The funny thing about being an Austen fan – for me, at least – is how it effects the way I look at things.  Specifically, how I look at movies.  I went to a screening of An Education the other night, and while most of me was paying attention to the story and trying to guess what would happen next, a small part of my brain was playing Place The Actor.

Let’s take a tally, shall we?  There’s Rosamund Pike (Jane in Pride & Prejudice 2005), who is dating Dominic Cooper (Willoughby in Sense & Sensibility 2008), who’s friend is seeing Carey Mulligan (Kitty in Pride & Prejudice 2005 and Isabella Thorpe in the 2007 Northanger).  Carey’s favorite teacher is Olivia Williams (she played Jane Fairfax in the 1996 Emma, and Jane Austen herself in Miss Austen Regrets, 2008), whose boss is Emma Thompson (I’m counting both her turn as Elinor in Sense & Sensibility, 1995, and the uncredited re-write she did on the P&P ’05 screenplay).   They even find a place for Sally Hawkins (Anne in Persuasion 2007).

I do it all the time, and I don’t even realize it.  We saw trailer for St. Trinian’s, and in two minutes I counted no less than four Austen alum – and I’m counting Gemma Arterton, even though Lost In Austen is not actually one of Jane’s.  I can’t watch House without thinking how I liked Hugh Laurie so much better as Mr. Palmer.  I guess it’s just a by-product of being both a Jane Austen fan and a movie buff.

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