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.

Silent Monday: An Ideal Husband

Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen) and Fiona Button in An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband, starring Elliot Cowan, Samantha Bond, Rachael Stirling, Alexander Hanson, Charles Kay, and Fiona Button. At the Vaudeville Theatre, London, November 4, 2010-February 19, 2011.

• The Stage Review

Elliot Cowan as Macbeth

From Playbill: London's Shakespeare's Globe has announced the casting for the 2010 season. Elliot Cowan will play the title role in a new production of Macbeth that launches the season, opposite Laura Rogers as Lady Macbeth. Cowan, who was last seen on the London stage as Stanley Kowalski in the Donmar Warehouse's production of A Streetcar Named Desire opposite Rachel Weisz, also previously appeared at the Donmar in Michael Grandage's original production of Frost/Nixon, which subsequently transferred to the Gielgud. Other theatre credits include The Revenger's Tragedy (National Theatre) and Don Carlos (Sheffield Theatres and Gielgud Theatre, London). His screen credits include playing Mr. Darcy in the TV drama series "Lost in Austen" and the films "The Golden Compass," "Happy Go Lucky" and "Alexander."

• The Globe Box office is open for theatre tickets
• The Globe Website: Summary of Macbeth and characters

Lost in Elliot Cowan?

Can't get enough of British actor Elliot Cowan since he emerged from the Pemberley pond and into our hearts as Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen, the 2008 twisted bonnet parody of Pride and Prejudice? Here's some eye candy video for you from Littleviper. Enjoy!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Interview With Elliot Cowan

In this short 2008 interview, Elliot Cowan discusses his role as Mr. Darcy:



I found the video on Jane Austen NL, which is a Dutch Jane Austen blog. Karin, the blog's founder, visited Bath and participated in the world record promenade of the largest group of people dressed in regency costumes. See her images of the walk in this link.

How Loud Can Mr. Darcy Yell Stelllaaa? Elliot Cowan Debuts as Stanley Kowalski in Streetcar Named Desire in London

The reviews are rolling in for the new production of Tennessee William’s Pulitzer Prize winning 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire. Elliot Cowan (Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen) is playing the role of brutish and sensual Stanley Kowalski, husband of Stella (Ruth Wilson), and tormenter of her sister Blanche DuBois (Rachel Weisz) in the new west end production which opened last night, July 28th at the Donmar Warehouse in London’s Covent Garden.

But, boy, did Cowan exude danger and power. At times I felt he was overstating the boorish, crude manners — give him a beer bottle and he’ll virtually swallow it whole — but he’s riveting when he lolls, swaggers, flexes his biceps, lets rip with a violent gesture or a big, hoarse bellow. He’s the ferocious bull in the porcelain parlour that’s Blanche DuBois. Benedict Nightingale Times Online

Readers may be familiar with the 1951 movie adaptation staring Marlon Brandon as Stanley with big arms and bigger mouth, woefully yelling Stelllaaa from streetside to his wife in their second floor apartment in New Orleans. Actress Vivien Leigh won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the fading southern belle who had a fondness for underage boys and booze. In a nice six degree of separation, Leigh also stared as Blanche in the 1949 stage production in London at the Aldwych Theatre, which was directed by her husband, Laurence Olivier who also portrayed Mr. Darcy in the 1940 movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

In a review by Phil and Andrew of the West End Wingers blog, they mention that Elliot Cowan’s performance as Stanley was "excellent, but alarmingly muscular." Another article in Metro.co.uk reports his biceps are like oak trees! Given that his costar Rachel Weisz was also struck by how buff her co-star Elliot Cowan looked, the actor known for his commitment to physical fitness must really be aproaching amazing Hulk status.

"You seem to be getting bigger every day," she told him during rehearsals.

Cowan, who plays the brutish Stanley Kowalski, tells me he had taken up boxing to give him the muscles his part required.

His exacting exercise routine afforded other advantages apart from the admiring looks from Miss Weisz. "It means I can eat as much as I like as every calorie gets burned off," he says.

This Mr. Darcy must be sporting less than the iconic wet white shirt!

• Review by BBC News
• Review in The Independent
• Review in The Telegraph
• Check out the opening night party photos at What's On Stage
  
  

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Inquiring Reader,

The Jane Austen Character Throwdown will take on a more peripheral role as we explore Jane Austen movie and television adaptations. Lately, our character questions have been heading in that direction. Last week's character throwdown showed Mr. Knightley winning over Mr. Wickham by a margin of 2:1. It is interesting to note that the voting trend settles early on in the week and doesn't change. We'll see if this pattern remains the same for the movie throwdowns.

Three years ago we asked this question about Mr. Darcy and the votes went viral, putting our blog on the Austen map. It doesn't hurt to start our movie throwdown with the same question again, since our readership has evolved and changed. Drum Roll please: which Mr. Darcy do you prefer? We now have so many actors to choose from that, for the sake of brevity, we shall limit the choice to the last three Darcys.

Favorite Mr. Darcy

Elliot Cowan, Lost in Austen, 2008

Our latest Mr. Darcy, Elliot played the role of straight man in Lost in Austen. His surprisingly effective turn as Mr. Darcy helped to make this t.v. adaptation a huge success the world over, and I doubt he belongs to the League of Obscure British Actors any longer. He has signed on to play Captain Hatch in Heaven and Earth along with Pierce Brosnan and Natascha McEllhone. We can't wait.

Matthew Macfadyen, Pride and Prejudice, 2005

Who can forget his rain scene proposal to Lizzy? Though it was placed in the wrong setting and the day was cold and rainy, he managed to smolder and sizzle. Matthew's career is hot as well. He recently appeared in Little Dorrit, and will appear in the BBC production of Enid Blyton and as the Sherrif of Nottingham in Robin Hood. Oh, how delicious.

Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice, 1995

With Colin you can take your pick. He's played Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and the Bridget Jones's Diary franchise, oozing British wit and charm. His career has not slowed down since playing Darcy and we will have six opportunities to see him in future productions: A Single Man, Main Street, A Christmas Carol, Dorian Gray, The Meat Trade, and David Copperfield. Be still my beating heart.

DEAR VISITORS: What an exciting three days it has been. We've changed the poll to allow only one vote per visit.

Lost in Austen Makes a Splash Downunder

Lost in Austen premiered on ABC1 in Australia on March 8th to solid reviews and ratings, concluding on March 15th. Graeme Blundell a "caddish disbeliever" of Austen novels and a reporter for the Australian was converted.

"I loved this show and laughed out loud many times, even though I have only a passing acquaintance with the characters on which it is based. (Though I've developed a a secret yearning for fine britches, high polished boots, long riding coats and big hats during the past few years of watching Austen TV.)"

This time twisted Pride and Prejudice parody first aired on ITV in the UK in September 2008 and has gradually made its way across the pond to Canada, the US, then south to New Zealand, and now downunder. Its appreciation seems to be growing as I see more chat about it online and Internet surfers land on my blog Austenprose in droves from search engines.

Honestly, who would have guessed? My hunch is that the male cast had a lot to do with it. If Elliot Cowan had been concerned about stepping into Colin Firth's big boots as Mr. Darcy, it did not show. He brings his own penetrating style and refined attraction to Jane Austen's hero. My only puzzlement is in his disappearance from the scene. There is little to be found about him online, even since the 2008 premiere. If an actor accepts such an iconic role, and does it so convincingly, he has created a public personae, which if he was paying attention, are quite eager to learn about his new projects. Its called publicity. It can make or break a career. If he is trying to parallel the brooding, enigmatic Mr. Darcy, he is doing a great job.

Check out who is ahead in the ultimate Mr. Darcy poll. I am not surprised by number one, but number two might raise a few eyebrows!

Further reading

Episode reviews Austenprose
Episode reviews Jane Austen's World
A definite fan view Stuck in a Book
Unofficial site Elliot Cowan Fanbase
More fan stuff Lost in Austen Fansite
Watch Lost in Austen online at Blinkx
Pre-order Lost in Austen DVD and save 46%

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Lost in Austen DVD available April 14th

Good news for Lost in Austen fans!

The widescreen DVD of the television mini-series will be available for purchase in North America on April 14th. This British ITV production aired in the UK and Canada last fall and in the US in January on the Ovation network.

If you were lucky enough to see Lost in Austen, you know that it is a time travel parody of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice where Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper), a contemporary London bank clerk is transported back in time to her favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice where she lives with the Bennet family at Longbourn and meets Mr. Darcy (Elliot Cowan). Her experience there is oddly out of step with the book and her attempts to fix things to match the novel are hilarious.

If you missed the Ovation broadcast in January, buying the DVD in April may be your only chance to view it this year. If taken as a pastiche, it is immensely enjoyable and I recommend pre-ordering it for your Austen movie library. If you order it by February 3rd at Barnes & Noble, you can take advantage of their buy two DVD’s and get the third free special. What a deal!

You can read reviews of the production at Jane Austen's World and Austenprose.

Cheer, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Lost in Austen Montage by Spikesbint

Visit Spikesbint's other videos here, enjoy!

The Hunks of Lost in Austen

Elliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy

Elliot Cowan (left) as Ptolemy with Colin Farrell as Alexander. In a wet shirt or a leather skirt, Elliot cuts a fine figure of a man. Here's an interview with him and a professional listing.

Tom Riley as George Wickham practically steals the show, especially in Episode Three.

He is rather new to the business, having acted relatively a few years. Here's an interview he did in 2007 and an article about him from 2005.

Tom Mison as Mr. Bingley.

Mr. Mison in modern garb. Yum. Find out more about him on his web site.

Er, well, three out of four isn't bad. Guy Henry as Mr. Collins is creepy. But he looks kinda cool and suauve with Anna Maxwell Martin at the opening of Betrayal, 2007. Here's his biography.

Oh, ok. You asked for it: one more pix of Mr. Darcy wet.

Jane Austen's World reviews of Lost in Austen:

• Episode Four
  
• Episode Three
• Episode Two
• Episode One

Austen Prose reviews:

• Episode Three
• Episode Two
• Episode One
  

Guardian UK Blog: Lost in Austen: Click here

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Lost in Austen, Behind the Scenes

You know you're on your way to stardom when you get Fugged, like Jemima Rooper did two years ago. Jemima was born in Hammersmith, hence the constant in jokes about her birth place in 'Lost in Austen', Jemima's latest starring vehicle.

Here's a link to Episode 2, Part 1 on YouTube. Update: These links have since been taken down on YouTube. There are other sources. Bit torrent and Surf the Channel are good bets.

And here's a recent interview with Jemima and Elliot Cowan about the film.



A 'Behind the Scenes' YouTube video of Lost in Austen.

• Short Bio of Jemima in Hellomagazine.com
• Not Just Anybody: Actor Elliot Cowan
  

Lost in Austen Fan Site Posts Cast Interviews

The fan site for Lost in Austen, the new ITV television (United Kingdom) production about a young woman's time-travel adventure to Regency England and into the novel Pride and Prejudice has several interviews of the cast including the next Mr. Darcy, Elliot Cowan. This new three hour production will air on September 3rd in the UK. No word yet on a North American broadcast, but we shall keep you informed. You can also read further details and comments on this production at AustenBlog.

posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose