Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: ‘I wish I had enjoyed it’

Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for the entertainment industry and the journeys of those who have made significant contributions to it, I find Matthew Macfadyen‘s admission about his experience playing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice both intriguing and relatable.


Matthew Macfadyen has confessed that playing Mr. Darcy in the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice wasn’t an enjoyable experience for him, despite the role being one of his most successful to date. He even went so far as to express that he didn’t feel “sexy” or “attractive” enough for the part.

Succession actor Brian Cox, aged 49 and a recipient of an Emmy award, shared the limelight with Keira Knightley in her most notable early film featuring him in a significant role.

During an interview with correspondent Anthony Mason on CBS Mornings last Tuesday, Matthew expressed his doubt about being suited for the role and shared that he lacked confidence while filming. (Or) In an interview with Anthony Mason on CBS Mornings last Tuesday, Matthew confessed that he felt uncertain about being the right choice for the part and struggled with self-assurance during production.

“Anthony questioned, ‘You didn’t seem to enjoy playing Darcy,’ and Matthew agreed, replying, ‘I didn’t really enjoy it.'”

Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'
Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'

After a probe from Anthony, Matthew explained: ‘I feel bad saying that. 

At times, I enjoyed myself, yet I longed to have experienced even greater joy. If only I hadn’t let my concerns mar the experience.

‘Maybe I felt a bit miscast. I’m not dishy enough. But it worked out.’

In Pride & Prejudice, the film version of Jane Austen’s beloved romance novel, Matthew acted side by side with a 20-year-old Keira.

In his first full-length directorial project, Joe Wright cast Keira (aged 39) as the romantic lead Elizabeth Bennet opposite Matthew.

At the age of 78th Academy Awards, she earned a Best Actress nomination for her remarkable performance, becoming the third-youngest actress nominated for this honor in history.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the stellar cast of this movie alongside esteemed actors like Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Dame Judi Dench, and Carey Mulligan. Each brought their unique talents to the table, making our collective performance all the more captivating.

Pride and Prejudice was a huge success at the box office, earning an impressive total of $121.6 million globally against a production budget of just $28 million.

Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'
Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'

Nine years following the six-part TV series, a movie version was released, featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the pivotal parts as Darcy and Elizabeth.

As an obsessed fan, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I learned that Matthew Goode and Colin Firth, who brought Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy to life so beautifully on screen, would team up once more in the 2021 war drama, Operation Mincemeat. What a thrilling thought! Their on-screen chemistry as Darcy was undeniable, and I couldn’t wait to see them collaborate again on this new project.

One possible paraphrase for “Yes, yes, yes. Exhaustively, extensively” could be “Absolutely, we went into great detail and covered everything thoroughly.”

Thinking back to the impact of the movie, he said to Anthony, “If I were to experience something significant now, would you be like Mr. Darcy?”

‘And it’s a good 20 years later. So I think I can’t be aging that badly.’

Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'
Matthew Macfadyen reveals why he HATED playing iconic Pride & Prejudice role: 'I wish I had enjoyed it'

During an interview with Daily Mail in 2005 before the movie’s premiere, Matthew, husband to actress Keeley Hawes, shared that he discovered Darcy to be a deeply compassionate character.

“He mentioned that it’s sad how people perceive him as arrogant and proud, which is true. But, let’s not forget, he’s a young man going through the painful process of mourning the loss of his parents.”

It appeared to me that this man, hailing from a storied lineage and bearing significant responsibilities, was nevertheless grappling with questions about his identity and place in the world.

‘I found that very interesting, and I found him very sympathetic.’

The father of two confessed, “I hadn’t gotten around to reading the novel before we started filming. I relied solely on the script.”

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2024-07-23 18:38

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