The Most Famous Romance in the World: The Actors Who Became Elizabeth and Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice'

The saying that old things are the best is generally true. You might wonder why I’m talking about old things, but seeing the performance of 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 which was re-released on March 11, I couldn’t help but think of this phrase. The 2005 film 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 is an adaptation of Jane Austen's masterpiece 〈Pride and Prejudice〉, and even after 21 years, it still receives love, climbing to 5th place at the box office among new releases (currently 8th). In fact, 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 is a work that has been adapted and filmed not only in the English-speaking world but also in other cultures, making it a kind of bible for romance. Many actors have passed through this story, including the recently re-released 〈Pride and Prejudice〉. Here, we have gathered the faces that represent 'Pride and Prejudice'.

1940 〈Pride and Prejudice〉

Greer Garson & Laurence Olivier

The first visual image of 'Pride and Prejudice' was the 1940 Hollywood production of 〈Pride and Prejudice〉. This film was made based on a previously adapted play rather than directly taking the original work. As a result, Jane Austen's sharp satire was diluted, and the romance was emphasized more. Although it did not succeed at the box office, Greer Garson, who played Elizabeth Bennet, played a significant role in becoming a star of the 1940s. After this work, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress every year from 1941 to 1945, marking her breakthrough. The role of Fitzwilliam Darcy was played by Laurence Olivier, who was already a renowned actor. At that time, it was expected that Elizabeth's role would be played by his lover Vivien Leigh, but when Greer Garson was ultimately confirmed, he expressed disappointment.

1995 〈Pride and Prejudice〉

Jennifer Ehle & Colin Firth

As a work by a writer that Britain is proud of, the BBC has produced 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 as a drama multiple times. In 1938, 1952, 1958, 1967, 1980, and 1995, it has been revisited time and again. Among them, the 1995 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 created a global sensation. It is not just famous; it is still the most frequently mentioned introductory and recommended work when discussing 'Pride and Prejudice'. Here, Jennifer Ehle played Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Firth played Fitzwilliam Darcy. It goes without saying that Colin Firth rises to the surface every time a new fan is drawn in by his hit works. In particular, the original scene created in this work, where Darcy, wearing a white shirt, emerges from the lake soaking wet, is legendary. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, who rose to stardom through this work, even developed a romantic relationship, and later reunited in the 2011 〈The King's Speech〉. At the time of airing, it recorded a peak viewership of 40% in the UK.

2005 〈Pride and Prejudice〉

Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen

The recently re-released 〈Pride and Prejudice〉 drew attention as a new work from Keira Knightley, who was establishing herself as a star with successes like 〈Bend It Like Beckham〉, 〈Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl〉, and 〈Love Actually〉. Keira Knightley played Elizabeth Bennet, while Matthew Macfadyen played Fitzwilliam Darcy. At that time, Keira Knightley was on a rising trend, so Matthew Macfadyen did not garner as much attention, but later he gained recognition with the huge success of 〈Succession〉. Overall, many parts were adapted, and the initial response was not good, but it resonated well with audiences unfamiliar with the original, leading to box office success. Although it is quite different from Jane Austen's original, it has been praised for sparking curiosity about Jane Austen's world. Now, it has established itself as a 'Pride and Prejudice' suitable for the current generation, even making it into the list of the top 100 films chosen by New York Times readers in 2025.

Bonus) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Lily James & Sam Riley

Since Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are the main characters, it is indeed 'Pride and Prejudice'. Except for the fact that Darcy is a zombie hunter and the Bennet women are aristocrats trained for battle. The film 〈Pride and Prejudice and Zombies〉, inspired by the novel of the same name, cast Lily James and Sam Riley as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, respectively. Aside from the cleverness of the setting, it cannot be said to be a particularly good work, but the sight of Lily James and Sam Riley exchanging glances while performing action scenes in medieval costumes is somewhat impressive.