Pride & Prejudice director finally reveals who created viral hand flex moment, 20 years later

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Pride & Prejudice director Joe Wright has revealed who was behind the viral hand flex moment.

In the 2005 period drama, there’s a scene where Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen, assists Elizabeth Bennet, portrayed by Keira Knightley, into a carriage. As he releases her hand, the camera captures Mr. Darcy reaching out his hand.

The tiny gesture has since been recognized as a famous emblem of love and longing; however, it was Macfadyen who came up with the concept behind the widely shared video, as Wright clarified.

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“It wasn’t in the script, but that was an important moment in the book,” the director told People.

In that heart-wrenching moment when we said our goodbyes, it struck me – the depth of our connection and the ripple effects we had on one another.

Wright underscored the significance of that particular instance in the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, stating his intention for the scene to express how our physical actions often surpass our mental thoughts.

He noted that sometimes our bodies show intelligence beyond what our conscious minds might realize. Even when our minds seem to be at odds with one another, our bodies can act like two magnetic objects, inexorably drawn towards each other.


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As they gently connect, even a small act of assistance from her – a gesture appropriate for the time – seems to send an electric ripple through them, causing him to shake off the sensation.

Even though it was extremely well-known, Wright originally had concerns that the scene might not effectively portray the connection between the two characters.

Initially, I’d been braced for a dismal outing as we filmed it, but there was something amiss in my delivery, leaving me doubtful about our narrative’s impact. Yet, astonishingly, our tale seems to have resonated with viewers, and the responses have been heartwarming. I remember thinking on set, ‘This isn’t going to fly. It’s a flop.’ Now, it’s strange but lovely to see that people are still sharing it.

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2025-04-19 14:49