12 Facts You Never Knew About The 2005 "Pride & Prejudice"
I think we managed to catch "Pride & Prejudice" in theaters five times. Every few days, my mom would peek her head into my sister’s room and say the words again: “showtime at 7?” While many people that I knew preferred the television adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, the girls in my family couldn’t get enough. Something about "Pride & Prejudice" kept us coming back for more.
The 2005 Pride & Prejudice is now a much-loved classic film. From its sweeping, well-known score to Mr. Darcy’s iconic “hand flex,” Pride & Prejudice has shaped a generation of romantics. But there’s always a story behind the story and Pride & Prejudice has some surprising details hidden in its history. Here are 11 fun facts you probably never knew about the 2005 Pride & Prejudice.
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Rough Draft Title
As she walks through the fields in the morning sunlight at the beginning of the film, Elizabeth Bennet is seen reading a book. The title of the book is “First Impressions” which was Jane Austen’s working title for the manuscript of Pride & Prejudice. If you pause on the page and zoom in on the text, it turns out to be the text of Pride & Prejudice with the character names changed.
Family Bonding
Prior to filming, the actresses who played the five Bennet sisters and Tom Hollander, who played their cousin, spent several days together to help create a sisterly camaraderie. One of the games they played to break the ice together was sardines, the reverse version of hide-and-seek.
Anyone But Kiera Knightley, Please
Kiera Knightley may seem like the perfect Elizabeth Bennet, but it turns out that she wasn’t the first choice. According to Knightley, director Joe Wright wasn’t interested in casting her because he thought she was too pretty to play the role. When they finally met in person, Wright changed his mind, Knightley joked in an interview, saying “Oh no, you’re fine.” The casting worked out well, for everyone, though with Knightley even earning one of the youngest nominations for Best Actress in the history of the Academy Awards.
A Billionaire in Possession of a Large Fortune
Actress Talulah Riley made her film debut playing plain, bookish middle sister Mary Bennet in Pride & Prejudice. Austen’s novel heavily implies that Mary Bennet remains a spinster, but real life turned out a bit differently for Mary’s actress. Talulah Riley later went on to marry the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, from 2010-2012 and then again from 2013-2016.
A Walking Red Flag
Mr. Darcy’s walk through the grass at the film’s climax is a swoon-worthy piece of cinema if ever there was one. It took a lot of work to make the magic happen, however. Actor Matthew MacFadyen has very bad eyesight and, in the morning mist, couldn't see his way toward the camera. Director Joe Wright had to wave a red flag behind the camera to help guide MacFadyen in the right direction.
No More Empire Waistline
Most adaptations of Pride & Prejudice set the film in the early 1800s, during the Regency period. Director Joe Wright chose to set this version in the late 1700s, however, when Austen’s first draft of the novel was written. Wright chose to change the time of the film primarily for fashion reasons. Because he hated the high waistline of Regency dresses, he wanted to set the film earlier for a different look for his female characters.
Miss Pike Makes Her Choice
Actress Rosamund Pike was the first pick to play Jane Bennet. The film was her first pick also: She even turned down a role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in order to take the role in Pride & Prejudice.
Jane and Bingley: Star Crossed Lovers
Director Joe Wright was hesitant to cast Simon Woods as Mr. Bingley even though he believed that Woods was perfect for the role. Simon Woods and Rosamund Pike had dated two years before the filming of Pride & Prejudice and Wright was worried that it would be awkward for the actors to play lovers in the film. Wright only went ahead with casting Woods after confirming with Pike that she felt comfortable.
Emma Thompson Saves the Day
Dame Emma Thompson received a Special Thanks at the end of the film for an unpaid rewrite of two scenes in the script. One of the scenes was Charlotte’s announcement to Elizabeth that she is marrying Mr. Collins, including the now famous “I’m 27 years old” speech. Thompson is no stranger to Jane Austen adaptations, having adapted and starred in Sense and Sensibility in 1991.
Mr. Bingley Finds the Words
The scene where Simon Woods is practicing his proposal to Jane with Mr. Darcy was supposed to be much shorter. Woods did such an excellent job improvising, however, that extra minutes were included.
Foreigners in the Family
Only two actors in the film are not British. Jena Malone, who plays the youngest sister, Lydia, is an American actress. Mr. Bennett is portrayed by Donald Sutherland, who was from Canada.
Try That One More Time
Mr. Darcy’s famous “hand flex” wasn’t originally in the script. Director Joe Wright saw MacFadyen do the move during a rehearsal and liked it so much, he asked him to repeat the motion so they could make sure to get it in the film.