“What are men to rocks and mountains?” is what Jane Austen’s character Louisa Hurst wants to know in the novel and movie of Pride and Prejudice. Good question! Austen actress Keira Knightley who played Elizabeth Bennet in the 2005 movie might just know the answer after her filming in Derbyshire for the movie, and again for the new production Duchess which will be released on September 5th. Read this interesting article on the filming at Chatsworth, the palatial manor house where Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire resided and the movie was partially filmed. Here is an excerpt.The Duchess, a sumptuous-looking costume drama about Lady Georgiana Spencer, wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire. Married at 17, this beautiful 18th-century socialite, fashion icon and compulsive gambler was painted by Gainsborough and Reynolds, but has only now been granted the ultimate cultural accolade: being played by Keira Knightley.
Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose
4 comments:
My father tells me I visited Chatsworth House when I was 3!
Today, I think their sculpture gallery is absolutely sublime and for good pictures it is best to search Google Images rather than the Chatsworth Home page.
Keira Knightley has grown so much as an actor since one of her first movies "Bend it Like Beckham" but maybe she is becoming typecast with the volume of period drama's in her work?
I thought her characterisation of Elizabeth Bennet was good but which actress do you think would play Lizzy the best?
I understand that the producers, etc want to have actors on the cast who will draw a crowd, but surely it was possible to find someone who even remotely resembles Georgiana? KK looks and is built nothing like her.
I agree that Keira is too modern looking and thin to play the Duchess of Devonshire. I think an actress built along Kate Winslet's lines would have been more suitable for the role. As for which actress would play Lizzy best, I really can't think of one just now. I liked Elizabeth Garvie and Jennifer Ehle, both of whom were relatively unknown when they played the part. They both had expressive eyes and while they were pretty neither were beautiful in the classic sense, just like Lizzy.
Hi Nigel, I think that Elizabeth Bennet is probably one of the most challenging characters to cast, since she is so well know, and we all have our own Lizzy in our minds. Of the Elizabeth actresses so far, I favour Elizabeth Garvie with her large expressive eyes and command of the role.
I agree with Vic (Ms. Place) that Keira does not look like Georgiana and Kate Winslet would have been perfect for the role.
Post a Comment