Interview with Charity Wakefield
Alert Janeite Stefanie sent us a link to an interview with Charity Wakefield, who plays Marianne Dashwood in the upcoming BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
Sense And Sensibility is really high-profile and I’m hoping it’s opened a few doors.
“I was very lucky to get the part (of Marianne). When I auditioned I felt such a strong kinship with the character. It was a role I really thought I could play, having been through some of the things she’s been through. Marianne’s very human. She has to say everything she feels, and I think I have that in me, too.”
Did you feel hesitant about the role knowing you were following in Kate Winslet’s shoes?
“I made sure I didn’t watch the film version, because Kate is such a wonderful actress and it would have been terrible to watch it… and end up trying to copy her.
“She’s been absolutely revered for that (role) so it was quite awe-inspiring to get a part that’s already been done brilliantly. I do feel we had a different approach, though, and I could make the part my own.”
So what can viewers expect from the new version?
“The cast is quite young which is close to the original text. It’s a lively version and very natural, even though there are beautiful still shots in it. It’ll feel very real, not like watching a novel.”
Hmm. Ms. Wakefield is 26, if the IMDB is to be believed; Kate Winslet was 19 when she played the 17-year-old Marianne Dashwood. Hmm. As we’ve said before, if an actress can make us actually find Marianne Dashwood a sympathetic character, then in our opinion she will have succeeded in the role.
That being said, we are looking forward to seeing the new adaptation.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:58 am
I came across this in the TLS review of Charlotte and Leopold by James Chambers:
Princess Charlotte’s (daughter of the Prince Regent) one recorded, ill-spelt comment on literature was in response to “Sence and Sencibility” - “I think Maryanne and me are very like in disposition.”
November 5th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Heh.