In this interview in the Telegraph.co.UK, Matthew Macfadyen discussed his role as Mr. Darcy:
He got slightly miserable having to prance about so gravely in Pride and Prejudice, he reveals. “All the Bennets were having a great time; it was all very cosy. Then I’d come along and be a bit sullen for a couple of days and then f--- off again! It didn’t help that my wife was pregnant at the time, but I wished I’d enjoyed it more.”
Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World
10 comments:
That's too bad. But why would an actor say that about a part as iconic as Mr. Darcy? It seems like a bad move to me.
I think you need to read the whole article - that comment taken out of context is very misleading. Matthew means that he was envious of the actors playing the Bennets as they always appeared to be having such a good time, whereas he, as Darcy, had to appear much more quiet and reserved. Plus he wasn't on set with them as much as he'd like to have been, so he felt like he was missing out, and his wife was heavily pregnant so he was rushing home at the end of the day to see her instead of staying in a hotel with the rest of the cast and crew :)
I love Matthew and his wife ever since Spooks. I heard when he started doing P&P he hadn't read the book before. I don't even know if he has yet.
ann
I did not take Matthew's stand alone comment as being bad in context or out of it. I thought he sounded a little envious of the actors who played the Bennet family, and that he would have liked to join in with them.
I can't blame him for thinking or saying that; the role of Mr. Darcy is a very stiff-rumped one! I generally like Matthew MacFayden in the roles I've seen him in over here across the Pond, but I was not impressed with his casting as Mr. Darcy. Somehow, he just didn't "fit" the image and bearing of what one expects of Mr. Darcy. Compare him to the actor playing the same character in "Lost in Austen" - the latter is more believable. For that matter, I didn't think Keira Knightley was well cast, nor did the overall movie reflect well - poor costuming, poorer screenplay; overall, this version of P&P would, to me, have been better left on the editing floor.
I agree with those that he was jealous of the Bennet's having such a god time.
Thank you for sharing his comments about the opportunity to play Mr. Darcy.
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I think his own distraction of a pregnant wife and having never read the book showed in the lackluster performance he gave as Mr. Darcy, and only aided to the many reasons why this version was extremely weak.
Ah well - each to their own - I think he did a terrific job :)
I agree with JaneV, that he was lamenting the fact that he was not a part of the happy family -- he came on, looked sullen and reserved, and went back to his wife. If you watch the extra features on the dvd you will see that this is the case. Matthew has one tiny interview where he says this very thing, basically. On the other hand, Tom Hollander is shown frolicking about with all of the ladies, playing hide-and-seek, and having fun!
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