Pride and Prejudice is a 1995 British television drama with six episodes, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's 1813 novel of the same name. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth played the roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, respectively. The series was produced by Sue Birtwistle and directed by Simon Langton. It was made by the BBC with extra support from the American A&E Network. The 55-minute episodes first aired on BBC1 from September 24 to October 29, 1995. In the United States, the A&E Network showed the series in double episodes over three nights starting January 14, 1996.
The series was widely praised and became very popular. It won several awards, including the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for Jennifer Ehle and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or Special. Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy made him a famous actor. A scene showing Firth wearing a wet shirt became one of the most memorable moments in British television history. The New York Times described the adaptation as "a witty mix of love stories and social conniving, cleverly wrapped in the ambitions and illusions of a provincial gentry." The series inspired author Helen Fielding to write the popular Bridget Jones novels. Later adaptations of these books included Colin Firth as Bridget's love interest, Mark Darcy.
Plot
Mr. Charles Bingley, a wealthy man from northern England, moves to a rented estate called Netherfield near the village of Meryton in Hertfordshire during the autumn. Mrs. Bennet, who is more excited than her husband, hopes to marry one of her five daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia) to Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet says he has no plans to visit Mr. Bingley, but his wife and daughters will not be able to meet him unless he does. Mrs. Bennet becomes upset when Mr. Bennet refuses to meet Bingley and tells her daughters to stop talking about him. Mr. Bennet later surprises her by saying he already visited Bingley. Mrs. Bennet and the younger daughters are shocked and happy. At a local dance, Bingley quickly becomes fond of Jane, but his friend Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is believed to be twice as wealthy as Bingley, refuses to dance with anyone, including Elizabeth. Elizabeth later forms a poor opinion of Darcy after a gathering at Lucas Lodge, and their disagreement grows when Elizabeth stays at Netherfield to care for Jane, who becomes ill after riding in the rain to visit Bingley’s sister.
Mr. William Collins, a clergyman who is described as overly flattering and somewhat clumsy, visits his cousins, the Bennets. Since the Bennets have no sons, Mr. Collins is the legal heir to their estate, Longbourn. He plans to marry a Bennet daughter to ensure his cousins will not be left without a home when he inherits the estate. He visits the Bennets for a week to meet the family and choose a bride. The Bennet daughters find Mr. Collins amusing and strange, but they treat him politely and take him to social events. During a walk, they meet Mr. George Wickham, a member of a newly arrived military group. At a gathering, Wickham tells Elizabeth that his father once worked for Darcy’s late father and that Darcy prevented him from joining the clergy by denying him a promised position. At a ball at Netherfield, Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance, which she reluctantly accepts. Mrs. Bennet tells Mr. Collins she expects Jane to soon be engaged, so he proposes to Elizabeth instead. She refuses, and Mr. Bennet supports her decision. Though Mrs. Bennet is angry, Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte Lucas invites Mr. Collins to visit her family at Lucas Lodge.
Elizabeth is surprised and upset to learn that Charlotte has accepted Mr. Collins’s proposal. When the Netherfield group leaves for London in the autumn, Jane stays with her relatives, the Gardiners, in London. She notices that the Bingleys no longer speak to her. In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte at her home in Kent, which is near Rosings, the estate of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy’s aunt. Elizabeth meets Darcy several times there and learns that Darcy was responsible for separating Bingley from Jane. Later, Darcy confesses that he admires Elizabeth and proposes marriage, despite her lower social status. Elizabeth refuses, criticizing his pride and role in her sister’s broken romance and Mr. Wickham’s troubles.
Darcy explains his actions in a letter to Elizabeth, claiming he misunderstood Jane’s feelings for Bingley but also reveals that Wickham is a gambler who once tried to elope with Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, to steal her inheritance. Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet allows Lydia to join the militia in Brighton as a friend of the colonel’s wife. Elizabeth travels with the Gardiners to Derbyshire and visits Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, while he is away. She is impressed by the estate’s grandeur and hears the housekeeper praise Darcy’s kindness. Darcy, returning home, swims in a lake and has an awkward encounter with Elizabeth before helping her family avoid an early departure.
