Colin Firth's New Film Projects

Colin Firth and Tom Hardy Encoded in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I can't wait for this film, as I was mesmerized by the novel.

Carey Mulligan (l) and Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard in 1938

And how would you like to see our hero in My Fair Lady opposite Carey Mulligan (who looks so much like the young Wendy Hiller, who played opposite Leslie Howard in 1938's Pygmalian)? Colin has expressed a desire to play Henry Higgins. Be still my beating heart.

Colin as Henry Higgins?

Colin as Henry Higgins
	Yes
	No
	Unsure
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Pride and Prejudice Actors Among Vanity Fair's Best Dressed

Vanity Fair's 2011's International Best Dressed List recognizes the sartorial splendor of Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) and Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet and Isabella Thorpe). What good taste the magazine has exhibited. Include in the mix are H.R.H. the Duchess of Cambridge and President and his First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama.

Ever sartorial, ever splendid. His Royal Firthness

Spectacular.

Beautiful Carey Mulligan made the cover of Vogue this past year

Jane Austen would have given Mr. Darcy with more than a modicum of good taste, but Isabella? Thankfully, Carey has a sensible and gifted head on her shoulders.

Click here to view the list.

Keira and Carey on the Red Carpet: Lizzie and Kitty Bennet Looking Hot

Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley at the London Film Festival. Image @Tom and Lorenzo

Tom and Lorenzo, who are fabulous and opinionated, recently featured two of the Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice 2005 in one of their fashion posts. What do you think of the ladies' outfits? Yay for their youthful and playful quality? Or nay for misfiring their fashion choices?

Carey Mulligan on the Cover of Vogue, October 2010 Issue

Carey Mulligan, who once portrayed Kitty Bennet and Isabella Thorpe, has arrived! Her films, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and Never Let Me Go, are scheduled to open this fall.

Carey Mulligan, October 2010 Vogue

Inside the issue; Carey looks like a modern Jane Austen heroine

Read the Daily Mail article about her photoshoot.

Keira and Carey: Pride and Prejudice Alumni Reunite for Another Film

Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan (r) are in Never Let Me Go, a film about three friends who grow up together and attend the same boarding school. In an interview with Mail Online, Carey, who was sixteen when she played the role of Kitty Bennet, "credits Knightley for being her 'acting coach' while they were on the set of Pride And Prejudice."

The film, which also features Sally Hawkins(Anne Elliot, Persuasion), is scheduled to be released in the U.S. in October. Interestingly, this drama has a sci-fic ending. (I have not read the book by Kazuo Ishiguro.) Watch a short video about filming the movie...

...and the film's trailer.

Jane Austen Actresses at Cannes 2010

Carey Mulligan and Kate Beckinsale played roles in movie adaptations for Pride and Prejudice 2005 and Northanger Abbey 2007 (above); and Emma 1996 (below). Aren't they lovely?

Carey is promoting Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, and Kate is one of the Cannes Film Festival judges.

Carey Mulligan, an Unaffected and Rising Star

The tides are turning and American film producers are looking for natural, unbotoxed and talented actors and actresses. Whew. Finally. Unfortunately, they've had to look across the Pond, for too many of Hollywood's young elite are starting to resemble a cross between Barbi and Ken.

Stepping up to the plate is fresh-faced Carey Mulligan, already on a spectacular career trajectory with an Oscar nomination and BAFTA for her performance in An Education. This article from the Daily Mail describes her meteoric rise and why she is the real deal. It describes in great detail how Carey landed her first role as Kitty Bennet in Pride and Prejudice 2005.

Carey has been signed to play Eliza Doolittle in Emma Thompson's remake of My Fair Lady. She is also a heartbeat away from getting the lead role in The Girl With the Dragoon Tattoo. Click here to read The Miseducation of Carey Mulligan.

Jane Austen Movie Fashion Throwdown: Bonnets

Today is Easter, a time for celebration and family, and wearing hats and bonnets. Which bonnet is your favorite? I chose the three that have always caught my eye.

Front view (above), Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet at Rosings. And (below) back view.

Kate Winslet as Marianne, Sense and Sensibility, 1996

Carey Mulligan, Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey 2007. Front view (top) and side view (bottom).

