Comments | demmed_elusive: 'The only actress in the village'

madeleinestjust in demmed_elusive

'The only actress in the village' - Knightley in 'The Duchess'

Jun 10, 2008 19:02

Gah! I would love to see this film, as I've read and re-read Amanda Foreman's biography of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, but Keira Knightley, for heaven's sake? She doesn't even pass as an eighteenth century clothes horse - the best corset in the world couldn't shove her boobs up over her ribcage!

The trailerWhy not wheel out another period ( Read more... )

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toi_marguerite June 14 2008, 14:44:52 UTC

... Kiera Knightly?

Argh. I am torn between my absolute hatred of her (nooooo acting talent! None at all!) and my love of the Duchess of Devonshire. That was such a poor choice.She looks like a skeleton! And what's up with the unbelivable lack of powdered hair? Ugh. Kiera Knightly needs to learn that she ruins whatever period piece she's in. I canot express the full extent of my utter loathing for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. If ugly!Willoughby is Charles Grey, I think I'll start crying.

Have you seen this website, btw? http://georgianaduchessofdevonshire.blogspot.com/

madeleinestjust June 14 2008, 15:25:46 UTC

Have you seen this website, btw? http://georgianaduchessofdevonshire.blogspot.com/

Ooh, no, I haven't, thank you! That's stunning, I'll have to spend some time reading back through the archives, I think!

Any alternate, logical casting suggestions for Georgiana?

(Love your icon, by the way!)

toi_marguerite June 14 2008, 19:21:26 UTC

Why thank you! :D I was just admiring yours.

It is a super-fun site! I've been browsing the archives whenever I get a chance. I found it when I was googling Eliza Farren, yet another actress and fashion plate during the French Revolution (hopefully her Whig ideology makes up for her British nationality ;D).

I agree with Ramola Garai. She was perfect in Vanity Fair. She could easily pull off Georgiana. Jennifer Ehle would be fascinating in the role, too.

madeleinestjust June 14 2008, 20:05:17 UTC

I was just admiring yours.

Merci! A nod, of course, to the 1934 film, and rather slick way Merle Oberon managed to announce that her character is supposed to be French, despite the cut-glass English accent ;)

I found it when I was googling Eliza Farren, yet another actress and fashion plate during the French Revolution (hopefully her Whig ideology makes up for her British nationality ;D).

Have you read Emma Donoghue's book about Eliza (and Lord Derby, and their mutual chum, Anne Damer), 'Life Mask'? I'm not sure I'd wholeheartedly recommend it - if you know anything at all about the period, it can come across as a tad patronising - but she sketches the characters of these three real-life figures very well. I preferred Eliza, who is a lot like Marguerite - flawed, conceited, but human. Both she and Anne are initially unbending in their ideologies and principles, but they learn to recognise the many shades of grey as their lives progress.

I agree with Ramola Garai. She was perfect in Vanity Fair. She could easily pull off Georgiana ( ... )

toi_marguerite June 15 2008, 00:12:21 UTC

And what on earth happened to Jennifer Ehle? I haven't heard of her in years!

As best as I can tell, she decided she prefered the stage to the screen and has been staring in Tom Stoppard plays since P&P.

Oooh, I have read Life Mask! It was a little slow, but chock full of details- and I loved all the insight to the Drury Lane theatre troupe! I found myself liking Fox much more after reading it than I had when reading about the period. I rather liked Georgiana in that book too, very sweet and intelligent, flawed, and ultimately very courageous. I liked Eliza's voice best, I think.

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