Any Human Heart Features A Number of Jane Austen Character Actors

Any Human Heart, the new mini-series that will be shown on Masterpiece Classic for the next three Sundays, features a variety of actors who have starred in Jane Austen film adaptations.

Matthew MacFadyen

as Logan Mountstuart in Any Human Heart

as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice 2005

The man with the deep sexy voice, as I think of Matthew, gave Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy a run for his money. Many young fans prefer Matthew's interpretation as the iconic Jane Austen hero. I, for one, like them both. As Logan Mountstuart, Matthew once again delivers a shaded performance. While I could not like his character (who can respect a man who abandons a son for his lover?), Matthew's sensitive portrayal of Mounstuart tugged at my heartstrings.

Haley Atwell

Haley Atwell as Freya Deverell

as Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park 2007

Haley Atwell looks absolutely stunning in 1930's costume. Jane Austen fans will recall her portrayal of Mary Crawford in the unfortunate 2007 version of Mansfield Park. I say unfortunate, for I found that particular film adaptation particularly lacking (especially Billy Piper tomboyish representation of Fanny). I did, however, like Haley, who was perfect for the part of the sophisticated woman that Fanny Price could not like. Unfortunately, Haley's lines were few and far between, largely because the film was too short. Thankfully, she is given a much larger role in Any Human Heart as Matthew MacFadyen's love interest. When those two actors are together, magic happens onscreen.

Jim Broadbent

as an older Logan Mountstuart

as Colin Jones (with Gemma Jones and Renee Zelwegger) in Bridget Jones's Diary

Any Human Heart revolves around the character of the older Logan Mountstuart, played by Jim Broadbent, one of my favorite character actors. Jim's connection to Jane Austen is peripheral. He portrayed Bridget Jones's father and has acted opposite a score of actors who starred in Jane Austen film adaptations. I have always thought that he would make an excellent Mr. Woodhouse or Mr. Bennet, but I doubt we will see another version of Emma or Pride and Prejudice soon. Any film that features Mr. Broadbent is worth watching, and his role, while largely quiet, is extensive and he appears in all the episodes from start to finish.

Charity Wakefield

as Land Forthergill

as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, 2008

Charity had the unenviable task of following Kate Winslet in playing Marianne Dashwood, the histrionic sister, in the 2008 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. While she is not classically beautiful, the camera's lens loves Charity's large eyes and dramatic features. She also looks fabulous in a classic 20's bob. Charity appears in only one episode of Any Human Heart, but her character is important in forcing Logan to think more seriously about his writing career and giving him his first major heartbreak.

Tom Hollander

as the Duke of Windsor after his abdication as King Edward VIII

as Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, 2005

Tom Hollander's role as the Duke of Windsor comes at a propitious time for viewers who have seen (or who intend to see) The King's Speech. In this mini-series he is shown after his abdication as King Edward VIII, and he plays the former king as a petty, self-centered, and self-serving man. While I think he was perfect for the part of David, I had a small problem with his casting as Mr. Collins. Oh, he played that part to a tee and his proposal to Lizzy Bennet was unforgettable, but Jane Austen described Mr. Collins as tall, which Mr. Holland most certainly is not. However, his lack of height added comic relief to his dance scenes with Keira Knightley's Elizabeth, and so I have decided in the future to overlook this casting faux pas.

Samuel West 

Samuel West as Peter Scabius

Samuel West as William Elliot in Persuasion 1996

In Any Human Heart Samuel West plays Peter Scabalius, one of Logan's two childhood friends, and a successful author. Jane Austen fans will remember Samuel as William Elliot, Anne's unsuccessful suitor, who was less than a gentleman towards the Elliots and in particular towards Mrs. Smith.

PBS Masterpiece Classic will feature Any Human Heart on February 13, 20 & 27, 2011 at 9pm. Click here for details. 

On a different note, I urge anyone who is as addicted to PBS as I am, to contact your representatives and request them not to cut their funding. 

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Last night was Jane Austen night at Vic's house. We played Faro (a fast but not very interesting card game, in which the bank wins readily), looked up the rules of whist and speculation for future card games, and watched Mansfield Park with Sylvestra La Touzel (do you not LOVE her name?) as Fanny. In the 6-hour BBC adaptation, the Mary Crawford character, played by Jackie Smith-Wood, comes front stage and center any time she is on the screen. Which actress playing Mary Crawford was the most successful in portraying this complicated woman in the shorter film versions?

This actress portrayed the better Mary Crawford

Embeth Davidtz, Mary Crawford, 1999

People are extremely divided about this movie adaptation by Patricia Rozema, either hating the addition of its anti-colonialist overtones and Fanny becoming a budding young writer like Jane Austen, or liking its pluck. One person who stood out in this film is Embeth, whose Mary is quite as sophisticated as Jane Austen described her. She is a lady, but there is a hint of the unsavory in her. She is all sensuality, so that one can fully understand why Edmund is so distracted by her. Many will recognize Embeth for another role. She played the chilly and elegant Natasha in Bridget Jones's Diary, whose lawyer character was the perfect fit for Colin Firth until Bridget came along. Hailing from South Africa, the bi-lingual Embeth's career has been steadily successful if not spectacular.



Hayley Atwell, Mary Crawford, 2007

The 2007 version of Mansfield Park was generally trashed because of its short length and Billie Piper's tomboyish performance of Fanny Price. One actress who didn't get hammered was Hayley Atwell, whose Mary Crawford was pretty, audacious, and a little bit saucy. Her line to Fanny after keeping the horse too long sums her character up: "Selfishness must always be forgiven, for there is no hope for a cure." A stunning woman, Haley rates high in AskMen.com. She is also recognized for her acting chops, playing major roles in Brideshead Revisited and The Duchess. Haley is currrently filming Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follet's epic medieval tale about the building of a Cathedral. My apologies to Haley for spelling her last name wrong in the poll. I caught the mistake too late to make the change, for too many people had already voted.

pollcode.com free polls

This actress played the better Mary Crawford

Embeth Davidtz Haley Atwood