Fun Facts About Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice
Few stories have stood the test of time quite like Pride & Prejudice. Jane Austen’s sharp-witted tale of love, class, and social expectations has inspired countless adaptations, one of which being the 2005 film directed by Joe Wright. The film stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as the handsome Mr. Darcy.
As of September 2025, it’s been 20 years since the period romance adaptation hit our screens. As we prepare to celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen, we’re also taking a look at some wonderful fun facts about the film. Let’s take a look at five fun facts that will make you see Pride & Prejudice (2005) in a whole new light.
5 Fun Facts About Pride & Prejudice (2005)
1. Alternate Novel Title
The novel was originally titled ‘First Impressions’ before Jane Austen altered it to ‘Pride & Prejudice’.
Kiera Knightley is seen reading a novel titled ‘First Impressions’ at the beginning of the movie as a nod to the original book title. The scene shows visible pages of the last chapter of the book, with names and places changed.
2. First Dance, First Take
The scene where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen, had their first dance was shot in one take. Director Joe Wright discovered while editing the scene, that they had successful captured the entire scene in one take.
This was from a camera that was in place to initially take the establishing shows, but they ended up using it in the finished movie.
3. Period Change
The first edition of the Jane Austen novel was published in 1813, 16 years after Austen wrote the first draft of ‘First Impressions’. Joe Wright decided to set this adaption in 1797, when the first draft was produced, rather than in 1813 like most movie adaptions.
This was due to a few reasons, including that it would separate this version from other adaptations.
4. Too Pretty?
The director, Joe Wright, was originally unsure about casting Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett, thinking she was too attractive for the role, Knightley confessed on The Graham Norton Show in 2007.
On the show, she said “(Wright) didn’t originally want me for Pride and Prejudice because he said I was too pretty. And then he met me and said ‘Oh no, you’re fine’”.
5. Misty Morning
When shooting the scene of Mr Darcy walking through the fog, director Joe Wright used a red flag to help direct Matthew Macfadyen throughout the scene.
He did this out of shot in order to tell Matthew Macfadyen where to walk, as he has very poor eyesight.
See it on the Big Screen
Re-discover the elegance of the era with a special evening at The Forum, in association with FilmBath. Step out of the pages of the beloved Austen novel and straight into Bath’s own art-deco picture-palace and join us in the glorious surroundings of The Forum.
This is a rare chance to see this adored film on the big screen with fellow Austen fans in the midst of Bath’s Jane Austen Festival.