At Pemberley, Elizabeth is invited to an evening event where she meets Georgiana and Darcy, sharing meaningful glances. The next day, she receives letters from Jane revealing that Lydia has run away with Wickham. Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, where Darcy arrives and offers help but leaves quickly after hearing the news. Elizabeth believes she will never see him again. The Bennets are shocked by the scandal until Mr. Gardiner reports that Lydia and Wickham have been found. They are not married but will be cared for by the Gardiners. Mr. Bennet wonders how much Mr. Gardiner spent to convince Wickham to marry Lydia. Elizabeth tells Jane about her final meeting with Darcy, including her mixed feelings.
When Lydia mentions Darcy’s role in her wedding, Mrs. Gardiner tells Elizabeth that Darcy paid for everything to resolve the situation, including a large sum to Wickham. When Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield, Darcy apologizes to Bingley for interfering in his relationship with Jane and approves of their marriage. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who wanted Darcy to marry her sickly daughter, demands Elizabeth deny any engagement with Darcy. Elizabeth refuses to promise anything but confirms there is no engagement. When Elizabeth thanks Darcy for helping Lydia, he says Lady Catherine’s words made him reaffirm his feelings. Elizabeth admits her feelings have changed and agrees to marry Darcy, surprising her family. The story ends with two winter weddings: Jane to Bingley and Elizabeth to Darcy.
Casting
When casting the characters in Pride and Prejudice, producer Sue Birtwistle and director Simon Langton searched for actors with wit, charm, and the ability to portray the Regency period. Their choices for the main characters—20-year-old Elizabeth Bennet and 28-year-old Mr. Darcy—helped determine the rest of the cast. Hundreds of actresses aged 15 to 28 tried out for younger female roles. Those with the right appearance performed scenes in period costumes and makeup during screen tests. Some well-known actors were offered roles directly.
Jennifer Ehle was selected from six serious candidates to play Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter of the Bennet family and her father’s favorite. At the time, Ehle was in her mid-20s and had read Pride and Prejudice when she was 12. She was the only actor present for the entire filming schedule. Sue Birtwistle wanted Colin Firth, a British actor in his mid-30s who was not widely known, to play Mr. Darcy. Birtwistle had worked with Firth on a comedy film in the mid-1980s, but he refused the role at first, believing he did not fit the character or understand the story’s perspective. After Birtwistle encouraged him and he studied the character more, Firth agreed to take the role. Firth and Ehle began a romantic relationship during filming, which became public news after they separated.
Benjamin Whitrow was cast as Mr. Bennet, Elizabeth’s father, who was respected but financially irresponsible. Alison Steadman played Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s mother, who was overly concerned with social status. Steadman was offered the role without auditions or tests. Elizabeth’s four sisters, aged 15 to 22, were chosen to look different from one another. Susannah Harker played Jane, Elizabeth’s older sister, who sees only the good in others. Lucy Briers, Polly Maberly, and Julia Sawalha played Mary, Kitty, and Lydia, Elizabeth’s younger sisters. Julia Sawalha, known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous, had enough experience to be cast without tests. Joanna David and Tim Wylton played the Gardiners, Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle. David Bamber portrayed Mr. Collins, a clergyman and cousin of Mr. Bennet. Lucy Scott played Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s best friend and Mr. Collins’s wife, and David Bark-Jones played Lieutenant Denny.
The producers chose Crispin Bonham-Carter to play Mr. Charles Bingley, a kind and wealthy man, because he looked very different from Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy. Bonham-Carter first auditioned for the role of Mr. George Wickham, a charming but dishonest militia officer, but Adrian Lukis was cast instead. Anna Chancellor, known for Four Weddings and a Funeral, played Caroline Bingley, Mr. Bingley’s sister. (Chancellor is also a distant relative of Jane Austen.) Lucy Robinson and Rupert Vansittart played Mr. Bingley’s sister, Louisa Hurst, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst. Casting Mr. Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana, was difficult because the producers wanted an actress who seemed innocent, proud, and shy, with class and the ability to play the piano. After auditioning over 70 actresses, Simon Langton suggested Emilia Fox, the real-life daughter of Joanna David (Mrs. Gardiner), for the role. Barbara Leigh-Hunt was cast as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy’s aunt, without auditions or tests.
