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

[madeleinestjust]

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

Comments

[madeleinestjust]

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. Jennifer Ehle would be fascinating in the role, too.

Romola Garai is a wonderful character actress, and that's what makes her so successful - she isn't just 'Romola Garai', she is the pure but mistreated Amelia, or ambitious but unhappy Gwendolen. Sadly, that's why she'll never be 'star' material like Keira. And what on earth happened to Jennifer Ehle? I haven't heard of her in years!

[toi_marguerite]

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.