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The 10 Best Mr. Darcy Actors Ranked: From Colin Firth to Matthew Macfadyen

These are the greatest actors who have played Jane Austen’s iconic character onscreen (with fun facts about each performer).

January 28th marks the anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 1813, so we thought we’d celebrate by honoring Mr. Darcy and the actors who have played him.

the best mr darcy actors featured image with Matthew Macfadyen, Colin Firth, and Matthew Rhys.
The Best Mr. Darcy actors. Death Comes to Pemberley (Origin Pictures/Masterpiece/BBC/Screenshot), Pride and Prejudice 1995 (BBC/Screenshot), and Pride & Prejudice 2005 (StudioCanal/Focus Features/Screenshot).

In Pride and Prejudice, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire, is 28 years old. But as a beloved immortal character from classic literature, 2026 makes him 213 years old – in book years, that is.

Several actors over the past 100 years have portrayed Mr. Darcy on screen, the aloof yet lovable romantic hero of Pride and Prejudice. From Colin Firth to Matthew Macfadyen and many more! While no other actors have topped their iconic performances, a new Netflix adaptation is coming soon, with Jack Lowden in the role. We will see where he ranks.

But until then, we have ranked the best Mr. Darcy actors (so far!) based on popularity, performance quality, faithfulness to the character and the book, and cultural significance. Not to mention, personal taste!

Playing opposite the quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet is no easy feat. A great Mr. Darcy performance then must showcase the complex aspects of Mr. Darcy’s personality while excelling at playing the romantic lead and bringing Jane Austen’s words to life in an authentic way.

These Mr. Darcy actors got Jane Austen’s iconic character just right.


Pride and Prejudice 2005 screenshot of Elizabeth and Darcy at sunset
Pride & Prejudice (2005) has one of the swooniest moments. Credit: (StudioCanal/Focus Features/Screenshot)

1. Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice (1995)


Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. He's wearing a wet white shirt.
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the iconic wet shirt. (BBC/Screenshot)

The best and most iconic Mr. Darcy actor goes to Colin Firth in the 1995 adaptation. He changed the conversation around the famous Austen hero and helped catapult him into the pop-culture stratosphere thanks to his memorable, brooding performance.

Fun fact: Colin Firth’s aunt pleaded with him not to play the part in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. She didn’t want to ruin how she imagined Mr. Darcy since she was a young girl.

While he may have spoiled Mr. Darcy for one person, Colin Firth went on to portray the most popular interpretation.


2. Matthew Macfadyen in Pride and Prejudice (2005)


Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy in the rain.
Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy brings a Romantic sensibility to the role. (StudioCanal/Focus Features/Screenshot)

Matthew had never seen the BBC adaptation with Colin Firth, so he chose not to worry about who had played the part before and simply got “on with it,” playing the role in Pride & Prejudice as he imagined.

Thankfully, because of his chemistry with Keira Knightley, the almost-kiss scene in the rain was added, giving Mr. Darcy a new swoony layer.

Matthew Macfadyen ranks second because of his compelling performance and popular portrayal of the character. Who can forget the hand flex or that dreamy walk toward Elizabeth at sunrise?


3. Sir Laurence Olivier in Pride and Prejudice (1940)


Laurence Olivier in Pride and Prejudice 1940
Laurence Olivier influenced the Mr Darcys to come. (MGM/Screenshot)

Here is an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that features controversial creative choices, such as Victorian costumes and a rom-com writing style. Initially, the film was meant to star Clark Gable, but after he turned it down, Sir Laurence Olivier took over the role.

His passionate and groundbreaking performance influenced future actors who played Mr. Darcy, including Colin Firth. Olivier also wanted his soon-to-be wife, Vivien Leigh, to play Elizabeth, but Greer Garson got the part instead, much to his frustration.

Still, his influence on portrayals of future Mr. Darcys earns him a top spot in our ranking.


4. David Rintoul in Pride and Prejudice (1980)


David Rintoul in Pride and Prejudice 1980
David Rintoul shows off Darcy’s stuffy side in Pride and Prejudice 1980. (BBC/Screenshot)

He’s the only Scottish actor on the list to play the brooding Mr. Darcy and remains a fan favorite for his accurate, stuffy portrayal. If you’re looking for faithfulness to Austen’s source material, David Rintoul is the Mr. Darcy for you.

Rintoul continues to act on both the stage and screen, including a recent part in The Crown.


5. Colin Firth in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)


Colin Firth as Mark Darcy wearing the Christmas reindeer sweater. Bridget Jones stands next to him.
Mark Darcy Actor (Colin Firth). Photo: Miramax/Screenshot

Is it cheating to have Colin Firth twice? We don’t think so! Mark Darcy is a distinct character exploration of the Darcy archetype with a modern twist. Based loosely on Pride and Prejudice, Helen Fielding formed the character of Mark Darcy with Colin Firth in mind. For fun, he agreed to play Mr. Darcy yet again.

