Supporting cast for Northanger Abbey 2007 confirmed (updated with links and photos)
The Irish Film Board has released the rest of the cast for the upcoming television film adaptation for Northanger Abbey 2007.
ETA: Alert Janeite Sylvia M. sent links to photos of most of the cast members, which we’ll post below. The links on their names go to their page on the IMDB.
Catherine Morland: Felicity Jones
Henry Tilney: JJ Feild
Isabella Thorpe: Carey Mulligan (photo1 photo2)
Eleanor Tilney: Catherine Walker (photo)
Mrs Allen: Sylvestra Le Touzel (photo)
Mr Allen: Desmond Barrit (photo)
James Morland: Hugh O’Connor (photo)
General Tilney: Liam Cunningham (photo)
John Thorpe: Wiliam Beck (photo)
Mr Morland: Gerry O’Brien
Mrs Morland: Julia Dearden (photo)
Some of these names will be familiar to Janeites. Sylvestra Le Touzel was Fanny Price in the BBC production of MANSFIELD PARK from the 1980s (MP1) and Carey Mulligan was Kitty Bennet in the most recent film production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (P&P3).
Alert Janeite Cinthia wrote to us and said that perhaps we had not heard the news since HeatherL is away. Amusingly, Heather wrote to us last night and predicted it would be announced while she is away!
Thanks to Alert Janeite KelleyB (filling in admirably for HeatherL) for sending along the information as well!
An editorial aside: we are glad to see that the Allens and Mrs. Morland at least aren’t cast as elderly–because they both were probably in their mid- to late 40s! Also, boy, didn’t they do a good job picking a General Tilney who really could play this Henry’s dad?
August 15th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
And I had given it “my” seal of approval only a week ago - I knew it was too good to be true. Carey Mulligan as Eleanor NOT Isabella. Wrong casting entirely!!! Sylvestra was ok in Vanity Fair, but I’m having a HARD TIME envisioning her saying: “Catherine, you tumble my gown.”
August 15th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Yes, I TOTALLY agree that Carey should be Eleanor! But just the fact that she’s in the cast is great!
August 15th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
She’s too young for Eleanor. Possibly too young for Isabella. She would have been an adorable Catherine, though. (I’m basing this more on her performance in BLEAK HOUSE as she was hardly in P&P.)
August 15th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
I’m kind of concerned about this sentence: “US actor JJ Field (O Jerusalem, The Intended, Poirot) will play Henry Tilney, the young heir of the mysterious Northanger Abbey.” Does this mean that Capt. Tilney will not be portrayed in the film as Henry’s older brother? If it does I think it it changes the story quite a bit. Who will Isabella flirt with? Kind of reduces the point of having Isabella if there is no Capt. Tilney. What is your opinion Austen bloggers?
August 15th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
You know, sometimes I get the impression that British casting directors cast according to the look of the previous person to have the role.
Carey was a blonde in BH and the last actress to play Isabella played her as a blonde. The same goes for P&P3. I don’t know why they wanted another blonde actress to play Jane Bennet when we all know she should have been a brunette.
This even goes back to the casting for S&S1. Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet were so similar to the two actresses who played Elinor and Marianne in the previous version that I think they cast them on purpose.
I’ll be interested to see how they do the hair and makeup for NA2. I am convinced that they are going to color Carey as a blonde again - then again, they’d pretty much have to to contrast her with Catherine (if Catherine is to be colored dark)
But I totally agree, Carey would have made a kicka** Catherine Morland!! I can easily picture her sitting in the assembly rooms thinking that Henry is “strange” while falling totally in love with him!
August 15th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
BTW: That article, Louisa! AUSTEN!!! How many times do we have to tell them?!?!?
And why is there no mention of the actor who will play Frederick Tilney! Frederick is as important to some of us as Henry is to others!
August 15th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Wow, this supposrting cast looks great!
I adore Carey Mulligan and although she seems too sweet to be Isabella she does seem too young for Eleanor and not as level headed as Miss Tilney is. But I can totaly picture a sweet Miss Thorpe, those dimples frequently showing when she’s flirting with James or Frederick. I saw her in Miss Marple: The Sittaford Mystery and she was a blonde there and very convincing I do hope they make Isabella blonde in this film.
I loved Sylvestra Le Touzel as Fanny in MP1 so I think of her as quiet and a bit sullen but I’m sure her acting has improved since then and I haven’t seen her in anything since. I wonder if she can do tumpling gowns too.
