Alternate Best Actor 2005: Matthew Macfadyen in Pride & Prejudice

Matthew Macfadyen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. 

Although as I recall when this version came out, the age old question of how many adaptations do we need? Although notably, despite many tv movies/television miniseries, this is only the second straight adaptation of the novel after the 1940 version with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier in the central roles. That version takes many liberties including fashioning the story in many ways as more so as the romantic comedy standard of that time. This version attempts a more earnest adaptation of the novel, specifically in terms of placing us within a stricter perspective of Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) as the story unfolds, particularly within how we see Mr. Darcy is played by Matthew Macfadyen. Macfadyen’s performance in turn is not as the instantly romantic seeming man, far from it, and not at all the more benevolent caddish quality of a William Powell/Cary Grant type. This idea being something Macfadyen strictly plays into as we first see him in full brood quite honestly. A man basically just muttering to himself, barely looking at anyone at a party, and being altogether unpleasant in both words and manner. 

Macfadyen’s starting point is key for a few different reasons. One is this from the perspective of Elizabeth, so we shouldn’t really like Darcy much either since we are seeing it through her eyes and within that perspective Macfadyen is that you’ll take him quickly as just a pompous prideful man who evidently doesn’t have time with those he’d deem too lowly. Macfadyen’s performance goes beyond that however as what he also does is more convincingly play the introvert here. As introversion is oftentimes one of the most inaccurately portrayed ideas of film, and too often is depicted as basically an eccentric version of extroversion where even the awkwardness of the person seems still part of being outward. Macfadyen’s performance is more honest to the personality type as what his expressions emphasize in these early scenes is a man lost in his own thoughts, perhaps his own insecurities and within his own mental fixations. An honest depiction of an introvert, which again can be tricky as it is all about making it a man in part more preoccupied within his own thoughts, and that is something that Macfadyen conveys quite effortlessly without being vague either. 

One other pivotal element within this introduction though is also the starting point of his Darcy as the unlikable man from Elizabeth’s perspective but also the more unhappy man within that from Macfadyen’s performance. We essentially see Darcy at his worst and Macfadyen crafts that convincingly. He could be just that stuffy fellow we never see again so what Macfadyen lays out is essentially a pathway for himself, where the audience along with Elizabeth will discover him, but we also will see what Darcy gains from the discovery. What Macfadyen then creates is the pathway for Darcy as Elizabeth learns more about him, but also the change in Darcy from that process. The second time they even meet Macfadyen is still rather cold as Darcy but we are granted a bit more nuance seemingly suggesting more to the man, even as his presence is still off-putting to a degree. Macfadyen does bring this exact conviction within Darcy’s words as he speaks of George Wickham, who wrongs Darcy in the past despite Wickham claiming the opposite. Further however is Macfadyen revealing more of Darcy such as the introverted creed of not being able to make conversation with strangers easily. Macfadyen’s delivery of this line honestly is pivotal because he doesn’t speak it as a rudeness, rather honesty of a man who finds discomfort in such crowds. 

There is the nature of the surprise then of the scene where Darcy rather imperfectly proposes and states his love to Elizabeth most unexpectedly to her and really the audience. Something especially well realized in this idea because Macfadyen has been so cold, dismissive and direct, and could be simply a rude man, or a shy man suspicious of betrayal, something we will eventually learn is largely the latter. Macfadyen’s performance though is key because as imperfect as the surprise declaration is there is an earnestness within the nuances of Macfadyen’s performance. Deep down you can sense there is something so honest in the love as in his eyes there is even less of a weight as he states his intentions, even while still wrapped in the imperfection of the presentation and the context of it all. Something that only gets trickier when Darcy prevents a marriage for one of Elizabeth’s sisters with a degree of carelessness, where again Macfadyen’s delivery presents a man perhaps too gripped by his own logic and distrust as he explains his thoughts with very specific analysis however perhaps without much empathy. Macfadyen manages to present it though as someone too lost in his suspicions than purposeful cruelty. 

When however Elizabeth stumbles into a more intimate moment where Darcy is listening to piano with his younger sister we are granted an instance of a different sight of the man, as we see the charm and even glow about him with his sister. We see the introverted no longer so guarded and Macfadyen’s specific expression of joy with her feels so honestly earned as the loving man beneath the armor against both betrayal and just general social requirement. What progresses naturally within the relationship is we both see a better Darcy and the growth of Darcy into a better man. Where Macfadyen does so much with the easing into connection with Elizabeth which is two fold where his deliveries and manner become more open, and wanting with connection. Importantly though this combined with this growing sense of joy that overcomes the weight of brooding, as he expresses in his work even just a levity in movement and a growing joy exudes off of him. Where Macfadyen crafts essentially the journey of the man as the introvert making connections to comfort, but also a man betrayed in the past willing to look beyond suspicion more easily to genuine connection. Naturally earning the shift within Darcy as he helps Elizabeth’s family openly which seems just the honest reaction through Macfadyen’s performance. Earning then the morning mist second declaration of love which Macfadyen plays so pitch perfectly. As now instead of sort of mutedly declaring against his judgement we see a man brimming with a personal confidence as he looks directly upon her and more importantly speaks the truth filled with a calm emotion of someone just stating his love so passionately. Macfadyen’s Darcy isn’t about charm, though I do think there is a charm to him, rather it is about creating a convincing pathway from a cold brooding betrayed man, to a good loving man, which Macfadyen articulates in powerful and moving detail.