Production
Jane Austen's book Pride and Prejudice had been made into many TV and movie versions before, including BBC adaptations in 1938, 1952, 1958, 1967, and 1980. In the fall of 1986, after watching a preview of Austen's Northanger Abbey, Sue Birtwistle and Andrew Davies decided to make a TV version of Pride and Prejudice, one of their favorite books. Birtwistle believed a new film adaptation would be better than earlier versions, which looked too simple and lacked style. TV scheduling needs made Davies change his plan from a five-episode version to six. Birtwistle and Davies then sent the first three scripts to ITV in late 1986 to build on the BBC's audience, but a recent TV version caused delays. When ITV showed renewed interest in 1993, the BBC's Michael Wearing commissioned the final scripts with help from the American A&E Network. Director Simon Langton and the art team joined the project in January and February 1994.
Birtwistle and Davies wanted to stay true to the book's tone and spirit but aimed to create "a fresh, lively story about real people," not an "old BBC drama." They focused on themes like love and money, shifting attention to both Elizabeth and Darcy, and showed Darcy's role in solving the story's problems. To make characters feel real, Davies added scenes like the Bennet sisters dressing up to find husbands. Some scenes showed men with hobbies, which was different from Austen's focus on women. The hardest part was adapting the long letters in the story. Davies used techniques like voice-overs, flashbacks, and having characters read letters to each other. He added some dialogue to help modern audiences understand the story but kept most of the original text.
The director of photography, John Kenway, used Super 16mm film, which has a 5:3 widescreen format, slightly narrower than 16:9. The series was first broadcast in 4:3 pan and scan. Later, 16:9 versions were made with 6% vertical cropping.
The budget was about £1 million per episode (totaling US$9.6 million), allowing 20 weeks of filming for six 55-minute episodes. Production aimed for 10.5-hour shooting days, plus time for costumes and makeup. About 70 cast and crew members met for a script read-through and rehearsals, followed by lessons in dancing, horse-riding, fencing, and other skills before filming began. Filming happened from June 1994 to November 1, 1994, to match the story's seasonal changes, and post-production continued until mid-1995. Scenes in the same location were filmed together.
Twenty-four locations, mostly owned by the National Trust, and eight studio sets were used. Longbourn, the Bennet family home, showed a comfortable house, while Pemberley, Darcy's estate, looked grand and historic.
The first location chosen was Lacock in Wiltshire to represent Meryton. Luckington Court nearby was used for Longbourn's inside and outside. Lyme Hall in Cheshire was chosen for Pemberley, but management issues led to filming Pemberley's interiors at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire.
Belton House in Lincolnshire matched Rosings, Lady Catherine's estate, which needed to look overly fancy to show her personality. Old Rectory in Rutland was Hunsford parsonage, Mr. Collins's home. Edgcote House in Northamptonshire and Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire were used for Netherfield and its ballroom. London streets were filmed at Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwickshire. Wickham and Georgiana's planned elopement in Ramsgate was filmed in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Wickham's wedding took place in St. Paul's, Deptford, London.
Because Pride and Prejudice was a period drama, more research was needed than for modern films. Characters' personalities and wealth were shown through their costumes. The wealthy Bingley sisters never wore printed dresses and wore large feathers in their hair. Since the BBC had few early 19th-century costumes, designer Dinah Collin created most of the outfits, inspired by museum pieces and made to appeal to modern audiences. Elizabeth's clothes had earthy tones and fit her active lifestyle, while the other Bennet girls wore pale or creamy white to show their innocence. Bingley's sisters and Lady Catherine wore richer colors. Colin Firth helped choose his character's wardrobe, preferring darker colors for Darcy and warmer tones for Bingley.
