The BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice remains a beloved period drama staple. With Netflix preparing to release its own version later this year, starring Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy and Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, many fans are revisiting the original series and wondering about its cast members today.
Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle
Colin Firth, widely considered the definitive Mr Darcy, further cemented his reputation as a period drama heartthrob with his role in the Bridget Jones's Diary films. He won an Oscar for his performance in the 2010 film The King's Speech, with other notable roles including The Staircase, Young Sherlock, Disclosure Day, and Operation Mincemeat, where he starred alongside fellow Mr Darcy actor Matthew Macfadyen. Away from the screen, Firth separated from his wife, Livia Giuggioli, in 2019 after more than 20 years of marriage. The couple has two children together.
Jennifer Ehle, who portrayed Elizabeth Bennet, continues to receive critical acclaim. Her recent projects include Taylor Sheridan's 1923 alongside Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, Paramount's espionage thriller Lioness, and The Vampire Lestat. Ehle was married to writer Michael Ryan from 2001 to 2025, and they have two children.
Other Key Cast Members
Susannah Harker, who played Jane Bennet, has appeared in Heat of the Sun, Ultraviolet, and Waking the Dead, along with smaller roles in Grantchester, Midsomer Murders, and New Tricks. She has announced plans to create a film alongside her Mr Bingley co-star Crispin Bonham-Carter, titled Jane Bennet's Second Spring.
Julia Sawalha, known for her portrayal of Lydia Bennet, also appeared in Chicken Run, Jonathan Creek, and Lark Rise to Candleford, with recent supporting roles in Father Brown and Vera. Alison Steadman, who played Mrs Bennet, has continued to win over audiences with roles in Gavin & Stacey and the BBC comedy Here We Go. She previously suffered a serious fall at a Dubai restaurant but has confirmed she is making a good recovery.
Wickham, Bingley, and Others
Adrian Lukis, who played Mr Wickham, has appeared in Judy, Heads of State, How to Make a Killing, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, The War Between the Land and the Sea, SAS Rogue Heroes, and The Marlow Murder Club. He reprised his role for his one-man stage show, Being Mr. Wickham, in London's West End.
Crispin Bonham-Carter, who played Mr Bingley, has appeared in Game-On, Coronation Street: After Hours, Bridget Jones's Diary, Absolutely Fabulous, Casino Royale, and No Angels. He stepped away from acting and trained as a teacher between 2007 and 2008, working as an English and Classics teacher, and more recently as a head teacher.
David Bamber, who played Mr Collins, continues to appear in major productions including Valkyrie, HBO's The Regime, Enola Holmes, and Flesh and Blood. Lucy Briers, who played Mary Bennet, has appeared in House of the Dragon, Gentleman Jack, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, and Lockwood & Co. She recently confessed at the Hay Festival that she hadn't read Pride and Prejudice before securing the role.
Caroline Bingley, Mr Bennet, and the Legacy
Anna Chancellor, who played Caroline Bingley, has featured in The Girlfriend, Outrageous, My Lady Jane, The Split, and Pennyworth. She reunited with Colin Firth in What a Girl Wants. Chancellor shared the news of her daughter Poppy's passing in 2023 at age 36, stating: "Poppy was and is an unbelievable life force of creativity, compassion, wit, beauty, and sheer uniqueness. She transformed our lives, and we are beyond grateful."
Benjamin Whitrow, who played Mr Bennet, appeared in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Island at War, The Musketeers, Darkest Hour, Toast of London, and his final role in Wolf Hall. He passed away in 2017 at age 80 following a brain haemorrhage. He was previously married to Catherine Cook, and later had a relationship with Celia Imrie, with whom he shares son Angus Imrie.
Pride and Prejudice (1995) is streaming on U now.
