Elizabeth Bennet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Keira Knightley, the latest actress to have portrayed, Elizabeth Bennet in thePride and Prejudice (2005 film) adaptation. |
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| Full Name: | Elizabeth Darcy (née Bennet) |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Age: | 20 |
| Occupation: | Lady |
| Primary Residence: | Longbourn in Hertfordshire, later Pemberley in Derbyshire |
| Family | |
| Romantic Interest(s): | Fitzwilliam Darcy |
| Parents: | Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet (formerly Miss Gardiner) |
| Sibling(s): | Jane Bennet Mary Bennet Catherine (Kitty) Bennet Lydia Bennet |
| Film Adaptations | |
Elizabeth Bennet Darcy (Lizzy) is the main character in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She is the second out of five daughters of the Bennet family, by far the most widely read and ready-witted. While her elder sister Jane is considered to be the beautiful one, it is Lizzy who is her father's favourite for her intellect, wit, and sprightly personality. Elizabeth has three younger sisters: Mary, Kitty (Catherine), and Lydia. Elizabeth is one of the most popular and endearing heroines in all of British literature. She is intelligent, witty, accomplished, and attractive: much is made in the novel of her fine eyes. She is also a loving and devoted friend.
Over the course of the novel, Lizzy encourages her sister as Mr. Bingley pursues her, turns down a proposal from the girls' cousin Mr. Collins, and falls a little bit in love with George Wickham, which leads her to refuse Fitzwilliam Darcy when he unexpectedly declares his regard for her. An explanatory letter and a visit to his estate soon lead her to see him in a different light, however, and when he saves her sister Lydia from disgrace (by the hand of the same George Wickham) she realises that her feelings have come full circle.
[edit] Noted actresses who have portrayed Elizabeth Bennet
- Greer Garson portrayed Elizabeth in the classic 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice.
- Jennifer Ehle portrayed Elizabeth in the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice.
- Aishwarya Rai portrayed Lalita Bakshi (the character based upon Elizabeth) in the 2005 film, Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
- Keira Knightley portrayed Elizabeth in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.
[edit] Additional actresses
- 1938: Curigwen Lewis in the first television adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
- 1952: Ann Baskett opposite Peter Cushing in this UK television adaptation.
- 1958: Jane Downs in this UK television version opposite Alan Badel as Fitzwilliam Darcy.
- 1967: Celia Bannerman in this film version which was produced to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. It was the first color adaptation of the novel.
- 1980: Elizabeth Garvie in this BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice opposite David Rintoul who played Fitzwilliam Darcy.
- 2003: Kam Heskin in a contemporary version set in a Mormon university.