Producers imagined Darcy as dark-haired, even though the book didn't mention it, and asked Firth to dye his hair, eyebrows, and lashes black. All male actors were told to let their hair grow and shave off mustaches. Three brunette wigs covered Ehle's short, blonde hair, and one wig was used for Alison Steadman (Mrs. Bennet) due to her thick hair. Susannah Harker (Jane) had her hair lightened slightly and styled in a classic Greek look to highlight her beauty. Mary's plainness was shown by painting spots on Lucy Briers's face, greasing her hair, and arranging it to emphasize her ears. Kitty and Lydia's actresses kept their hair mostly unchanged because they were too young and wild. Makeup artist Caroline Noble made Mr. Collins look sweaty with a moist upper lip, greased hair, and a low part to suggest baldness.
Carl Davis, who had written music for BBC adaptations since the 1970s, worked on this project during pre-production. He aimed to show the novel's wit, vitality, and themes of love and marriage in a small 19th-century town. He used classical music from the time, including a popular Beethoven septet and a theme similar to the finale of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. The music was recorded by up to 18 musicians in six hours and played through tiny earpieces for the actors. Lucy Briers (Mary) and Emilia Fox (Georgiana), who played piano in the story, were already skilled pianists and practiced weeks before filming. Songs like Handel's "Air con Variazioni" from Suite No. 5 in E Major and "Slumber, Dear Maid" from his opera Xerxes were used in the series.
Themes and style
The adaptation was praised for staying true to the novel, which shows how environment and upbringing influence people's growth, even though having advantages does not always lead to success. Critics described the adaptation as "a clever mix of love stories and social interactions, skillfully wrapped in the ambitions and dreams of a provincial gentry." They noted that the focus on themes like relationships and wealth, along with Jane Austen's sharp humor and well-developed characters, helped the television version avoid becoming just a beautifully dressed, well-shot drama.
The novel begins with the famous line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." To avoid using a narrator, the serial version has Elizabeth say this line in an early scene. The adaptation starts with a view of Darcy's and Bingley's horses racing toward Netherfield estate, showing energy and movement. Elizabeth watches them before running toward the estate. While the novel describes Elizabeth's independence and strength through her long walk to Netherfield, the adaptation also highlights her rebellious spirit and connection to nature.
In what is "perhaps the most significant change" to Austen's story, the BBC drama moves away from the 18th-century idea of hiding emotions and instead shows feelings in a more modern way. The novel leaves Elizabeth and readers unsure of Darcy's emotions, but the adaptation adds scenes to show his struggle to express his feelings. Unlike the novel, where Darcy openly shares his love for Elizabeth (though Austen does not write his exact words), the adaptation skips this moment and moves to the next lines of dialogue. Scholars note that scenes involving activities like billiards, swimming, and fencing (such as the lake scene) often show Darcy from the side, near windows or fireplaces, when others talk about Elizabeth. Many descriptions of characters' looks and thoughts are taken directly from the novel.
The novel uses irony to show "a clear sense of cynicism, laughing at human nature without expecting change." Laughter in the story, which includes silly laughter, mocking laughter, and laughter from joy or relief, is tied to the sexual tension between characters. Although these elements appeal to modern audiences, laughter and wit were considered improper in Austen's time. The BBC drama changed parts of the story "to reveal more about characters or add humor and irony." It exaggerated the personalities of Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bingley, and Mr. Collins, even showing Mrs. Bennet acting very anxiously in early scenes.
The serial version expands on Austen's use of landscapes as symbols, emphasizing beauty and realness. Elizabeth often spends time in nature to avoid being around Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine. The most meaningful use of nature happens when Elizabeth and the Gardiners visit Pemberley in Derbyshire, where she realizes her feelings for Darcy. In the story, nature is linked to the idea of Old England. Elizabeth's appreciation of Derbyshire's beauty improves Darcy's image in her and her family's eyes. Darcy's view from a window acts like a movie screen, showing Elizabeth's actions to both him and the viewer. His connection to the English landscape represents his personal growth.
Reception
Between 10 and 11 million people watched the original six-episode broadcast on BBC One on Sunday evenings from 24 September to 29 October 1995. The episodes were shown again each week on BBC Two. The final episode of Pride and Prejudice had about 40% of people watching TV in Britain at that time. By then, eight foreign countries had bought the rights to the serial. In the United States, 3.7 million people watched the first broadcast on the A&E Network, which aired the serial in double episodes on three consecutive evenings starting 14 January 1996.