Liam Cunningham, boy does he look devious! I can deffinately see him playing both sides of the General (gentleman and cad) to a tea! His official site is here: http://www.liamcunningham.net/index.php
Hugh O’Conor will be perfect for James, though I’ve almost pictured Morland as a blound before but that doesn’t really matter. He will be very convincing as Catherine’s brother: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640560/
I can’t find out very much about the rest of the cast, not even pictures. But so far I’m pleased and think they are well stocked cast wise.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
I saw her in Miss Marple: The Sittaford Mystery
*slaps self with Clue Trout*
I TOTALLY forgot she was in that–and yes, I can see her as Isabella now.
Frederick Tilney was definitely in the script I read and played exactly the part he plays in the book (and then some). *rolls eyes*
I still say the Eleanor and Isabella in NA1 were both absolute perfection. John Thorpe was pretty good, too…”So, Pussy, are we to be supplanted?” *falls over laughing*
P.S. “You tumble my gown” not in script. Sorry to disappoint.
August 16th, 2006 at 4:13 am
Sounds like this could be very promising! Can’t wait to see Heather L’s cast page updated with everyone on it so I can see the complete ensemble in one glance.
August 16th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Perhaps they just haven’t cast Frederick Tilney yet. That or they found someone who is a complete newcomer and didn’t feel his role was worth mentioning. I can’t imagine why they would cut his part out entirely.
August 16th, 2006 at 9:39 am
You can find photos of these two by searching on google/blingo.
(Felicity Jones)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/images/servants3.jpg
http://www26.thdo.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/images/archers_grundy.jpg
(JJ Field)
http://www.jjfeild.com/
August 16th, 2006 at 10:23 am
We already had the links to Felicity and JJ’s photos, that’s why I didn’t post them again…also I wasn’t feeling well last night and had to keep getting up from my chair, if you follow me.
August 16th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
So far, the cast seems very well selected. I was wondering of all the Catherine Walkers listed at IMDB could be the right one. Add me to the list wondering about Capt. Tilney.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
GAAAH!! What did I say? I knew this would happen …
To add insult to injury, “available wireless” apparently means different things to different people. Thanks to some funky wardriving, I have very limited, temporary connectivity, but I can’t read the Irish article or see the pictures, much less update my web site.
Thanks for the well wishes; I need the help!
August 16th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Very good casting! I like the idea of Carey Mulligan as Isabella Thorpe.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
I love Carey Mullighan and after having seen her in the Sittaford Mystery (I hadn’t figured out it was her as a blonde) I think that she can play Isabella. Let’s be happy that NA is filming!!!
August 16th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
Me likey!
Teresa wrote:
I don’t know why they wanted another blonde actress to play Jane Bennet when we all know she should have been a brunette.
We do? This must have quite escaped my notice. It seems a re-read is in order.
August 16th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I know the portrait that Jane Austen wrote was a portrait of Mrs. Bingley was a brunette. And rather plump, if memory serves. (And a mistress of the Prince Regent! La!)
*waves hello to Heather* You are missed at this time!
August 16th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Carey Mulligan is only 21, so perhaps a *little* too young for Isabella, but then again Felicity Jones is older than her (but playing 17, it is 17 right?) so that does complicate the problem.
August 16th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Isabella is 21 and I think Eleanor is a couple of years older (just checked Chapman and he doesn’t list an age for Eleanor, but 23 sounds about right). I am thinking more of the image she projects, which is younger and less sophisticated in P&P and BH, but in The Sittaford Mystery she played a different kind of character…I hesitate to use the word “sophisticated” because her character was kind of a wallflower but she seemed a little older and more “in the world” if that makes sense.
August 16th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
This cast is going to be so perfect! Thanks so much for the pics of each one Mags!
Catherine Walker as Eleanor, she totaly fits with JJ as her brother and Liam Cunningham as her father. I love her quiet and proper but sweet look!
I can really picture Sylvestra Le Touzel as Mrs. Allen now, her face seems a little fuller now and more mature. I can deffiantly see her saying “Catherine, you tumble my gown!”
Desmond Barrit as Mr. Allen deffinately has that gouty look, card player, but yet wise.
William Beck is totaly John Thorpe and I can see him as Carey Mulligan’s brother, he’ll do very well!
Julia Dearden as Mrs. Morland, in this picture she looks rather haggered, but I suppose you’d get that look raising ten children!
In that one picture of Carey Mulligan when she’s sitting with that gentleman I can see her playing Isabella “still sitting with Captain Tilney”.
I am so excited now! NA is my favorite book ever and this movie is going to be so great!
