The stars of the 2005 Pride & Prejudice film: Then and now
Have you ever wondered what happened to the amiable cast of the 2005 movie adaptation of Pride & Prejudice?
From Mr Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet, find out where the A-listers behind the characters are today – and the wild co-worker romance that blossomed on set.
Read on to see the careers of the cast.
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Rosamund Pike
Rosamund Pike almost missed out on the role of eldest sister Jane Bennet, despite being director Joe Wright's first choice.
She ended up turning down the role of Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire instead.
Pike was previously in a relationship with Simon Woods, who starred as Mr. Bingley – and who Wright says he tried to avoid casting.
"I tried very hard not to cast Simon, but I knew he was perfect. Finally, I rang Ros and asked if she'd mind, and she said, 'Absolutely not'," he revealed in an interview.
"They hadn't seen each other for two years, but the next day they were dancing together. It was lovely."
Interestingly, Pike and Wright ended up dating and got engaged after meeting on set.
Their wedding was suddenly called off, however; reports claimed the actress sent out invitations the director hadn't approved.
Pike later said she had "no idea why Joe called off the wedding."
"He was never clear about it. Part of what makes it so confusing."
Following her breakout role in the film, Pike has enjoyed an incredibly successful career.
She has since starred in more critically acclaimed films such as An Education, Barney's Version and Jack Reacher.
Her role in Gone Girl saw Pike's career reach new heights.
She has most recently starred in Saltburn.
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley is known for her various roles in period pieces, but Elizabeth Bennet is undoubtedly one of her most famous characters.
The actress had already established herself in Bend It Like Beckham, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and Love Actually, growing her reputation in Hollywood.
She almost missed out on the role as Elizabeth because Wright thought she may be 'too attractive', Knightley revealed on The Graham Norton Show.
"And then, he met me and he went 'no, no you're fine'. Thanks," she added.
While filming Pride & Prejudice, the actress was also preparing for her role in Domino, which meant she had to cut her hair.
Towards the end of the 2005 film, you may notice Knightley is wearing a wig and long sleeves to hide the muscles required for her other film.
Matthew Macfadyen
The famous Mr Darcy was portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen, who had only been in five films when he was cast.
As Darcy, his simple hand flex managed to deliver a range of emotions, showing his affection for Elizabeth Bennet.
The heartwarming gesture has since been recognised in other films and most recently in Barbie.
Macfadyen has poor eyesight, which meant when filming scenes in the misty morning haze, director Wright had to wave a red flag behind the camera so he would know where to walk.
Pride and Prejudice put him on the map and saw him nominated for Best Newcomer at the London Critics Circle Film Awards.
Macadyen went on to act in the television series Criminal Justice and Ripper Street as well as films including Death at a Funeral, Robin Hood, Anna Karenina and The Assistant.
Most recently, he starred in Succession as Tom Wambsgans, which won him a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Tom Hollander
Tom Hollander played the role of Mr Collins, cousin to the Bennet family and inheritor of their home, Longbourn.
The actor had had some success on Broadway, working as a voice acto,r and had landed a role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as Lord Cutler Beckett, alongside co-star Keira Knightley.
Hollander earned critical acclaim from Pride & Prejudice, going on to star in director Joe Wright's 2011 film, Hanna.
He maintains a successful acting career, performing most recently in the FX limited series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
In 2023, he welcomed his first child with interior designer Fran Hickman.
Donald Sutherland
The second non-English actor in the film, Donald Sutherland was convinced by Wright to join the cast as the father to five daughters, Mr Bennet.
"We ended up having a long e-mail correspondence about everything from eighteenth-century agriculture to my relationship with my father," the director revealed in an interview.
"I cast Donald a) because he's a god, and b) because you needed someone of that strength to handle those six women."
Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench is widely accepted as one of Britain's greatest actresses of all time, making her a perfect fit for the classic book's movie adaptation. She played the role of the affluent Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Wright managed to cast her by writing a letter that read, "I love it when you play a bitch, Please come and be a bitch for me," which somehow worked.
Due to tight scheduling constraints, Dench filmed all of her scenes in a week.
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