Christine M. Demain Hammond, Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. London: George Allen, 1899, page 109.
We have MCM’s on Sense and Sensibility‘s men, but wait, we haven’t done the ladies! With the new version coming out Very Soon, I thought it was time to compare the various iterations of Elinor Dashwood on screen — in adaptations of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel.
Elinor is the “sense” of the title: logical, proper, and thoughtful. Early on in the story she falls in love, but as her love interest never declares himself, she keeps her feelings restrained and mostly to herself. When she finds out that he’s engaged to another woman, she doesn’t outwardly judge him for it or create any drama, but instead works to resign herself to the situation — both because that’s the proper thing to do, and also to spare those who love her from suffering on her behalf.
Sense has been adapted six times, if we count this year’s feature film:
Joanna David in 1971
Yes, the woman you and I know as Mrs. Gardiner from Pride and Prejudice (1995) was, long before that, Elinor Dashwood! I haven’t seen this BBC miniseries (although now I kind of want to because of the hair I’m seeing here? Stop me! You know it’ll be bad videography and I’ll abandon it as I have similar productions!). But according to the blog Austenprose,
“Her solid and stoic Elinor is never overplayed, but totally understated and stealthily effective … Besides being absolutely stunningly beautiful, her timing and delivery are spot on.”
Irene Richard in 1981
I did actually watch this, but like 20 years ago, so all I can do is quote the short review I wrote then: “On the whole I liked Irene Richard’s portrayal of Elinor, although she could be rather one-note in some scenes.”
Emma Thompson in 1995
Hattie Morahan in 2008
I just watched this miniseries adaptation, and I felt like Morahan gave one of the stronger performances. She managed to convey the sadness lurking below the character and the concern she had for her family in a very understated yet real way.
Deborah Ayorinde in 2024
I can’t with these clunky, garish costumes, so I thank Trystan for taking one for the team and watching this Hallmark Channel adaptation. Trystan wrote, “luckily Deborah Ayorinde as Elinor is strong, since she carries a lot of the movie.”
Daisy Edgar-Jones in 2026
We haven’t seen the new feature film version — yet! So I can’t tell you how Edgar-Jones plays the character. I also haven’t seen her in anything, but I can tell you she’s won one Golden Globe already, so that means she’s got some skill!
Who’s YOUR favorite Elinor Dashwood on screen? Will you be seeing the new movie asap or waiting til it comes to streaming?
Emma Thompson, no contest! It doesn’t hurt that she also wrote the screenplay AND a behind-the-scenes book about the making of the film. :)
Here is a fantastic clip of Emma Thompson explaining how Stephen Fry saved her script after her computer crashed.
I love this story so much! Thanks for the clip. :)
Ooooh, I need to find that book @boxermom! Emma’s version is the only one I’ve seen and I can watch it over and over, such a perfect cast! Quite frankly I don’t feel the need to watch any others.
I don’t think I can watch the newest version, the long loose hair and muddy colors-ick.
Agree with both Boxermom and hcripley.
Hi, the book is called The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries. It has all kinds of great stories. It also made me glad I didn’t become an actress, because it seems like making movies is a slog. :)
Emma Thompson, no contest. The new version has many more issues than the hair!
You complain about the dull colours, but in fact in even the drabbest of these productions the Dashwood women are dressed more colourfully than they ought authentically to be. The action of the novel covers a little over a year, and given that it starts with Mr Dashwood’s death his widow should be dressed in full mourning, ie all in dull black (no shiny fabrics) for at least the first half of that year, and in half-mourning (nothing brighter than grey or lavender, with black trimmings) for at least 6 months after that. Her daughters would be in full mourning for at least 3 months and half-mourning for another 3.
Yeah, but this is fiction, we can bend the rules a smidgeon!
Those are also Victorian rules, not Regency – wearing black was often observed but there weren’t strict timelines yet (not even at court).
Not Victorian rules – those prescribed a full year of deep mourning for widows! And though you’re right that the custom was not yet so cut-and-dried in the Regency, it still would have been shocking for all the Dashwood ladies not to be in full mourning during the scenes in Norland Park, and half-mourning when they arrive at Barton Cottage. Jane Austen’s own letters contain several disapproving remarks about people she knew who had left off their mourning with indecent haste.
Definitely Emma Thompson (I want that hat), but 2008 is on my list too. And it’s not a period piece, but I really liked the Bollywood adaptation of S&S “Kandukondain Kandukondain” (or “I Have Found It”).
Number of friends have already attended the L.A. previews before it opens, but I haven’t heard one opinion on the new film yet. Having said that, Emma Thompson for the win. She’s capable of so many layers, yet in quiet solo moments you see what the restraint is costing Elinor. I saw the version with Hattie Morahan and Dan Stevens and didn’t love it. Didn’t like the way Hattie played the role, and now seeing her on The Gilded Age as Duke Hector’s bitchy sister, I want to throw something at her. Never realized how pretty Joanna David was in her youth, but then again should have known seeing what a lovely Georgiana her daughter made. I wonder if it’s possible to find her version. I may pass on the new version (period) just because the stills and trailer are giving me the impression of “relatable girl power” and can we just please stick to the basics using * good judgement * in bringing that world to light for a contemporary audience?
Emma all the way! And bad videography is very appealing- it brings me back to watching PBS on the dorm common room tv in the 80’s –
Emma IS my Elinor!
That said, I’d like to see the 1971 version. Keeping Up Appearance’s Hyacinth Bucket/Bouquet (Patricia Routledge) as Mrs. Jennings, and two of my favorites from the original Poldark in two of the main male roles – Robin Ellis (Ross Poldark) as Edward Ferrars and Clive Francis (Francis Poldark) as Willoughby. Once again, a handsome Edward!
I’m already planning to meet up with a friend for watching the newest version of Sense and Sensibility and roast it. Those pictures promise a lot of fun! Even if I must say it wasn’t that bad if it was set in early 1790s and Elinor’s hair had more volume – then it would be quite okay.
I never commented here so far but now with my first comment I want to tell you I read your blog for a long time and I love it! You always give me so many great movie recommandations! As a fashion design student it’s my biggest dream to become costume designer for period dramas one day and to make the costumes as accurate as possible (even if I know it’s hard to deal with producers who want it “relatable to a modern audience”)
(Sorry if my English isn’t perfect: I read your blog from Germany.)
I’m all for Emma and Hattie. I love both versions equally. I’m not hearing good things about the new version, particularly if you are very Austen informed and care about hair, color and period accurate dancing and are opposed to significant plot changes. I’m gonna wait for streaming on this one.