Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, is set to return to UK cinemas next week to mark its 20th anniversary. Director Joe Wright revealed that actress Emma Thompson played a crucial role in creating one of the most memorable lines in the film script.
The scene features Elizabeth Bennet’s friend Charlotte Lucas, who has accepted a marriage proposal from the cringe-worthy curate Mr Collins. Thompson improvised the iconic speech, which has become a meme among fans for capturing the sense of dislocation felt by some younger viewers.
In an interview with Mashable, Wright shared that he and screenwriter Deborah Moggach approached Thompson to assist with “a little bit of the dialogue.” During their meeting on Hampstead Heath, Wright was nervous but impressed when Thompson suddenly came up with the lines, including her memorable warning to Elizabeth: “Don’t judge me, Lizzy, don’t you dare judge me.”
Wright described the scene as a truth that resonates with viewers, and he ended up almost crying at what Thompson had improvised. The film’s success can be attributed to Thompson’s contribution, which continues to captivate audiences two decades later.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/emma-thompson-improvised-charlotte-lucas-line-pride-and-prejudice-b2736044.html