Which bonnet do you prefer?
	Jennifer Ehle, 1995 Elizabeth Bennet
	Kate Winslet, 1996 Marianne Dashwood
	Carey Mulligan, 2007 Isabella Thorpe
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Jane Austen Movie Throwdown - At the Oscars

I hate to, well, brag, but during last night's live Twitter chat during the Oscar Award Show, yours truly picked the 6 top winners. Which meant, of course, that I though Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan would not win. This week, I extend the JA Movie Throwdown by asking you to vote on their Red Carpet Appearance. Carey has the advantage in that she was photographed many times, and I could find only one BBC video of poor Colin, whose deliciousness seems not to be appreciated by the American press. It is nice to see him smile and a dimple appear in his cheek. (Update - I found a dashing image) I could not find Emily Blunt, nor do I recall her making an appearance, but Ive included Kate Winslet, who has become a fixture at these events.

Colin and wife Livia on the Red Carpet

Just found this lovely shot of Colin on the red carpet

Colin Firth Looks
	Like the quintessential Mr Darcy
	I think he would look better with his shirt off
	He looks tired and his hair is a little wild
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Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet)

Carey Mulligan
	She looks princess perfect
	From the waist up she looks fine, but those clunky shoes have to go
	I agree with the Huffington Post column that placed her in the worst dressed category
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Kate Winslet played Marianne Dashwood

Kate Winslet
	Looks fabulous as always
	Her hair and makeup are perfect, but her look is a bit boring
	Only a Valkerie would be proud to wear this stiff corseted column
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To vote for your favorite Oscar gown, go to Enchanted Serenity of Period Films and vote!

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

This week we will ask a two-part question. One today and one tomorrow.

Which of the two BAFTA winners stands the best chance of winning an Oscar tonight? Colin Firth or Carey Mulligan?

Colin Firth (as Mr. Darcy above) was nominated for Actor in a Leading Role, A Single Man

Carey Mulligan (as Kitty Bennet above) was nominated for Actress in a Leading Role, An Education

Most likely to win an Oscar
	Colin Firth
	Carey Mulligan
	Neither
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Firth and Mulligan awarded BAFTAs

The British Academy Film Awards were presented last night at the Royal Opera House in London and for those in the US who did not catch it on BBC America, I will reveal that two Austen actors, Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice 95) and Carey Mulligan (Northanger Abbey 07), won the lead actor awards for A Single Man and An Education respectively. This is a good indication that they will be front runners to The Academy Awards to be presented Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at the Kodac Theatre in Hollywood. Best of luck Colin and Carey. Here are their acceptance speeches. Wish I knew how to repair refrigerators. I'd gladly volunteer to fix Colin's without hesitation.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

OH, and the Guardian asks, "Could Colin Firth be the Great British Actor of our time?" Could? Nuff said!

Colin Firth & Carey Mulligan Garner Academy Award Noms Today!

It came to pass just as predicted. British actors Colin Firth and Carrey Mulligan, who were both strong contenders in the Actor & Actress in a Leading Role categories were nominated this morning for Academy Awards. Another month of hard campaigning and we just might see one of them take that little golden man back to England with them.

You can discover who their competition is and all of the other nominees at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website. I am also rooting for An Education in the best picture and screenplay categories. All the winners will be announced on March 7th, 2010.

If you still need more Colin Firth excitement for the day – then check out this great BBC Radio 4 program Front Row that features an interview of His Firthness. Big thanks to Julie at Austenonly for the heads up.

Enjoy! Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Q & A With Carey Mulligan

Ms. Mulligan is making a huge splash these days, as this interview with Times Live Magazine attests. Let's hope she's not a flash in the pan like Gretchen Moll, but that she shows true staying power!

Here's the link to the interview with Times Live.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Jane Austen Actors Shine at Golden Globes

While the Brits came up empty-handed at the Golden Globes, they sparkled as nicely in their dress up clothes. Last year's winner for Happy Go Lucky, Sally Hawkins (Anne Elliot, 2007), looked fit and sassy in her short gown.

Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy, 1995) and wife Livia managed to keep dry on the red carpet. He was nominated for A Single Man.