August 17th, 2006 at 6:02 am
I know the portrait that Jane Austen wrote was a portrait of Mrs. Bingley was a brunette. And rather plump, if memory serves. (And a mistress of the Prince Regent! La!)
That’s interesting! I found the reference to a miniature portrait being “exessively like Mrs. Bennet” in one of Jane’s letters to her sister Cassandra, but no mention of the haircolour or who the woman in the portrait may be.
If it isn’t a huge bother, could you point me in the right direction? Thanks!
*Letting hitchhiked thread free again*
August 17th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Heather L - Fear not! We have over a year (in the US anyway) to wait/speculate/oogle the cast members so you just enjoy the FF and your vacation and we’ll look forward to your website updates when you get back
August 17th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Hello guys,
I’m completely new to this webblog, but not new to Jane Austen - in any way. I read so far a lot of her work, but the only one, I think I haven’t , is Northanger Abbey. I’m my own English teacher and what can I say… It’s almost very hard to find Austen’s work in my language.
Anyway, I came to this, because I’m for ages fan of JJ Feild (and yes, for those who mentioned - it’s been said Feild, but Field - but people make very often mistakes about that thing) and of course, follow up his work.
I have a little and first fansite about him, nothing big, just a place with the main information and pictures (but still not finished) and I would have to put there a little description of Henry - the role JJ’s going to play. Could someone, please, write some lines about his character - because all of you read the book so far and it would be a great pleasant to put that on my website.
Please let me know.
Greetings from Absolute JJ Feild >> http://jjfeild.bravehost.com
August 17th, 2006 at 10:27 am
Hi Irma,
Here, right from the source (that’s an electronic version of the book, by the bye, if you want to check it out; or you can download it from gutenberg.org):
They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here fortune was more favourable to our heroine. The master of the ceremonies introduced to her a very gentlemanlike young man as a partner; — his name was Tilney. He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not quite handsome, was very near it. His address was good, and Catherine felt herself in high luck.
There is a physical description of him a little later:
I have not forgot your description of Mr. Tilney; — ‘a brown skin, with dark eyes, and rather dark hair.’
A favorite, rather descriptive passage (and this is what I mean when I jokingly refer to Great!Coat!Porn):
Henry drove so well, — so quietly — without making any disturbance, without parading to her, or swearing at them: so different from the only gentleman-coachman whom it was in her power to compare him with! — And then his hat sat so well, and the innumerable capes of his great coat looked so becomingly important! — To be driven by him, next to being dancing with him, was certainly the greatest happiness in the world.
More GCP:
Henry, about an hour afterwards, came booted and great coated into the room where she and Eleanor were sitting
Henry fans love him booted and great coated.
You might want to check out a little Henry Tilney fan site that I put together a few years ago–sadly neglected and in severe need of updating. You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about Da Man, as many of us call him. (Because Henry is, indeed, Da Man.)
August 17th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Here’s a link to the picture that people believe to be the portrait Jane referred to of “Mrs. Bingley”.
http://www.pemberley.com/photos/other/Mrs_Q.jpg
August 18th, 2006 at 5:11 am
Thank you, Mags, very much!!!
I would like to put a link-back to your Henry T. site … if you allow me. Let me know what ou think about - because I’m sure all JJ Feild fans will enjoy reading about Henry - since JJ’s going to play him =)
August 18th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Well, I think everyone looks just perfect for their part! The smug set of the actor’s face playing John Thorpe - I want to slap him already! Another nice touch: there really is (to me) something of a resemblance between Catherine and Mrs Morland, and Henry and General Tilney.
August 18th, 2006 at 9:42 am
Something else (regarding the fact that there is no mention of Frederick Tilney in the press release about the cast): carefully reading it, it strikes me that they refer to Henry Tilney as “the young HEIR of the mysterious Northanger Abbey.” Sounds to me like they may have sunk Freddy.
August 18th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Irma, yes, go ahead and link to the site if you like.
August 19th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Hello Irma,
I took several screen captures of JJ Feild while making my NA2 cast page, and would be happy to share those pictures with you for your site. If you would like to have them, you can email me (clicking on my name will take you to my web site, where the email address is listed).
August 23rd, 2006 at 9:00 am
Any news of Frederick Tilney yet ?
Has the studio axed him from the script ?
August 28th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Hi everybody,
@Mags -Thank you, I’ll add your Site URL to my fansite.
And something else - unfortunately I’m somehow not able to open Heather L.’s homepage, so I cannot find her E-mail address. Is there someone who’s got her E-mail address…?
Please let me know =)