Last Updated on June 24, 2021
We aren’t naive. We know how devoted you are to Colin Firth as Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy. But could you be persuaded that Matthew Macfadyen offers a more accurate portrayal of Austen’s leading man?
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If you are thinking “no chance,” read what guest writer Kailey Rhone has to say on the subject, and then weigh in below.
Pride and Prejudice is arguably the most popular of Jane Austen’s novels. A slow-burning romance, it’s the story about two opposites repelling and ultimately attracting. Darcy, an affluent estate owner, and Elizabeth, a member of the gentry and Austen’s heroine, are stuck in a mire of pride and arrogance and eventually must confront the consequences of their foibles. Despite misunderstandings about one another, Darcy and Elizabeth realize that their apparent dislike of one another is but a smokescreen disguising their true affection. When it comes to onscreen adaptations, fans of the novel want the characters accurately portrayed, because what is Pride and Prejudice without Darcy’s apparent hubris and Elizabeth’s feisty spirit?
A main point of contention between Austen fans is who plays Fitzwilliam Darcy the best. With his sodden (post-Pemberley swim) shirt in mind, many will profess that Colin Firth is an exemplary Darcy, and often it is his portrayal that is used as the standard by which all other portrayals are measured. The lake scene (and the fencing scene that precedes it) aside, this onscreen adaptation closely resembles the source material. Firth’s cool disposition paired with the unrelenting gaze of his deep brown eyes make him an undeniably sexy Darcy.
But in the 2005 adaptation, Matthew Macfadyen’s social clumsiness when speaking to Elizabeth at Meryton and his nervous hand-flexing when he touches her are charming quirks that make the heart flutter. And his elegant stature and sonorous voice make him utterly magnetic. In comparison to Colin Firth’s interpretation, Matthew Macfadyen’s version better encapsulates the deep sensitivity Darcy conceals beneath a layer of apparent misanthropy.
In the realm of Georgian England, wealth is the most alluring quality if one has marriage in mind. Thus, the principle description of Austen’s hero is his abundant fortune. Indeed, it is his affluence that sends Elizabeth’s mother into a frantic mission to acquaint Darcy with her daughters. In the novel, guests at the Meryton ball comment upon Darcy’s “fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien,” yet it is the news of his ten thousand a year that is widely circulated within five minutes of his entering the room. (Adjusted for inflation and labor earnings, that’s equivalent to at least thirty million US dollars a year in today’s terms.) The good opinion of the crowd shifts, however, when they discover he lacks charm. Austen writes, “he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance.”
In the 2005 adaptation, Matthew Macfadyen (Little Dorrit, Ripper Street) presents himself in the ballroom alongside the fair-haired Charles—played by Simon Woods (Rome, Cranford)—and Caroline Bingley, played by Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes). The utter contrast between Charles’s beaming visage and Darcy’s contemptuous scowl is comical, and despite their friendship, these two men are as contrary as day and night. The winding sounds of violins and stomping feet cease as the crowd stops in their tracks to watch the mismatched trio take their place at the head of the room. With suppressed giggles, Elizabeth—played by Keira Knightley (Atonement, The Duchess)—pokes fun at Darcy’s misery with Charlotte Lucas, played by Claudie Blakely (Lark Rise to Candleford, Call the Midwife). There is a moment where Darcy’s mask of stern severity slips and he looks upon Elizabeth with awe as he passes her. He quickly snaps his gaze forward again and gathers his composure. Darcy’s glance towards Elizabeth only lasts a fraction of a second, but the sudden widening of his eyes exposes a softer side of his character.
Macfadyen’s Darcy is warm beneath his icy veneer. Macfadyen appears equally as agitated as Firth’s Darcy but far less cold. For indeed, “cold” is the best way of describing Firth’s portrayal throughout the series. In the 1995 television adaptation, Darcy isolates himself in the corner of the room and looks upon the crowd and Elizabeth—played by Jennifer Ehle (The King’s Speech)—with a grimace. He even rolls his eyes when Charles—played by Crispin Bonham-Carter (Howards End)—asks him to participate in the festivities. Darcy is unsmiling even at the end of the series when he finally marries Elizabeth.