Caret Mulligan (Kitty Bennet, 2005 & Isabella Thorpe, 2007) brought her mom, and sported a cute hair band. Sadly, she did not win for An Education.

Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood, 1996) looked regal and spectacular in an Yves St. Laurent gown. She presented a Golden Globe to Jeff Bridges for Best Actor in Crazy Heart.

And although Emily Blunt (nominated for Young Victoria) has not yet portrayed a Jane Austen character in a film, she is removed by only one degree of separation, having performed opposite Anne Hathaway (Becoming Jane) in The Devil Wears Prada and as Prudie in the Jane Austen Book Club

Addition:
Mention must be made of Janet McTeer, Mrs. Dashwood, 2007, (Thanks Deborah) for HBO's Into the Storm. Unfortunately, I could find no image of her at the Award Ceremony.

Jane Austen Adaptation Actors in the News

Colin Firth (Mr Darcy 1995) as George VI and Helena Bonham-Carter as Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in The King's Speech, Colin's latest movie which he is currently filming. No images of Jennifer Ehle yet, but we'll post them as soon as they are available.

Why is Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet, 2005) the new "It" girl British import in Hollywood? This Daily Mail article spells it out: She's fresh and she's hot,' said Peter Rice, the head of Fox Searchlight. a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opined,'There's a certain type of British actress we embrace - like Kate Winslet, Emily Blunt or Keira Knightley. Carey's the new girl and people are falling in love with her.'

Gemma Arterton (Elizabeth Bennet, Lost in Austen) makes her London theatre debut in The Little Dog Laughed, a satire on the hypocrisy of Hollywood. Gemma should know something about the topic, having appeared as a Bond girl in Quantum Of Solace. She will also be seen in Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia, both coming out this year.
Last but not least. What does the incomparable Anna Massey have in common with Helen Jerome's classic play interpretation of Pride and Prejudice, Celia Johnson, and Raymond Massey?

Find out in this article from Jane Austen's World.

Anna, who played Mrs. Norris in 1983's Mansfield Park, revealed a wit as acerbic as Jane Austen's in her autobiography,Telling Some Tales. She describes one New York Theatre gathering with this delicious observation: "The room was full of egos, many of whom wrote their own notices as they shook your hand."

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Firth, Blunt, Mulligan and Dorrit garner Golden Globe noms

Congratulations go out to Brit actors Colin Firth, Emily Blunt and Carey Mulligan for their nominations as best actor and actress respectively in the drama categories and Little Dorrit for best miniseries made for television. The nominees for a 2010 Golden Globe awards were announced this morning. All three actors have been in previous movie adaptations or inspirations of Jane Austen’s works. Little Dorrit has nothing to do with Austen, but we just liked it and would like to support bonnet dramas in general.

You can read the complete list of nominees here. Awards will be handed out on January 17th, 2010. Hope they win!

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Six Reasons for Janeites to Watch An Education

1. Because Carey Mulligan (Pride and Prejudice 2005) is said to be outstanding in this film. The role has made her a break-out star. Sensitive, clever, and intelligent films are few and far between. They save the film industry from catering primarily to young males, whose appetites for Transformers, Saw, and 2012 are insatiable.

2. Because Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility), the school's head mistress, is in it. 'Nuff said.

3. Because Olivia Williams (Emma, Miss Austen Regrets), who plays a teacher, is a beautiful and intelligent actress whose roles are few and far between.

4. Because Alfred Molina, the father, and Peter Sarsgaard, the older suitor, are always excellent.

5. Because Dominic Cooper (Sense and Sensibility, 2008) is becoming a reliable staple in good films.

6. Because Rosamund Pike's (Pride and Prejudice, 2005) appearances on the big screen, like Olivia Williams', are all too rare.

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World

Oh, Carey Mulligan

She's gorgeous. She's talented. And we found her first in Pride and Prejudice 2005 as Kitty Bennet. Now she's making a big splash in An Education. But, Carey Mulligan, dahling. What have you DONE to yourself? Our question to you, our readers is: Is her look IN or OUT?

Carey Before in 2005

Carey After at a recent event. Is she even recognizable?

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Carey Mulligan's Fashion Sense

In? Out? I don't care, she's talented

(Image: Go Fug Yourself )