more in my age range. I think he would be a good marriage choice as he is warm, caring and protective.
1. Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.
2. Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon.
3. Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.
And the winner is — Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy!!! The handsome gentleman has won in every category.
No big surprise there.
But Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon was a very close second in the “truly, madly, deeply” category.
In the hotness category, good showings were made by Jeremy Northam as Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy, and multiple votes also went to Laurence Olivier’s Darcy.
In the truly, madly, deeply category, as well as the many votes for Firth and Rickman, there were strong showings for Macfadyen, Northam, plus multiple votes for Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth.
The marriage category got a lot of votes for Northam, and a good number for Rickman, Macfadyen, and more than one for David Rintoul’s Darcy.
Thanks to everyone who voted! And if you still wish to cast your vote, feel free!
Cara
Man, them’s some sideburns, all righty! (p.s. our P&P video got inadvertently recorded over with … what else? “Sesame Street” …
I love Jane Austen and have very much enjoyed most of the movie adaptations.
1) Which Jane Austen gentleman, as played by a specific actor, do you think has the most of what Janet once called “essential hotness”?
I would have to say Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy in P&P 2005. I didn’t think he would work, but he took my breath away! 🙂
2) Which character (played by which actor) would you find it easiest to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with?
Mr. Darcy, of course, (though I have a great fondness for Captain Wentworth and Mr. Knightley), played by Matthew MacFadyen.
3) Which would you most like to marry? (This of course takes into account your answers to questions 1 and 2, but also practical matters — like who your in-laws will be, and just how disgustingly wealthy he is.) 🙂
Once again, Mr. Darcy. I adore the character. What could be better than a man who is handsome, landed, wealthy, of consequence, and, most importantly, becomes the man he is supposed to be only with you?
Cara, since you suggested we could continue posting here despite the expiration of the “shelf date,” here’s my addition:
Move over Gerard Butler.
Hello, Josh Holloway (Sawyer on Lost). Isn’t he a dish?
Ah, Keira, what an interesting choice. Josh Holloway? And which Jane Austen character, in your imagination, does he play? Wickham? Willoughby? Wentworth? (Or perhaps someone without a “W”?) 🙂
Cara
Wickham had certainly not occurred to me, but I’m highly intrigued by the possibility. ‘Twould be interesting to see how Holloway would play a villian. Would he be able to submerge his need to simply look good to show the darker currents in Wickham’s personality? Holloway seems such a shoo-in for a hero that I can believe Lydia’s falling for him far more than the other two Wickhams (movie or series).
Matthew McFadyen as Mr. Darcy was yummylicious. (Is that a Regency word? 😉 )