Uncompromising fans of the original text will argue that Darcy is meant to be withdrawn, as this is what makes him the handsome and brooding dark horse of Austen’s oeuvre. But withdrawn is different from disdainful, a fact that Macfadyen seems to have taken into consideration while acting as Darcy. He does not roll his eyes at Charles’s hasty profession of attraction to Jane Bennet, nor does he look down his nose at Elizabeth. In fact, he attempts to engage in conversation as he asks Elizabeth’s opinion on the best way of encouraging affection, only to be shut down by her characteristic wit. Withdrawn he may be, but only as a result of introversion rather than snobbishness.
Macfadyen depicts Darcy’s attraction to Elizabeth with startling tenderness when she arrives to Netherfield to tend to an ill Jane. In the novel, Elizabeth is escorted to the breakfast parlor where she is met by Darcy and Mr. Hurst, a character that does not appear in the 2005 adaptation. Austen writes, “Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and no doubt as to the occasion’s justifying her coming so far alone.”
This admiration is blatantly illustrated when Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth enters the drawing-room at Netherfield, her hair falling in dark wisps around her ruddy cheeks. Darcy rises with alacrity and gazes towards Elizabeth in a sort of trance. When she leaves the room, his eyes follow her path before falling to the floor with evident shame at his being so openly affected by her presence. But Colin Firth’s surprise at seeing Elizabeth strut across the mud is formal and characteristically Georgian: his hands are folded behind his back and his manners are intact despite finding a woman wandering the grounds. His reaction to Elizabeth’s sudden appearance lacks the spark of attraction illustrated so expertly in Austen’s brief passage. Where is the admiration in Firth’s curt nod and sardonic grin?
Whereas Macfadyen’s Darcy exudes sexual tension during the Netherfield Ball, Firth’s unchanging facial expression suggests a total lack of congenial feeling, let alone sexual attraction. At this point in the novel, Austen has fortified the dynamic between Elizabeth and Darcy. Their verbal sparring matches are but a show of their underlying chemistry and intellectual equality. This compatibility is on full display in the 2005 film as Darcy and Elizabeth dance together at Charles Bingley’s rented estate. Their conversation begins as small talk but quickly devolves into a heated debate as Elizabeth sneakily broaches the topic of Mr. Wickham. In a fitful rage, both Darcy and Elizabeth stop in the midst of a dancing crowd to test one another’s patience. Following this brief quarrel is a beautifully executed scene in which the surrounding dancers disappear, leaving only Austen’s hero and heroine in the empty ball room, for in that moment of passion each saw only the other.
Of all the points presented, perhaps the most controversial among Firth fans is the contention that Macfadyen’s proposals are more emotionally effectual. Colin Firth’s Darcy is methodical in his first proposal to Elizabeth, which accurately represents the quiet and carefully poised Darcy Austen illustrates in the text. He paces the room as Elizabeth deconstructs his carefully constructed offer of marriage.
In a more romantic sense, Macfadyen also demonstrates the methodical aspect of Darcy’s character as he follows Elizabeth into the pouring rain and declares his love for her. His words rush from him as if he had pondered the exact verbiage before this momentous moment. He is vulnerable yet unwavering in his conviction. This is the Darcy that has admired Elizabeth Bennet from afar, who has planned for this moment, and now speaks aloud the feelings he has held in secret for so long. Macfadyen’s Darcy convinces the audience that he is, indeed, in love with Elizabeth. The perceptible change in his face as he proposes—the unfurled brow and the softened lines around his eyes—is visual evidence of her effect on him. While Colin Firth expertly demonstrates Darcy’s pompous tendencies, he struggles to show the audience the inner workings of his heart, making it hard to believe that Elizabeth Bennet could love him at all.
The final proposal is Matthew Macfadyen’s shining moment as Mr. Darcy. In the 2005 adaptation, Darcy approaches Elizabeth at dawn, his shirt slightly unbuttoned and his jacket blowing in the breeze. Of course, this would have been scandalous during the period, but this lack of decorum adds spice for the contemporary audience. As the sun rises, Darcy and Elizabeth talk again of affection. He stutters when he again professes that he loves her. Despite his appearance as a man wholly impenetrable, Darcy is deeply affected by the foreign feelings of love, and the manifestation of his unfamiliarity is endearing.
