Interview with Elliot Cowan

2008 interview in MailOnline with Elliot Cowan, Mr.Darcy in Lost in Austen

Elliot Cowan
Age 31
lives Dalston, East London.
What you know him from Playing Mr Darcy on ITV’s recent Lost In Austen series, plus the films Alexander and The Golden Compass.
You have a very impressive CV, but have you ever done a job you’ve regretted?
I’ve done some bits of shockingly bad TV that have never been shown, or at least I hope they’ve never been shown… Please don’t dig them out!
How did you feel about being cast as Mr Darcy?
l was thrilled to be asked, but realised I had to put my own mark on him – Darcy’s a character that is etched on to the national psyche, thanks to Colin Firth of course!
Oh yes, the famous white shirt scene. How was filming that?
Very cold. Not a lot of people realise that in the famous TV version you never actually see Colin Firth in the water or getting out of it. But I had to do the real thing, dripping wet and looking suitably brooding.
But has it helped with the ladies?
Well, we’ll see. I’m single at the moment and I’ve given up the chase. I’m relying on that old adage, ‘If you stop looking…’
Who would be your ideal leading lady?
There are some fantastic British actresses around at the moment. I’d love to star with Hayley Atwell or Hattie Morahan.
Have you ever been star-struck?
At a party in LA, I met this middle-aged gentleman who I was talking to for ages when I asked, ‘So, what do you do?’ Turns out I was speaking to legendary music producer Quincy Jones who worked on Michael Jackson’s hits. And there was little old me rattling on – I was so embarrassed.