The serial was released on VHS in the UK just before the original broadcast of the final episode. All 12,000 copies of the double-video set sold out within two hours of release. By the end of the first week, 70,000 copies had been sold, and sales reached 200,000 units within the first year of the original airing. A BBC representative called the initial sales results "a huge phenomenon," noting that it is rare for a video to sell even half as well, especially when viewers can record episodes for free. The CD soundtrack was also popular, and 20,000 copies of an official making-of book were sold within days. The serial was released on DVD four times: first in 2000, then as a digitally remastered "Tenth Anniversary Edition" in September 2005, as part of a "Classic Drama DVD" collection in April 2007, and as a Blu-ray in October 2008. A high-definition version was made from the original negatives but was not broadcast on TV by the BBC, which refuses to show content shot in 16 mm in HD. The same restored version was released on DVD in March 2009, and the Blu-ray was released on 14 April 2009.
A 2010 Remastered Edition and a 2014 Keepsake Edition have the same footage, lengths, and format. The 2014 edition has improved colors. The 2010 edition begins with piracy warnings before the movie starts, while the 2014 edition begins with five required previews that viewers must skip individually. The second disc of the 2014 edition also starts with these previews. The 2014 edition includes 50 minutes of new bonus materials, plus the 1 minute and 45 seconds of bonus content from the 2010 edition. These materials include interviews with the producer, screenwriter, director, composer, and cast members. Neither edition includes interviews with the two main actors, Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) and Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth Bennet).
In 2010/2011, a restored 4K version was released for streaming and download services like Amazon. A physical 4K version has not yet been released.
The critical response to Pride and Prejudice was mostly positive. Gerard Gilbert of The Independent praised the opening episode one day before the British premiere, calling the adaptation "probably as good as it can get for a literary classic." He highlighted the casting, especially Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle’s performance as Elizabeth. He also praised Benjamin Whitrow’s role as Mr. Bennet but was unsure about Alison Steadman’s portrayal of Mrs. Bennet. Jim White of The Independent later praised Andrew Davies for making the story "visual and lively," noting that the production included physical activity, such as dancing, which was unusual for adaptations of Austen’s work.
Howard Rosenberg of The Los Angeles Times called the adaptation "decidedly agreeable" before its American premiere, noting that the humor came from Elizabeth’s parents and Mr. Collins. John O’Connor of The New York Times called it a "splendid adaptation" with a "faithful and sensitively nuanced script." He praised Jennifer Ehle’s portrayal of Elizabeth as "intelligent and authoritative" and Colin Firth’s performance as Mr. Darcy, who "captures his snobbish pride while showing he is falling in love." He also praised Barbara Leigh-Hunt’s portrayal of Lady Catherine as "imperious" and her scenes with David Bamber (Mr. Collins) as "hilarious." However, he noted that American audiences might find the British production’s "slow walks" and "detailed dances" too slow. A People Magazine review called the adaptation "more thorough than necessary" and criticized Jennifer Ehle’s casting, saying she "looked like Anaïs Nin in period clothes." A year later, the A&E Network magazine summarized that critics praised the production, audiences loved it, and women admired Mr. Darcy so much that newspapers joked about "Darcy fever."
Pride and Prejudice received BAFTA Television Award nominations for "Best Drama Serial," "Best Costume Design," and "Best Make Up/Hair" in 1996. Jennifer Ehle won a BAFTA for "Best Actress," while Colin Firth and Benjamin Whitrow were nominated for "Best Actor" but lost to Robbie Coltrane of Cracker. Firth also won the 1996 Broadcasting Press Guild Award for "Best Actor" and "Best Drama Series/Serial." In the United States, the serial received an Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special" and was nominated for "Outstanding Miniseries," choreography, and writing. It also received a Peabody Award, a Television Critics Association Award, and a Golden Satellite Award nomination for outstanding achievements as a serial.