Throughout the 2005 adaptation Matthew Macfadyen establishes Darcy as introverted rather than haughty, vulnerable rather than defensive, and romantic rather than purely methodical. Colin Firth captures all that is unfavorable in the character, and he does it expertly. Matthew Macfadyen captures all that lies beneath the façade and reveals the emotional core of a character who is not as openly affectionate as other Austen heroes. In short, Macfadyen’s take on Mr. Darcy validates Elizabeth’s decision to marry him: he is not simply the tight-lipped man with ten thousand a year who proposes with the expectation of being immediately accepted. Rather, he is flawed but easily forgiven and loved for it.
Pride & Prejudice (2005) is AVAILABLE to STREAM
Rated PG
Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Talulah Riley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan, Donald Sutherland.
Kailey Rhone makes use of her English degree working as a production editor in the world of academic publishing. She can be found rewatching “Downton Abbey” and sipping on another cup of Earl Grey when she’s not writing about the intersection of feminism and Jane Austen’s novels. Her work can be found in Persuasions.
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll want to wander over to The Period Films List. You’ll especially like the Best Period Dramas: Georgian and Regency Eras list. Also see the news about the upcoming adaption of Pride and Prejudice, and the list of other period dramas starring Colin Firth.
Lynne St John
April 27, 2024 at 11:21 pm (8 months ago)No chance!
Colin Firth will always be first, last, and always.
McFayden is a cute little boy, not a handsome MAN like Colin Firth albeit with slightly, but only slightly, way of expression.
Ilana
March 11, 2024 at 4:16 pm (9 months ago)Can’t agree. For me MMcF always looks like he’s about to burst into tears. Firth isn’t perfect, but I did like him better.
Irene Wisniewski
March 10, 2024 at 8:41 pm (9 months ago)Colin Firth in Pride & Prejudice reveals his growing affection and eventual unspoken love for Elizabeth from their very first encounter without having to say one word. His feelings were revealed by his eyes, body language and failed painful attempts to disguise his love – a remarkable fete by an actor whose initial dialogue was limited to total silence! Colin Firth is now and will forever be the “real” Mr. Darcy – not some contrived imitation in 2005.
Elizabeth Bogucki
June 11, 2023 at 3:52 pm (2 years ago)One of the MOST important considerations for choosing the perfect Mr. Darcy is his incredible good looks!! Sorry, I know that seems petty but it’s true. He must be drop dead gorgeous and Matthew MacFayden is not even remotely handsome enough. I really like him and he is a remarkable actor but he just isn’t my Mr. Darcy
Alisha
April 30, 2023 at 2:21 pm (2 years ago)Totally disagree. Colin Firth and rest of the cast in the 1995 version are truer to the book in my opinion.
Susan Minger
March 5, 2023 at 5:46 pm (2 years ago)I agree 100%– This 2005 Pride and Prejudice is in my top five favorite movies of all time– Jane or not–and he is my ideal Mr. Darcy (though I will also say that I think the entire cast does an amazing job!)
jean
February 13, 2023 at 4:29 pm (2 years ago)I positively adore Matthew as Darcy! His facial and body/hand gestures speak volumes! When he burst into the parlor where Lizzie was writing to Jane, he continuously fumbled with his gloves and fingers…totally flustered with her presence there. So many of his movements are very nuanced, so I still catch things I missed before after viewing the movie close to 100 times. Love, love, love this movie!!
James Ward
May 8, 2021 at 2:05 pm (4 years ago)I am in total agreement about Matthew, though I can convert no one to this view. Kiera is also my ideal Elizabeth. They generate palpable romantic heat in the 2005 film. Firth and Ehle seem much too old and lack chemistry. Firth is not my idea of a hot date (for either gender). Greer Garson’s portrayal of Elizabeth was even worse than Ehle’s. Yes, everything in Regency England and Austen’s novels is about commodity. But Firth made the union with Elizabeth feel even more bloodless. Olivier would have held his own against the superior Macfadyen version, had he been competently directed, as he does at least have the right romantic look. No offense intended to Judy Dench, but Edna May Oliver’s superior outing steals the show in the 1940 version. (Snobby Frieda Inescort, also in the 1940 production, is my favorite Miss Bingley.)
