Interview: Jennifer Ehle
Published October 24, 2005
I do not feel as though I have ever been type cast. The women I have been lucky enough to play have been complex enough to allow me to use a varied pallete. Although I have played a few women whom I think of as 'warmth-exuders' who stand by their men — they have been quite varied apart from having that quality in common.
One of the wonderful aspects of Pride and Prejudice is the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and her father (portrayed by Benjamin Whitrow). Can you tell us about the chemistry between the two of you and how it affected your portrayal of Elizabeth? Does the relationship between these two characters in any way reflect your relationship with your own father?
~ I really enjoyed filming the father/daughter scenes with Ben. It was one of my very favorite bits of the filming. They were shot right at the start of the five month shoot and so, I was not yet exhausted — and they were done all in a clump, with just the two of us there.
The relationship between Mr. Bennet and Lizzie was always my favorite part of the book. It was, for me growing up, the love story in the book; and I would weep whenever I reread it and would get to the bit where Lizzie tells Mr. Bennet that Darcy is the best man she has ever known. It is such an important part of the whole female fantasy of the story — the favorite daughter who idolizes her father above all men and then, when he fails to protect Lydia from herself, is exposed as a mere human being.
Then, and only then, is the young woman free to find her own mate and open her heart to him.
Of the following men from Pride and Prejudice - Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley or Mr. Bennet - which would you want your son to grow up to be like and why?
~ These are the options?! It's amazing the species continues.
You mentioned in an interview that the only role that would take you away from your family would be Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story. How have your career choices changed as a result of getting married and having a son?
- Interview: Jennifer Ehle
- Published: October 24, 2005
- Type: Interview
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Classics, Video: Drama
- Writer: Daddypundit
- Daddypundit's BC Writer page
- Daddypundit's personal site
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And another update: Alpha Male is out in UK cinemas on August 11th 2006. From October 2006 til March 2007 Jennifer Ehle will be in Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia trilogy at the Lincoln Center Theater.
JENNIFER EHLE IS JUST ABOUT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. HER PERFORMANCE IN 'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' ALWAYS TAKES MY BREATHE AWAYAND I AM TOTALLY ADDICTED TO HER LOVELY FACE
Jennifer Ehle is a very talented actress. She has that ability to create life in the character that she portrays amazingly natural and believable. They could not do another Pride and Prejudice better than the 1995 BBC/A&E Production.They have the best group of people in that production.
These few (excellent) questions are part of a much larger collection of queries, which are available for download (pdf) here -- overall, more than a hundred web-fan-submitted questions were answered personally by Ms. Ehle, who is made of AWESOME!
I am absolutely smitten with Jennifer Ehle's masterful portrayal of Elizabeth Bennett, which I've been watching again on a PBS rerun of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. She captures every nuance of mood revealed by that irresistible young lady. Her face is as beautiful and heart-rending when expressing annoyance or anger as when it radiates the sunshine of her heavenly smile. I could watch this film over and over again just to indulge my own fantasies.
Eckhart Richter
I agree that Jennifer Ehle is a very talented
actress. I am enjoying so much the 2nd showing of Pride and Prejudice on Public Television.
Ms. Ehle's performance as a actress is so memorable I could watch this three part series of
the Jane Austen Chronicles over and over.
Wouldn't we all like to find a Lizzy of our own. Her portrayal of E. B. in 'Pride & Prejudice' is indeed irrestible. Every moment of hers on screen is radiated with the candidicy of a wide ranging personality fully influenced by a truly impressive character. This kind of natural human beauty will never go out of style. Very, very well communicated Ms. Ehle.
Jennifer ehle is so amazing. Her performance in pride and prejuidice is so remarkable. i watch it all the time and everytime it creates something new for me.
it's really one of the best series that has ever been on t.v
I have watched P&P a thousand times and I never get tired of it. BBC's adaptation of P&P is trully the best. The group of actors involved in the production has captured the true essence of the book and the beauty of Jane Austen's writing. I also love to read sequels of the book written by other authors and the only faces I see in the book are those of Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.How I wish they could do another movie together.
Jennifer Ehle was perfectly cast for Elizabeth Bennett! She conveyed so much of her character through non-verbal means. However, it was a huge role and she is seldom credited with the enormous energy and effort that she had to have put into preparing for and playing the part! She was in virtually every scene and her performance was wonderful! She was truly the star of the production; albeit, Colin Firth was her ideal leading man!
From the time I've been gifted the P&P CD by my friend, I've thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Each time I watch it I go crazy watching Jennifer Ehle, she's such an amazing actress, every reaction is just so..so..perfect. I wish her all the very best. I keep watching it over and over again and never tire. All the characters have done an excellent job. God knows how many more times I am going to watch it..but watch it I will.
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Thought some of you might be interested in what Jennifer Ehle has been up to. It's a big year for her - her star's rising!
Firstly, she's doing Macbeth with Liev Schreiber for Shakespeare in the Park in NYC. It's running from June 13th to July 9th. More info at the Public Theatre site.
Secondly, she's finished two biggish films. One is Michael Clayton with George Clooney and directed by Tony Gilroy of the Bourne films. That's a legal thriller and she's playing Clooney's lover. It's in post-production now and should be released sometime this year. The other film is Pride and Glory, a drama about a family of cops, also starring Edward Norton and Colin Farrell. Filming is coming to an end at the moment and should be released in 2007. She also finished an Indian movie earlier this year called Road to the Sky or Kerala, which is directed by Santosh Sivan.
On the DVD front, The Camomile Lawn is out in the US, and in the UK Melissa and The River King are due. There is also a collector's edition of Pride and Prejudice coming out in September.
Have a look at
themy Jennifer Ehle blog to keep up with her news.