How BBC executives initially rejected Colin Firth for role of Mr Darcy because he had ginger hair

By Simon Cable for The Mail on Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Colin Firth almost lost out on the role that secured his leading-man status because TV executives thought his hair was too ginger for the dashing Mr Darcy.

The writer Andrew Davies, who adapted Pride and Prejudice for the BBC, and Alan Yentob, then BBC1 controller, didn’t want to cast Firth.Yentob at first believed he was not handsome enough to portray Jane Austen’s brooding hero.

It was decided to dye his hair a much darker shade shortly before production began in 1994.

Near miss: Executives took some persuading that Colin Firth should play Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

Near miss: Executives took some persuading that Colin Firth should play Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

Huge success: Colin Firth was one of the most dashing leading men in television history when he won the role

Huge success: Colin Firth was one of the most dashing leading men in television history when he won the role

‘I was doubtful about him because of his gingerish hair and Mr Darcy with that colour hair would not have been right,’ said Davies, who has also adapted classic novels including Bleak House and Middlemarch for television.

‘So, to be honest, I never saw him as a Darcy,’ he said in an interview with the Sunday Times.

‘The only answer was to dye his hair to a dark brown going on black for the part.’ 

The programme’s producer Sue Birtwistle, has also revealed that Yentob did ‘not think Firth was handsome enough’, recalling: ‘I had one of those very early clunky mobile phones, and Alan rang me when I was driving in a snowstorm to tell me that Firth was not good-looking enough as Darcy.’

Strength to strength: Colin Firth played another heartthrob in the Bridget Jones films with Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant

Strength to strength: Colin Firth played another heartthrob in the Bridget Jones films with Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant

However, she claims that she managed to persuade Yentob that Firth was perfect for the role.

The drama went on to draw an audience of almost 11m when it was broadcast in 1995. 

It was the role that secured Colin Firth’s status as one of the most dashing leading men in television history.

Firth has since gone on to win a string of awards including a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech.

The King's Speech with Colin Firth as Bertie

Recognition: He went on to win the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in The King¿s Speech

But the actor admitted he had never read Jane Austen’s novel before taking the role and nearly turned it down because at 35, he couldn’t believe he was romantic lead material.

And while the part made him a household name, he admitted it wasn’t always easy being constantly associated with a literary hero.

He said: ‘In the years between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones, I don’t think there was a single interview in any newspaper that didn’t have Darcy in the headline.’ 

Despite the show’s success, said ITV initially rejected the chance to televise the series after it was turned down by Greg Dyke, who later became director-general of the BBC, and Brian Tesler.

Heart-throb: Colin Firth, pictured with his wife Livia

Heart-throb: Colin Firth, pictured with his wife Livia, has not looked back since his 1995 appearance as Mr Darcy

‘Brian and Greg did not think it would work for them even though I told them the scripts were fantastic,’ said Nick Elliott, head of drama at London Weekend Television. ‘They didn’t think Pride and Prejudice suited an ITV audience.’

The scripts were later sold to the BBC and despite rejecting Pride and Prejudice, ITV later made versions of Austen’s Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Emma.

The scene where Darcy emerges from a lake in a wet shirt made Firth a global sex symbol.

BBC

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