Jane Austen Actors in 1997 Jane Eyre Film

Oh, how I miss the A&E channel as it once was. Known as Arts and Entertainment, it introduced us to such shows as 1995s Pride and Prejudice and 1997s Jane Eyre. These days the network is known for Dog the Bounty Hunter, Intervention and Criss Angel Mindfreak. What a waste.

Samantha Morton as Jane Eyre

I had an opportunity to watch Jane Eyre recently, and had the pleasure of watching a few of my favorite English actors: Samantha Morton, Ciaran Hinds, Rupert Penry Jones, Elizabeth Garvie, and Gemma Jones. All have acted in a Jane Austen movie.

Samantha as Harriet Smith (1996)

Ciaran Hinds as Mr. Rochester

Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth (1995)

Rupert Penry-Jones as St John Rivers

Rupert as Captain Wentworth (2007)

Elizabeth Garvie as Diana Rivers

Elizabeth as Elizabeth Bennet (1980)

Gemma Jones (center) as Mrs. Fairfax the housekeeper

Gemma as Mrs. Dashwood (1996)

Gemma (l) as Bridget Jones's mum (2001)

Create Your Own Personalized Jane Austen E-Card

Those ever-so-creative folks at PBS and American Greetings have designed a beautiful new The Complete Jane Austen inspired e-card for us to send a personalized greeting to all of our Janeite friends. Just in time for Valentines day, it features images of portraits of the major characters from each Jane Austen adaptation in beautiful classic frame, that transition to an the image of Persuasion stars Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry-Jones as Captain Wentworth.

Check it out, and dash off a few Jane Austen inspired greetings to your friends and family.

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Seen on the Blogosphere: More Rupert

Can't get enough of Rupert Penry-Jones as yummy Captain Wentworth? Click here to see him in Persuasion videos - find about 20 or so YouTube clips on this site.

Speaking of videos, you can watch a hilarious video of Sally/Anne running through Bath at Austen.blog. The parody includes Run Lola Run, one of my all time favorite movies.

Rupert Penry-Jones online features a gazillion articles about the actor.


Look for Rupert/Persuasion icons #169-176 on Angelfish. (Also 129-134, and 41 -76, which include Persuasion 1995 icons as well as those from the 2007 movie version.)

Don't have time for a gazillion articles? Here's one interview with Rupert in Nuts4Chic that will tell you everything about him in, well, a nut-shell.

In this video he looks just as yummy hanging around a set in full costume waiting for a scene to start as he does playing the role of dashing Captain Wentworth.

Lights, Camera ... History rates three of Jane Austen's heroes as among the top ten in history: Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth, and Colonel Brandon. Anyone for Henry Tilney?

Both icons by Angelfish icons, Posted by Ms. Place

Did You Like Persuasion? Let Us Know

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Go to PBS's blog, Remotely Connected, and write your comments about the show.

Click here for Rupert Penry-Jones/Persuasion videos.

Rupert Penry-Jones, will you pierce my soul?

I am "half agony, half hope" in anticipation of Rupert Penry-Jones' performance as Captain Wentworth in the Masterpiece Theatre presentation of Jane Austen's classic love story Persuasion, which premieres on Sunday, January 13th at 9:00pm on PBS.

Could Mr. Penry-Jones be the next Jane Austen dashing romantic hero to swoon over? Hmm? Mayhap? I dare say, what big, shiny, black boots to fill Mr. Penry-Jones! That honour was bestowed upon the hunky actor Colin Firth , who as Mr. Darcy dove into the Pemberley pond and into our hearts in the 1995 BBC production of Pride & Prejudice. Time to pass on the breeches and boots to the next generation? We shall see.

The choice of Rupert Penry-Jones as the scorned-in-love, but-back-for more Captain Wentworth was an easy transition from his role as heartthrob MI5 agent Adam Carter in the BBC series Spooks . Each of the characters IS in service to the Crown right? Secret Service Agent or Naval Officer; - - high speed car chases, guns and tight uniforms, or galloping about the countryside on horseback, swords and tight breeches. Not much difference. What does two hundred years matter in the pursuit of true love, or high network ratings. A hunk is a hunk in any generation. Or so the producers hope.

In a big way, I feel the loss for Colin. How can anyone possible replace him? Those brooding dark eyes, that proud elegant manner, that LOOK? Sigh . . . So I am half agony, half hope that the best man wins the day.

Posted by Laurel Ann