Robert Wade
January 5, 2024 at 4:27 pm (11 months ago)Glad that someone mentioned the 1940 version – except that I thought Garson was excellent.
Think my favourite Lizzie was in the 1980 version – with Elizabeth Garvie; also featured my least preferred Darcy.
Kristin
April 19, 2020 at 2:47 pm (5 years ago)It is okay to like both. You neglected to mention several moments in which Firth’s Darcy exposes great underlying emotion – his frustration after fencing, his frenzy to get the right jacket to rush out and meet her while she visits Pemberley, and his glowing eyes, and memory of her helping Georgiana at the piano, his half-smiles during some of their conversations… It’s all there. They are different portrayals, but both are wonderful.
Chris Diver
December 9, 2023 at 2:12 am (1 year ago)We gradually discover just how disconcertingly, by which I mean wonderfully, expressively, emotionally open Matthew’s Darcy is. My God. How many young guy actors would have the courage to show such vulnerability? And then he pulls of the ultimate contrast: the quiet, unselfconscious naturalness and masculine power of that long walk toward Elizabeth, followed again by his exceptional vulnerable openness when he expressed his feelings to her. A unique performance — utterly beyond “a performance.”
Anita McKeone
January 29, 2020 at 11:31 pm (5 years ago)Colin Firth! Yes, always and forever!!!
Deena Braun
May 26, 2021 at 8:59 pm (4 years ago)Colin Firth. Hands down. Few blazed over Matthew Macfadyen’s portrayal. Who even mentions him as a heartthrob?
Andy Leaves
January 29, 2020 at 9:08 pm (5 years ago)I adore MacFayden’s Mr. Darcy and while I am a fan of the Colin Firth version and movie, and am an addict to Austen’s works in reading through all the novels annually and having seen multiple times the movies and miniseries even as far back as the old black and white movie edition, I have come to the conclusion that the Kiera Knightly movie is thus far an excellent balance of accuracy, beauty, and faithfulness to the book while still being concise. Fortunately, it’s okay to like more than one portrayal!
Margaret Bandrowski
December 4, 2020 at 8:49 pm (4 years ago)I love Colin Firth but never found his Darcy sexy. Mathew McFadyen is the best Darcy ever! Certainly the sexiest.
Sophie Nansereko
March 3, 2021 at 7:44 am (4 years ago)Spot on
Andrea
February 17, 2023 at 12:08 pm (2 years ago)Agreed. He made me *swoon*!
Gianna Thomas
December 6, 2019 at 4:08 pm (5 years ago)Colin Firth may come off well in other movies, but, to me, he was wooden in the 1995 version. When I saw an interview, it was brought out that he had not wanted to do Pride and Prejudice originally. The impression I got was that he did not enjoy playing that part. Matthew did enjoy it, and I feel he had great insight into how Darcy would think, feel, and act. Darcy, overall, is shy and uncomfortable in public with many people. I think Matthew nailed his personality. Thoroughly enjoyed the 2005 and how Joe Wright handled essentially six hours in a little less than two.
Christina Boyd
August 9, 2019 at 11:50 pm (5 years ago)“Matthew Macfadyen’s version better encapsulates the deep sensitivity Darcy conceals beneath a layer of apparent misanthropy.”
Yes to all. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
Nouki
July 10, 2021 at 1:28 pm (3 years ago)I’ve read the book, love it to bits. I’ve watched both the series and movies, but I choose the movie over the series.
BBC is close to the book, even when they take liberties, specially with that lake scene 😀
But I have to say that the movie touches the heart. Firth has his merits, but I adore Macfadyen’s portrayal. The alternate ending scene from Pemberley further marks that point to me.
Sara
March 27, 2019 at 4:52 pm (6 years ago)Kailey
Let me start by saying WOW!!! Your article comparing the two Darcy’s was extremely well written. You seriously captured everything I would have wanted to say but somehow could not articulate. I’ve often tried describing to my friends the reasoning behind my strong preference but couldn’t put my finger on it as clearly and as well thought out as you have.
