THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST?


On this fine day in 2025, it happens to be Pride and Prejudice day. We began this celebration early by revising our Romance Adaptation post for Pride and Prejudice last week, which means that today we had to come up with something else to celebrate on the actual day. While there are many ideas or directions this list could go, the trajectory of today’s publication is to feature actors playing the iconic hero role that is Mr. Darcy. This is a big celebratory year for Jane Austen, so just know, we plan to celebrate more in the coming months. Just for fun, to we rank Mr. Darcy Characters. rank mr darcy characters

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THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST? Sharing the many different roles and faces that have played the iconic hero #MrDarcy! Happy #PrideandPrejudiceDay! #PrideandPrejudiece #JaneAusten #ColinFirth Share on X

For some, Mr. Darcy isn’t the standard of a noble hero. For hundreds of others though, he is. This is why he’s consistently popular and used in pop culture or as inspiration for novels and countless other creative pursuits. Through the years since the novel was published in 1813, there have been many men who stepped into the role as Darcy. From actors who play him as he was written in the origin period to men who play him with a modern bent, there are numerous actors who play the character memorably and sometimes with some humor, too. Let’s meet these men, shall we?


HOW we RANK MR. DARCY CHARACTERS

As is my usual disclaimer anytime I write about this subject or “type” of story, this list is based only on film or TV adaptations. I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice, which may give me a completely different perspective on who Darcy is or how he should be played. Also, despite this being a ranking list, this is all in fun.


ELLIOT COWAN from LOST in AUSTEN

It’s been a long time since I saw this, but it was a fun story. It’s a spoof of Pride and Prejudice that follows a modern heroine who gets stuck inside the story and her attempts to put things right (including bringing Lizzy back) end up changing the story. Elliot isn’t a forever favorite Darcy, but I think he does an admirable job and I like him in the role. Particularly in the scene…

STAND OUT moment: this one goes for the pond scene by having the heroine ask Darcy to get wet. It’s a modern influence, yes, but also really cute and fun, and the fact that Darcy agrees means he is falling for this strangely out of place woman.

Stream, at publication,

COLIN FIRTH from PRIDE and PREJUDICE (1995)

Contrary to what you may think (if you read here often that is), I do like Firth in the role. He’s the actor I grew up watching fill the iconic shoes of Mr. Darcy and I will always like him in the role. I also suspect that he and this production as a whole is most faithful to the novel. Regardless, I can appreciate those who came after him and like them just as well even if in a different way.

– Credit: BBC | Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy –

STAND OUT moment: Most love the pond scene and I think it’s fair. The scene doesn’t just literally strip down Darcy, it also metaphorically does as well. However, I also love the eyelock scene. I think it shows a myriad of things and change and growth while also being, well, a little bit sexy albeit still in a proper kind of way. rank mr darcy characters

Stream, at publication, on BritBox, Hulu, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Roku or Tubi.

DANIEL VINCENT GORDH from THE LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES

Sadly, Daniel is in very few of the episodes that is the Youtube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. He is mentioned a lot, but rarely seen. I think out of the 100+ episodes, he has a credit of 10 – 15. Still, I really like him in the role, even with the limiting screen time.

STAND OUT moment: In episode 98, we see Lizzie and Darcy together in Lizzie’s blog videos (which is the setup of this modern story) and their “togetherness” is all kinds of cute.

THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST? Sharing the many different roles and faces that have played the iconic hero #MrDarcy! Happy #PrideandPrejudiceDay! #PrideandPrejudiece #JaneAusten #ColinFirth Share on X
on Youtube

Stream, at publication, all episodes on Youtube

MARTIN HENDERSON from BRIDE and PREJUDICE

Yes, it’s true, before he became Jack on Virgin River, Martin Henderson did indeed play Mr. Darcy. This is a modern version and features a colorful way of sharing the iconic Jane Austen story while also making it kind of silly. I quite enjoy it regardless, and though I don’t think he plays the role in a definitive way, I do like Henderson as Darcy. There’s something about the way he plays the role that makes me happy to be watching the film. I think he also has the kind of “aloof” manner down well, while also playing the rom-com sequences easily.

THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST? Talking about the different actors who have stepped into the role of Darcy aka rank Mr. Darcy characters.
– Credit: MIRAMAX / Album –

Stream, at publication, on Pluto TV; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video

MATTHEW MACFADYEN from PRIDE and PREJUDICE (2005)

I think there are many who don’t care for this 2005 feature from Joe Wright, in part because it IS different than the A&E miniseries. For starters, it has about four hours on this film which means there’s more room to expand and show, and help us understand. Each time I watch this version though I love how Macfadyen plays the role more. I think its differences inspires this reaction and is a great reason why I love it. He plays the role well, but also does “just enough” to separate himself from the likes of Colin Firth (who I think is considered THE Darcy) so that while comparisons are inevitable, he also ensures that some part of the Darcy role is also unique to him.

– Credit: UNIVERSAL PICTURES/MOVIESTORE COLLECTION LTD –

STAND OUT moment: I’ve said it time and again, but I adore the first proposal scene in this. I think that scene does for this version what the “pond scene” does for the A&E miniseries. Darcy is raw at this moment and I think everyone understands that he truly does have affection for Lizzy, and I think her response cuts him more than we’d perhaps assume based on his character.

Digitally purchase or rent on places like Prime Video rank mr darcy characters

Laurence Olivier from PRIDE and PREJUDICE (1940)

To my surprise, I have seen this 40s adaptation a few times. It’s not a collective favorite partly because Olivier is my least favorite period Darcy. Although if I did have to guess, I’d say this film doesn’t take place exactly in the novel’s period since the costuming is quite frilly by comparison.

Digitally purchase or rent on places like Prime Video

RYAN PAEVEY from UNLEASHING MR. DARCY

Asking me to remember specific moments or things about Ryan’s portrayal as a modern Darcy is impossible because it’s been a LONG time since I saw this movie. It’s a Hallmark rom-com and all I know is, Paevey does impress in his role as Hallmark’s Darcy.

THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST? Talking about the different actors who have stepped into the role of Darcy aka rank Mr Darcy characters.
– Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss –

Stream, at publication, on Hallmark+; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video

MICHAEL RADY from CHRISTMAS at PEMBERLEY MANOR

I’ve liked Michael Rady in a multitude of Hallmark films plus the short-lived Emily Owens M.D., and while (again!) I don’t remember specifics of his take on the Darcy character, knowing how he plays roles, he is, no doubt, quite good in the role.

Stream, at publication, on Hallmark+; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video

SAM RILEY from PRIDE, PRJUDICE and ZOMBIES

Surprisingly… I really like Sam in the role of Darcy. He’s appropriately “dark” (in appearance and how he plays the role) and he can wear the duster jacket quite well. It’s also cool to see Darcy wield a sword too! ½

Sam Riley stars in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Credit: Screen Gems / Sony Pictures / Alamy

STAND OUT moment: the end declaration. The whole “you are the love of my life…” bit gets me each time (and makes all the zombie blood worth wading through). rank mr darcy characters

Digitally purchase or rent on places like Prime Video

DAVID RINTOUL from PRIDE and PREJUDICE (1980)

Judging this actor probably isn’t fair because I think I’ve only seen this version once (maybe twice) and it was years ago. All I remember is the adaptation didn’t impress because it didn’t stick with me. ★★

Stream, at publication, on BritBox

ORLANDO SEALE from PRIDE and PREJUDICE (2003)

Through the years I’ve seen this modern version a handful of times. It’s quite silly and not really faithful, which is true of most modern versions. I also don’t remember loving this Darcy. ★★

Stream, at publication, on Peacock, Plex, Prime Video, Roku or Tubi; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video

Photos: Alamy

How many of these actors have you seen playing Mr. Darcy? Which ones do you like best? Which ones do you think do the role justice? WHO would you like to see step into the role yet? Do you think the rumored Netflix adaptation will happen? Comment all of your thoughts on how you would rank Mr. Darcy characters below.

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THE MANY FACES OF MR. DARCY: WHO PLAYS HIM BEST? Talking about the different actors who have stepped into the role of Darcy aka rank Mr. Darcy characters.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

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