Ever wonder what it’s really like to take on an iconic literary character? Emmy winner Matthew Macfadyen recently shared some surprising insights into playing Mr. Darcy in the beloved 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
In a recent interview with CBS, Macfadyen admitted that as much as he respects the story and its fans, he “didn’t really enjoy” portraying Darcy opposite Keira Knightley. At the time, he felt inadequate and said “I’m not handsome enough for this role.” Can you imagine Mr. Darcy having self-doubts?
Macfadyen, who’s now 49, followed the legendary Colin Firth who played Darcy in the 1995 miniseries. He said later he and Firth “swapped stories for hours” about the pressures of the part. It makes sense – Darcy is one of the most famous romantic leads ever.
While the movie was a huge success, getting rave reviews and four Oscar nods, Macfadyen wished he could’ve relaxed more on set. He said “There were fun parts but I was too worried. I wish I enjoyed it like the fans do.” We’ve all been there – so focused on doing a good job that we stress ourselves out!
Even though it wasn’t always easy, Macfadyen realizes Darcy changed his career. People still come up to him saying “Weren’t you Mr. Darcy?” almost 20 years later. And his talented performances since, like in Succession, show he had nothing to worry about.
It just goes to show that huge roles come with huge expectations, even for acclaimed actors. But when a character resonates with audiences this much, it seems Mr. Darcy found the right Darcy in Matthew Macfadyen after all.