I stumbled across this article by accident while looking for a specific scene to show my son because of it’s extremely gripping musical piece ( where McFayden at the end of the movie is walking over the hills with his long coat whipping in the wind ) As for my preference; while I absolutely ADORE Colin Firth in everything and truly thought there could be no one better, I must say HANDS DOWN AND WITH OUT A DOUBT that Mathew Macfayden is by far the better Mr. Darcy. I honestly don’t even understand how it is even a question for anyone because it is so clear. I love Colin but he did not stir half the emotion in me as Mathew did. He cane off as cold and I was unable to feel that intense desire and chemistry that Mathew pulled off in his performance. I don’t have to go on to explain why Mathew is the one ans only Mr. Darcy because you have already explained it better than anyone ever could. . All I can say is that as an AVID romance movie watcher and reader, I have NEVER felt what Mathew Macfadyen was able to make me/ the viewer feel. I had the goosebumps every single time I’ve watched and rewatched those scenes( which was hundreds of times. He managed to be arrogant but not cold, vulnerable but not weak, distant but yet reachable , extremely affected by her while still maintaining his coolness. And it didn’t hurt that he is dangerously sexy and handsome!!!
I will now watch it for the thousandth time!!
Thanks for sharing your insisght
Sara
Kailey
April 13, 2019 at 10:08 pm (6 years ago)Hi Sara–sorry for just seeing your response now! I appreciate your kind words. I’m watching the 2005 version as I write this, and I’m so glad there are other avid fans of Mcfadyen out there!
Michelle Cox
January 30, 2019 at 11:20 am (6 years ago)Nailed it!! McFayden is the true Darcy for all of the reasons mentioned. Bravo!
Angelia Sukala
January 14, 2019 at 11:10 am (6 years ago)I absolutely agree Matthew is the better Darcy by far. When I watch the 2005 version I get why Elizabeth would fall in love with him even if he is a jerk. I never saw what Elizabeth saw in Firth’s Darcy. He just comes off as an arrogant jerk. It reminds me of the difference between Leslie Howard’s Professor Higgens in Pygmalion and Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. Howard comes off as an introvert who is totally clueless about human relationships but is still vulnerable. Harrison, however, makes me want to yell, “Run Eliza, Run!”
Elaine S.
December 15, 2018 at 11:54 am (6 years ago)I agree with Kailey Rhône. I love MMcF’s interpretation of Darcy the best. He is strong yet vulnerable.
Fathima Alee
November 29, 2018 at 10:14 am (6 years ago)Thank you for sharing such an excellent article. Matthew is my favourite Darcy. He says so much with his eyes while not even speaking a single word. I watch P&P 2005 version quite often and is my all time favourite classic.
May
November 25, 2018 at 7:26 pm (6 years ago)While I prefer Firth, I’m sure much of that comes simply from him being my first Mr Darcy. McFayden’s portrayal did make me wonder rather a lot more how Elizabeth could be so very blind to his attraction! My overall dislike for the more recent movie has more to do with things like completely inappropriate for the time hairstyles, horrible table manners, and pigs wandering through Longbourne.
But please never argue with me on who is the perfect Lizzy, because Jennifer Ehle was born for the role. Keira Knightly is a delightful actress, but she lacks the sly wit and sparkling eyes.
But my main question after this article is where on earth did you come up with Darcy’s famed £10,000 a year being $30,000,000 in modern terms? That would put the Bennet’s income at £6,000,000 a year, which certainly doesn’t mesh with their needing to make economies and having almost no dowry for their daughters. I have to wonder if you computed that as an author I recently encountered, who googled “1811 pounds to dollars” and got a currency exchange site, not a historical comparison. Most historical references I’ve seen put his annual income closer to $1,000,000 in modern purchasing power, which would put the Bennet’s at $200,000, which seems to all fit better with the plot.
