20 Years of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice
Arguably Jane Austen’s most famous and well-loved work, Pride and Prejudice has been adapted nearly twenty times over the 200 years since the book’s release. But the 2005 adaptation, directed by Joe Wright and starring Kiera Knightly and Matthew McFadyen, holds a special place in the hearts of many romantics, both young and old.
The film has developed a kind of cult following over the years since its release, garnering memes, comments, and musings about all manner of elements of the production. Highlights include Mr. Darcy’s first rain-soaked proposal (filmed in Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire), Mr. Collins’ awkward potato obsession at dinner with the Bennets, and the early morning, mist-filled reunion of Darcy and Elizabeth towards the close of the film.
But why has this adaptation remained so dear to so many viewers nearly 20 years since its original release? One explanation could be narrative; the adapted screenplay by Deborah Moggach skillfully pulls out the most enticing, endearing moment of the novel while leaving time for the viewer to become attached to a wide cast of characters from the many Bennet sisters to Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle, played by Penelope Wilton and Peter Wright. The visuals of the film are also stunning and leave a lasting impression for the warm, earth-toned palette and wide scenic shots created by cinematographer Roman Osin.
Another reason could be the incredible ensemble cast made up of actors who have since gone on to a variety of widely-known roles in film, theatre, and television. So, two decades since their regency exploration, where are they now?
Kiera Knightley
Kiera Knightly, who played the witty, discerning Elizabeth Bennet in the film, has cultivated a high-flying career full of popular franchises such as The Pirates of the Caribbean (various directors, 2003-2017) and critically acclaimed films such as The Imitation Game (Tyldum, 2014) and Love Actually (Curtis, 2003). If you’re interested in seeing Kiera Knightley in other period pieces, there is certainly no shortage of options; from Anna Karenina (Wright, 2012) to The Duchess (Dibb, 2008) and Atonement (Wright, 2007), the actor is no stranger to historical settings. More recently, Knightly has shifted to grittier, more realistic dramas such as Boston Strangler (Ruskin, 2023) and the hit Netflix series following spies in the UK Government, Black Doves (2024-).
Matthew Mcfadyen
Ever since playing the famous heartthrob role of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 adaptation—a role which he has often said he felt worried about being unsuited for during filming—Mcfadyen has graced television screens as well as silver ones. Having played long-running characters in MI-5 (2002-2011) and Ripper Street (2012-2016), he has recently gained international attention for his standout role in the hit corporate drama Succession (2018-2023). His appearances in American production don’t stop there though; he has also recently appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine (Levy, 2024) and Holland (Cave, 2025) alongside Nicole Kidman.
Rosamund Pike
Rosamund Pike portrayed the sweet, loving eldest Bennet sister Jane in the 2005 film, but her credits since then have included a wide variety of character types. Possibly most well-known for her mysterious role in Gone Girl (Fincher, 2014), she has also appeared in fan favorites Hector and the Search for Happiness (Chelsom, 2014) and Saltburn (Fennell, 2023). She’s also been seen on television screens in the high fantasy The Wheel of Time (2021-2025) and is set to make her National Theatre debut as Jessica in Inter Alia, a new play by Suzie Miller, in late 2025.
Simon Woods
Simon Woods played the lovable, slightly inept Mr. Bingley in Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation. Since then, he has appeared on television in MI-5 (2002-2011) and in films such as Penelope (Palansky, 2006). He has, however, taken a step back from acting in order to focus on his work as a playwright, and his play Hansard premiered in London in 2019.
Donald Sutherland
Famed actor Donald Sutherland perfectly exhibited the role of the wry, long-suffering Mr. Bennet in this much-loved adaptation. He sadly passed away in June 2024 and has been much missed for his political activism and roles in over 200 films and television shows. Sutherland was known for stirring roles in war films such as M*A*S*H (Altman, 1970), spy films such as Eye of the Needle (Marquand, 1981), heist films such as The Italian Job (Gray, 2003), and in the dystopian series The Hunger Games (various directors, 2012-2015) as the diabolical President Snow.
Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan, who portrayed the young and flighty Kitty in the film, is also no stranger to period adaptations. She has appeared in films such as the star-studded Suffragette (Gavron, 2015), the Thomas Hardy adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd (Vinterberg, 2015), and the Dickens television adaptation of Bleak House (various directors, 2005). Recently, internationally acclaimed films such as Promising Young Woman (2020) and Saltburn (2023)—both directed by Emerald Fennell—have also brought her onto the world stage.
Penelope Wilton
Penelope Wilton has risen to the status of British national treasure since her supporting role in Pride and Prejudice (Wright, 2005) due to her appearances in a variety of much-loved cult classics such as Shaun of the Dead (Wright, 2004) and Doctor Who (2005-). But she is also well-known internationally for her lovable, determined character Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010-2015), as well as in the subsequent films, Downton Abbey (Engler, 2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (Curtis, 2022). She is expected to return to her role for the final film in the franchise, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Curtis, 2025).
Whatever the reason for the lasting fame of Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, it is clear that the ensemble drawn to the film were a group of talented actors who have made a lasting mark on both British and international storytelling. What’s your favorite part of the 2005 film adaptation? Let us know!