Influence and legacy
The 1995 BBC serial of Pride and Prejudice became one of the most popular and influential television programs ever made. It inspired many newspaper articles and helped the novel become a favorite among people who read while traveling. Along with films like Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma released in 1995 and 1996, the serial helped increase interest in Jane Austen’s work. This led to a 50% rise in members for the Jane Austen Society of North America in 1996 and over 4,000 members by autumn 1997. Some newspapers, like The Wall Street Journal, said this sudden interest in Austen was a marketing strategy by the television and film industry. Others believed it was because people wanted to escape from everyday life through stories.
Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet, chose not to take advantage of the serial’s success and instead joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. However, Colin Firth, who played Mr. Darcy, became a famous actor because of his role. Firth did not mind being called a "romantic idol" for his performance but wanted to avoid being linked only to Pride and Prejudice. He took on different roles in films such as The English Patient (1996), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001), Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Love Actually (2003), and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).
Years later, Pride and Prejudice continued to be celebrated. In a 2000 poll by the British Film Institute, the serial was ranked 99th among the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century. The BFI said this was because the serial stayed true to the novel while offering something fresh for people of all ages. Radio Times listed the serial as one of the "40 greatest TV programmes ever made" in 2003. Entertainment Weekly named it one of the 20 best miniseries of all time. In 2007, the UK Film Council said Pride and Prejudice helped people learn about British history and society. Lyme Hall in Cheshire, which was used as the exterior of Pemberley in the serial, saw its visitor numbers triple after the broadcast and remains a popular destination.
A famous scene from the serial’s fourth episode shows Mr. Darcy, fully dressed, accidentally meeting Elizabeth after swimming in a lake at Pemberley. While some critics said the scene’s popularity was due to Colin Firth’s appearance, the writer Andrew Davies said it was meant to be a humorous moment showing Darcy trying to stay dignified while wet and improperly dressed. The BBC did not allow Darcy to be completely naked, and the producers rejected the idea of using underpants. The scene was filmed with Firth wearing a linen shirt, breeches, and boots. A stuntman was used briefly to avoid a risk of infection from a disease at Lyme Park. A separate underwater shot was filmed with Firth in a tank at Ealing Studios.
The Guardian called the lake scene "one of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history." It was also listed in Channel 4’s Top 100 TV Moments in 1999, between the controversial program Death on the Rock and the Gulf War. The New York Times compared the scene to Marlon Brando’s famous moment in A Streetcar Named Desire. Firth’s later projects, like Love Actually and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, included jokes about him falling into water. The 2008 ITV production Lost in Austen also recreated the lake scene with a modern character.
Cheryl L. Nixon, in Jane Austen in Hollywood, said the scene showed Darcy’s emotional growth and connection to nature. Linda Troost and Sayre Greenfield wrote that the scene reflected modern interests in physical appearance and nudity more than it did Austen’s original character.
In her Bridget Jones’s Diary column, the fictional journalist Bridget Jones (based on Helen Fielding) wrote about loving the serial and wanting Darcy to be with Elizabeth. Fielding later wrote a novel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, in which her character meets a man named Mark Darcy, modeled after Colin Firth. Fielding interviewed Firth for the book, and Firth helped edit the humorous section. Both books include references to the BBC serial.
Andrew Davies worked on the screenplays for the 2001 and 2004 Bridget Jones films, where actors Crispin Bonham-Carter and Lucy Robinson had small roles. This connection helped Firth agree to play Mark Darcy, as it allowed him to joke about his Pride and Prejudice character. A film critic later said Firth played Mark Darcy the same way he played Mr. Darcy. A spoof interview between Firth and Renée Zellweger was included as a bonus feature on the DVD.
For nearly a decade, the 1995 serial was seen as the most popular and well-loved version of Pride and Prejudice. In 2005, the Daily Mirror gave the 1995 serial a 9/10 rating, calling it "the ultimate adaptation," while the 2005 film received 9/10 as well. The 1940 film version scored lower. The 2005 film was less daring than the 1995 version, but its younger actors, Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, were praised. Some critics said the 2005 cast was slightly less experienced than Firth and Ehle.