Emilia Fox, known for her role as Dr Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness, has revealed she has never seen the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, in which she played Georgiana Darcy. Speaking on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast last year, the 52-year-old actress admitted she missed the now-iconic series entirely.
“Everyone else was amazing in it, but I was at university, so I’ve never even seen it. I didn’t see it then and I haven’t seen it now,” Fox said on the podcast. She added that she needs to watch the programme at some point.
A Small Role in a Beloved Classic
Fox was still at university when she secured the part, which she described as a “tiny, weeny, weeny part in it”. She starred opposite Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle and Crispin Bonham-Carter in the adaptation, which remains cherished by Jane Austen fans and costume drama lovers alike.
At the time, Fox was studying English at Oxford University and was still a teenager when she played Georgiana Darcy. The role opened doors to many more projects, including the BBC’s 1999 version of David Copperfield, which featured Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first roles before he went on to star in Harry Potter. Fox also appeared in Dorian Gray, Blithe Spirit and Home from Home.
Netflix’s New Adaptation
Netflix is now set to produce its own version of the timeless enemies-to-lovers tale. The Crown’s Emma Corrin will portray Elizabeth Bennet, while Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden will step into the shoes of Mr Darcy. The cast also includes Heartstopper’s Rhea Norwood as Lydia and Oscar winner Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet.
Two Decades on Silent Witness
Fox has been a firm fixture on screens thanks to Silent Witness, which she has been part of for over two decades. She will return as Dr Nikki next year for the BBC show’s 30th series.
She previously spoke to the BBC about the similarities between herself and her Silent Witness alter-ego. “I suppose I am close to Nikki Alexander in many ways in that... because you play her for six months of the year. Inevitably, you bring something of yours to her and something of your thought process. But she's not a character very, very far away from my own life and thought process, I don't think just because of her age,” Fox said. She added: “So, yeah, I do think there are identifying factors that are parallel for both of us.”
Even with her role in Silent Witness, Fox continues to seek out other projects and has appeared in programmes such as Delicious, Signora Volpe and The Trial of Christine Keeler. She recently shared an Instagram post dressed in a beekeeping outfit while holding a piece of a hive covered in bees, writing: “Had the most brilliant morning yesterday learning all about these BEEautiful creatures thanks to our lovely friends who know everything there is to know about.” She joked: “Still buzzing from it…(sorry, couldn’t resist!).”
Pride and Prejudice is streaming on U and BBC iPlayer now.
