By Sara Bright
It is one of the most memorable scenes in television history. Colin Firth, playing Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, emerges from a lake in a wet, white shirt, and walks towards Elizabeth Bennet, played by Jennifer Ehle. The scene, which was not in Jane Austen’s original novel, sparked a global phenomenon, turning Firth into a sex symbol and a household name.
Now, more than 25 years later, the shirt that Firth wore in that scene has been sold at a charity auction for £25,000, smashing its estimate of £7,000 to £10,000. The shirt, which was donated by Cosprop, a costume house founded by Oscar-winning designer John Bright, was part of a collection of costumes worn by some of the biggest stars in film and TV, such as Madonna, Johnny Depp, and Meryl Streep.
The Story Behind the Shirt
The shirt, which is made of cotton and linen, was one of several that were used during the filming of the six-part series, which was shot in various locations in England. The shirt was specially chosen by the costume designer, Dinah Collin, who wanted to create a contrast between the formal and informal aspects of Mr Darcy’s character.
Collin said that she was inspired by the paintings of John Constable, who depicted rural scenes and landscapes in the early 19th century. She said that she wanted to show Mr Darcy as “a man of his time, but also a man who could get his hands dirty”.
The shirt was also influenced by the director, Simon Langton, who wanted to add some drama and tension to the scene, which was originally supposed to show Mr Darcy diving into the lake naked. However, due to the restrictions of the BBC and the sensibilities of the audience, Langton decided to keep Firth clothed, but still wet.
The result was a scene that captured the imagination of millions of viewers, who were captivated by Firth’s brooding and handsome appearance, and his chemistry with Ehle. The scene also sparked a wave of parodies, homages, and references in other films and TV shows, such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridgerton, and Love Actually.
The Legacy of the Shirt
The shirt has become a cultural icon, and has been exhibited in various museums and galleries around the world, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Fashion Museum in Bath, and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. The shirt has also been the subject of academic studies, books, and documentaries, exploring its impact on popular culture, feminism, and sexuality.
The shirt has also been a source of fascination and admiration for Firth’s fans, who have expressed their desire to own or touch the shirt. In 2014, a replica of the shirt was made into a giant statue, which was displayed in Hyde Park in London, as part of a promotion for a TV channel. The statue, which measured 12 feet tall and weighed 154 pounds, attracted thousands of visitors, who posed for photos and selfies with the shirt.
The shirt has also been a source of pride and humour for Firth, who has embraced his role as Mr Darcy, and has joked about the shirt on several occasions. In 2016, he received an honorary degree from the University of Winchester, and said in his speech: “I’m afraid you have a very poor specimen of a doctor here. And I’m afraid I probably don’t have the right to be here at all. I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer. I’m afraid I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. And I’m afraid, in some ways, I have remained a soggy shirt.”
The Future of the Shirt
The shirt, which was sold on Tuesday at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London, was bought by an anonymous bidder, who will pay £31,250 for the shirt, including the buyer’s premium. The proceeds of the sale will go to The Bright Foundation, an arts education charity founded by John Bright, which provides creative opportunities for children and young people facing disadvantage.
The auction, which raised £285,300 in total, also featured costumes worn by other stars, such as Madonna’s ball gown from Evita, Johnny Depp’s costume from Sleepy Hollow, and Meryl Streep’s dress from The French Lieutenant’s Woman.
The auctioneer, Kerry Taylor, said that the shirt was “a wonderful piece of screen history”, and that she was delighted with the result. She said that the shirt was “in very good condition”, and that it still had “a few grass stains” from the filming.
The buyer of the shirt has not revealed their identity or their plans for the shirt, but Taylor said that she hoped that they would “enjoy it and treasure it”. She also said that she hoped that the shirt would “continue to inspire and delight” the fans of Pride and Prejudice, and of Colin Firth.