“I’d never played out a bit of self-referential popular culture mischief before,” Firth said in an interview, further intertwining himself with the classic character even more. He has played Mr. Darcy four different times.

And then there was that hilarious bit for Comic Relief with Miranda Hart and Colin Firth!


6. Matthew Rhys in Death Comes to Pemberley (2013)


Darcy and Elizabeth walking outside in Death Comes to Pemberley
Darcy and Elizabeth in Death Comes to Pemberley. (BBC/Screenshot)

When he got the role in this continuation, Rhys worried about upsetting Austen fans with specific ideas about who Mr. Darcy is.

To prepare for his part in Death Comes to Pemberley, he decided to watch Colin Firth and emulate him as closely as he could. Fair to say, he succeeded! He was so good in the role that we would have loved to see him in a full, faithful adaptation.


7. Elliot Cowan in Lost in Austen (2008)


Elliot Cowan in Lost in Austen
Elliot Cowan in Lost in Austen recreates the lake scene. (ITV/Screenshot)

For anyone who’s ever dreamed of marrying their own Mr. Darcy, Lost in Austen is the perfect Austen adaptation. Elliot Cowan broods with precision while also paying tribute to Firth.

He successfully recreated the famous lake scene, wearing a white shirt and all. Cowan admits he did the real thing (jumping in himself), and it was “very cold.”

Even though Lost in Austen is a comedy with satirical elements, Elliot Cowan gives a pretty accurate and lovable interpretation of the brooding hero.


8. Martin Henderson in Bride & Prejudice (2004)


Bride and Prejudice scene with Darcy and Lalita standing close in a romantic embrace.
Martin Henderson is showing his romantic chops in Bride and Prejudice. (Miramax/Screenshot)

Martin Henderson wanted to do this Jane Austen variation because “it was such a fresh and new idea.” To prepare, Mr. Henderson studied Pride and Prejudice and the BBC adaptation to honor the original material.

He believed the final movie demonstrated the right balance between Western and Eastern film styles. His co-star, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, agreed, calling it a “groundbreaking” opportunity that increased the standard for diversity.

Henderson excels at playing the romantic lead, as evidenced by his modern yet faithful interpretation of the character and swoony romantic moments.


9. Sam Riley in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)


Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Sam Riley gives an unusual performance as Mr. Darcy. (Sony Pictures/Screenshot)

Pride and Prejudice is his mother’s favorite book, so she was thrilled when he got the part in this excellent fantasy version of the story. For research, she convinced him to watch the “only” adaptation – the 1995 production. 

His intent for the character in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies then became a mix “of Colin Firth, Alex from A Clockwork Orange, Sean Connery in Dr. No, and the voice of James Mason.”

Riley gives a strange but compelling performance.


10. Daniel Vincent Gordh In The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2012)


Darcy and Lizzie in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries looking at each other
Mr. Darcy and Lizzie in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. (Pembroke Digital Media/Screenshot)

He appears in only 12 of the 100 episodes of the award-winning Web series. But his authentic modern portrayal of Mr. Darcy made an impression, and the Streamy Awards nominated him for Best Actor.

Daniel Vincent Gordh is a nice contemporary addition to the list of Mr. Darcy portrayals.

Other actors who have portrayed Mr. Darcy (or characters inspired by Darcy) onscreen include:

  • Lewis Fiander (Pride and Prejudice – 1967)
  • Orlando Seale (Pride & Prejudice – 2003)
  • Ryan Paevy (Unleashing Mr. Darcy)
  • Michael Rady (Christmas at Pemberley Manor)
  • Juan Antonio (Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta)
  • JJ Field in Austenland. Technically, not Mr. Darcy, but clearly written to be a Mr. Darcy character.
  • James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy in Becoming Jane – He portrays a real-life person, making him the person Austen based Mr. Darcy on. It’s historical fiction, really. But great stuff.
  • Peter Cushing, Alan Badel, and Andrew Osborn have all portrayed Mr. Darcy in classic adaptations that have likely been lost to history.

No matter who your Mr. Darcy is, let’s celebrate all that’s great about Fitzwilliam Darcy. And remember, never judge based on first impressions because you might find a new Mr. Darcy to enjoy.

Who is your favorite Mr. Darcy actor? Let us know on social media or send us an email! We’d love to hear from you.

Featured image credit: Pride & Prejudice 2005 (StudioCanal/Focus Features), Pride and Prejudice 1995 (BBC), and Death Comes to Pemberley (Origin Pictures/Masterpiece/BBC).

SOURCES

“20 Fastidious Facts About BBC’s Pride and Prejudice.” 2017. Mental Floss. March 9, 2017. http://mentalfloss.com/article/92938/20-fastidious-facts-about-bbcs-pride-and-prejudice.

“Aishwariya Rai & Martin Henderson Talk ‘Pride & Prejudice’.” 2019. RAJ GIRN. June 12, 2019. https://www.rajgirn.com/aishwariya-rai-and-martin-henderson/.

