Universally acclaimed as one of the BBC’s most successful costume dramas, the 1995 series of Pride and Prejudice became a cult hit.
Jane Austen’s 19th-century tale of the lowly but respectable Bennet sisters, their ambitions to marry into higher society, and the various husbands they courted along the way caught the public imagination.
Much of the attraction doubtless came from the engaging lead couple of Jennifer Ehle (as Elizabeth Bennet) and Colin Firth (as Mr Darcy) and their celebrated mix of coy glances, smouldering looks, heaving bosoms and skin-tight wet shirts. Although their relationship had a rocky start, their mutual attraction grew by the episode.
Other characters who added depth to the series included the excitable Mrs Bennet (Alison Steadman), the stoical Mr Bennet (Benjamin Whitrow) and Elizabeth’s sisters: kind but shy Jane (Susannah Harker), flirty and reckless Lydia (Julia Sawalha), Kitty (Polly Maberly) and Mary (Lucy Briers).
The first two married Darcy’s rich friend, Mr Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) – who rented Netherfield Hall near the Bennets’ home in Longbourn – and the caddish ex-army officer Mr Wickham (Adrian Lukis), respectively.
Unctuous, sycophantic ecclesiast, Mr Collins (David Bamber) also hoped for the hand of Elizabeth, while Bingley’s sister (Anna Chancellor, an actual ancestor of Jane Austen’s brother, Edward) – another contender for the key to Darcy’s stately pile at Pemberley – did everything she could to discredit Elizabeth.
The majority of filming took place at Luckington Court, Wiltshire (which doubled as the Bennet’s home, Longbourn), Edgcote House, Northamptonshire (for the Bingley home, Netherfield), and Lyme Park, Cheshire (exteriors) and Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire (interiors), which provided the locations for Darcy’s Derbyshire estate, Pemberley.
Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy
Colin Firth Elizabeth Bennet
Jennifer Ehle Mrs Bennet
Alison Steadman Lydia Bennet
Julia Sawalha Mr Bennet
Benjamin Whitrow Jane Bennet
Susannah Harker Kitty Bennet
Polly Maberly Mary Bennet
Lucy Briers Miss Bingley
Anna Chancellor Mr Bingley
Crispin Bonham-Carter Mr Hurst
Rupert Vansittart Mrs Louisa Hurst
Lucy Robinson Sir William Lucas
Christopher Benjamin Lady Lucas
Norma Streader Charlotte Lucas
Lucy Scott Maria Lucas
Lucy Davis George Wickham
Adrian Lukis Mr Collins
David Bamber Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Barbara Leigh-Hunt Miss Anne de Bourgh
Nadia Chambers Georgiana Darcy
Emilia Fox Mr Gardiner
Tim Wylton Mrs Gardiner
Joanna David
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Unctuous, sycophantic ecclesiast, Mr Collins (David Bamber) also hoped for the hand of Elizabeth, while Bingley’s sister (Anna Chancellor, an actual ancestor of Jane Austen’s brother, Edward) – another contender for the key to Darcy’s stately pile at Pemberley – did everything she could to discredit Elizabeth.