Carol Leigh
November 24, 2018 at 3:50 pm (6 years ago)Thank you for your excellent article. Matthew is my Darcy. To me, he showed more depth of emotion than Firth, who used the same severe expression throughout the entire film. IMHO, Firth was stiff and almost robotic in every scene. Matthew will always be my favorite. I still listen to the 2005 sound track every day during my commute. Thanks for sharing.
Rachel Marable
November 20, 2018 at 8:02 pm (6 years ago)Both the 1995 and 2005 versions are close to my heart. But Matthew Macfadyen is my Mr. Darcy too.
JanisB
November 19, 2018 at 3:42 pm (6 years ago)I don’t recall who first suggested it, but Matthew looks more like a “sad sack” than a wealthy gentleman. The best Darcy IMNSHO is Elliot Cowan, the Darcy in Lost in Austen. It really is a shame that he was never cast as Darcy in an adaptation of Jane’s story — he would have put all the others to shame.
Rosa
November 19, 2018 at 5:42 am (6 years ago)I never liked Colin Firth as Darcy (sorry…) even though he is a good actor. As you point out rightly, you can’t see any emotion in his mien. And physically, MMF is far more gorgeous!
Ginger Monette
November 18, 2018 at 6:03 pm (6 years ago)Excellent article! I’ve always preferred Macfadyen to Firth, but I thought it may be because I saw Macfadyen as Darcy before Firth. But Macfadyen/Knightley’s adaptation was completely mesmerizing to me! Even now, if I hear the soundtrack, I’m immediately transported back to a fantastic romance. Loved this article’s detailed analysis of both actors. Thanks!
Krista
November 18, 2018 at 4:22 pm (6 years ago)This is my preferred Pride and Prejudice. The comparison in this article states the differences perfectly. I absolutely love McFadyen’s portrayal. And that walk at dawn KILLS me every dang time! I also love Knightley’s portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet.
Dana
November 18, 2018 at 9:23 am (6 years ago)Colin Firth is Darcy! He also protrayed Darcy’s attraction and affection for Lizzy. It was more subtle.
Vanessa
November 18, 2018 at 8:12 am (6 years ago)My then young teen daughter was better drawn into P&P 2005 than by the 1995 miniseries. I agree with you that Macfadyen is the more appealing Darcy…and I agree with Macfadyen’s own comment…that shyness was his key problem.
Michelle Cox
November 18, 2018 at 12:38 am (6 years ago)The Matthew MacFadyen/Keira Knightley version of P&P is my FAVORITE movie of all time!!! He nails Darcy!
Debbie
November 18, 2018 at 12:37 am (6 years ago)I agree completely. MacFadyen showed Darcy’s vulnerability where Elizabeth was concerned. How she, and she alone affected him. The perfect Darcy.
Theresa
November 17, 2018 at 10:05 pm (6 years ago)I love Matthew’s version of Darcy…and that voice! I really like Colin as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jone’s but was never a fan of his Darcy in the 1995 P&P.
MaryAnn Nagy
November 17, 2018 at 7:50 pm (6 years ago)Matthew Macfadyen is my Mr. Darcy. He was shown as an introvert, backward in many ways as to social skills and avoiding attention. He was the perfect Mr. Darcy in my opinion according to his age as Keira was to Elizabeth Bennet. I thought they made an exceptional couple. Keira showed herself as the true character by her facial expressions and actions. They were perfect in every way!
Sharon
April 21, 2019 at 12:07 pm (6 years ago)You are correct. Macfadyen is “The very best Mr. Darcy”
Louise
November 17, 2018 at 5:34 pm (6 years ago)Elziabeth is not middle cla ss. Her family are of the gentry class,, same as Mr Darcy. Her Uncle and Aunt Game diner, being in trade, would.be considered middle class, but Mr Bennet is a landowner.
Lynne St. John
November 17, 2018 at 5:32 pm (6 years ago)McF is tolerable, but lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. To me. Colin Firth will always and ever be Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Tresa Furrh
November 17, 2018 at 11:19 pm (6 years ago)Colin all the way!
Rachel Marable
November 20, 2018 at 7:59 pm (6 years ago)I see what you did there.
jane@heart
November 17, 2018 at 5:04 pm (6 years ago)Never any question about it – MMcF is my Darcy 🙂 What’s not to love??