Matthew Macfadyen Admits He Felt "Miscast" Playing Mr. Darcy In "Pride & Prejudice"

Matthew Macfadyen first gained mainstream attention in the US in 2005 when he played Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. People are STILL talking about his infamous hand flex to this very day!

Closeup of Matthew Macfadyen
Closeup of Matthew Macfadyen

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic, Focus Films

But in a recent interview, he revealed that he didn't even like playing the iconic role.

Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen dancing in a formal ballroom scene from the movie "Pride and Prejudice," wearing period-specific attire
Focus Films / ??Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

“I didn’t really [enjoy it],” he admitted on CBS Mornings. “I feel bad saying that. There were moments I had a good time, but I wish I enjoyed it more. I wish I was less worried about it.”

Matthew Macfadyen in a suit jacket during a CBS Mornings interview

He added that he felt like he wasn't the right person for the part in the first place. “I felt a bit miscast, like, ‘I’m not dishy enough,'” he said. “But it worked out.”

Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy standing outdoors with a neutral expression
Focus Films

“Probably the most flattering thing that happens to me now is people say, ‘Were you Mr. Darcy?'” he added. “It’s a good 20 years later. So I think, ‘I can’t be aging that badly.'”

Cast of "Pride and Prejudice" in period costumes. The women wear elegant dresses and the men are in 19th-century attire, seated in a luxurious room
Focus Films / ??Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

He also shared that he and Colin Firth, who also played the role, compared notes “exhaustively” and “extensively.”

Matthew Macfadyen and Colin Firth stand together in suits at a formal event, posing for photos
Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

IDK about you, but I literally could not picture anyone else in the role.

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in what looks like an emotional outdoor scene from the movie "Pride and Prejudice." Darcy is facing Lizzy, who has her back to the camera
Focus Films

Watch Matthew's full interview here.