Branch, Chris. 2015. “Colin Firth: ‘I’ve Never Owned’ Mr. Darcy Role.” HuffPost. HuffPost. February 10, 2015. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/colin-firth-mr-darcy_n_6653984.

“Daniel Vincent Gordh.” n.d. Pemberley Digital. Accessed January 28, 2020. http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries/cast-lbd/daniel-gordh/.

Donelan, Loretta. 2015. “8 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Pride & Prejudice’.” Bustle. Bustle. September 16, 2015. https://www.bustle.com/articles/109554-8-things-even-die-hard-pride-prejudice-fans-dont-know-about-the-keira-knightley-film.

“Facts about ‘Pride and Prejudice’: Classic Movie Hub (CMH).” n.d. Classic Movie Hub – CMH. Accessed January 28, 2020. http://www.classicmoviehub.com/facts-and-trivia/film/pride-and-prejudice-1940/.

“Interview with Elliot Cowan.” 2010. Jane Austen Today. November 16, 2010. http://janitesonthejames.blogspot.com/2010/11/interview-with-elliot-cowan.html.

“Interview with the Cast of Pride & Prejudice.” 2005. Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers. September 9, 2005. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-361640/Interview-cast-Pride–Prejudice.html.

“Interview: Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice) (Nov 2005).” 2012. Darcylicious. December 22, 2012. http://www.darcylicious.com/drupal/node/114.

Looser, Devoney. 2015. “Mr Darcy through the Ages.” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media. October 13, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/mr-darcy-through-the-ages-in-early-portrayals-of-jane-austens-hero-he-wasnt-always-quite-so-hot-a6692781.html.

Looser, Devoney. 2019. The Making of Jane Austen. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

“Movies – Interview – Matthew MacFadyen.” n.d. BBC. BBC. Accessed January 28, 2020. http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/09/14/matthew_macfadyen_pride_and_prejudice_interview.shtml.

Nemiroff, Perri. 2019. “’Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’: Sam Riley Reveals His Zombie Outbreak Survival Plan.” Collider. September 24, 2019. https://collider.com/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-sam-riley-interview/.

“Pride & Prejudice.” n.d. IMDb. IMDb.com. Accessed January 28, 2020. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv.

Riley, Jenelle. 2012. “Keira Knightley On Almost Being Beaten By Mr. Darcy.” Backstage. Backstage. November 20, 2012. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/keira-knightley-almost-beaten-mr-darcy-50725/.



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The 10 Best Mr. Darcy Actors Ranked: From Colin Firth to Matthew Macfadyen

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By on January 28th, 2020

About Amber Topping

Amber works as a writer and digital publisher full-time and fell in love with stories and imagination at an early age. She has a Humanities and Film Degree from BYU, co-created The Silver Petticoat Review, contributed as a writer to various magazines, and has an MS in Publishing from Pace University, where she received the Publishing Award of Excellence and wrote her thesis on transmedia, Jane Austen, and the romance genre. Her ultimate dreams are publishing books, writing and producing movies, traveling around the world, and forming a creative village of talented storytellers trying to change the world through art.

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10 thoughts on “The 10 Best Mr. Darcy Actors Ranked: From Colin Firth to Matthew Macfadyen”

  1. It wasn’t until my 30’s, that i finally got to grips with Pride and Prejudice book, and my first Mr Darcy was Matthew Macfayden. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and then my one friend introduced me to the TV series, and was introduced to Collin Firth as Mr Darcy. They (Matthew and Collin) both played the part well, but for me it will always be Matthew.

  2. I’m glad Colin Firth didn’t listen to his aunt! To me there is no other Mr Darcy. Though I enjoyed the 1980 version and “Death Comes to Pemberley” I will always think of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.

  3. I just rewatched Death Comes to Pemberley. It is such a wonderfully executed extension of the story and I love the very relatable ebbs and flows / tension and release in Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship. Rhys’ portrayal is flawless – he nails the firmness and softness of Darcy. Lost in Austen is my ultimate comfort watch Thanks for including these two stellar performances!

  4. Very good article, thank you!

    I have watched some of them (1995, 2005, 1980, 1940 and 2004), but for me, there is only one: Matthew.

    He is not just the first I have seen, but he has a sweetness and shyness that fits Mr Darcy, although he can play a proud man very well also, in some scenes.

    But thinking about the way I would imagined Mr Darcy, David Rintoul was very very close. I was impressed when I saw his version.

    Anyway, it does not matter, because there are a lot of Mr Darcys for everybody xD

    Best regards from Brazil

  5. I don’t understand why Sam Riley in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the last one. I understand that this particular edition is far from the source material. If not that I must say it’s unfair. He was dashing and the perfect amount of haughty for the character of Mr. Darcy. The actions scenes were also well executed. My favourite was the first proposal scene where they fought. The tension, my Lord! The wardrobe was well done. And, last but definetly not the least, he was so…so sexy in his role.

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