MovieChat Forums > Jane Eyre (1996) Discussion > Who would you cast as Jane Eyre?

Who would you cast as Jane Eyre?


I think Anne Hathaway would be perfect.

Edit 3/20/11: Hathaway is too old now. Carey Mulligan would have been great in the latest adaptation out now.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past

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Kristen Stewart.

Or Keira Knightley.


A moment's all you can expect from perfection-unknown

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keira knightley or natalie portman

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Oh, yes! Anne Hathaway would be so good.

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Ellen Page is going to play Jane apparently.

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Worst choice imaginable for that role.

A moment's all you can expect from perfection-unknown

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[deleted]

I completely agree with you on all accounts! Especially the part about Ruth Wilson. Charlotte Gainsbourg was also very good but IMO that version was horrible! She was perfect for the role though they just really needed to stick to the book instead of changing so many things around.

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Anne Hathaway-too well-known
Kirsten Stewart-I may never forgive her after starring in that stupid Twilight series.
Kiera Knightley-too beautiful.
Ellen Page-I have hope for her after seeing her in Hard Candy, but my only opposition is whether or not she would make it too Hollywood.

I think Jane should be played by an unknown. Ruth Wilson did a great job as Jane, but for a new actress, I think someone like Talullah Riley would make a good Jane. If no one knows who she is, she plays Mary in Pride and Prejudice.
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"Where have all the good vampire movies gone?"

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Those who suggested keira knightley on playing Jane Eyre apparently haven't ever read the book or know that in fact Jane is not supposed to be beautiful,at least not the way Keira is.Anna could play but in my opinion one actress managed to capture the physical appearance of Jane and that is Charlotte Gainsbourg!She is a great actress and played quite well.Ruth wilson may also be good but haven;t seen it,don;t know...Let's not give Keira all the romantic roles of our times,please!!!

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All those girls are too pretty. Knightley can't be made to look plain--they tried in "Pride and Prejudice"..she was still gorgeous. Kristen Stewart-same problem. She's a natural beauty AND a tomboy.

No, we need another Charlotte Gainsbourg and there isn't one. And really, it should be a British actress anyway. I am tired of the Gwyneth Paltrow fake accents.

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I totally agree with you there, she needs to be English. Jane Eyre is one of our best British literary works (IMO) and should be cast with people who do not need to do a 'Gwyneth Paltrow fake accent' as you put it, as when they cast actors and actresses from elswhere, you/ they are so focused on the whole accent thing that the meanings of the lines can often get forgotten.
Also, they need to stop cutting out the key lines/ events in the plot. I one (possibly one of the more recent ones) they completely messed up the whole St John Rivers thing, completely missing the fact that they are even related, which kind of messes up the whole inheritance thing... ah well I know they can't always put everything in but some things just shouldn't be left out...

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I think Charlotte Gainsbourg is the best Jane Eyre that I have ever seen. I wouldn't recast the role for anything. She IS Jane Eyre.

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[deleted]

I agree...Charlotte was mesmerizing, but not because she is flawlessly gorgous. Don't get me wrong..I think sometimes the most uncharacteristic features, make actors beautiful these days. Anyways, it was her plain, fresh-faced appearence that lent to her comely appeal, in my opinion. I totally agree, she IS Jane. To recast..I think you'd need to go out and pluck a fresh British actress...I agree, enough with the fake "Gwenyth and Madonna" accents and just cast someone from the region!

"Don't worry, on a new job it's quite common for things not to go well at first."

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Here my top choices for Jane Eyre

1. Ellen Page
2. Keira Knightley
3. Natalie Portman
4. Mia Wasikowska
5. Claire Danes
6. a Unknown English actresses

Those are my favorite choices! Mia is playing Jane Eyre this year.

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Anne Hathaway - I didn't like her attempt at the British thing in Becoming Janes and she's too pretty.
Kiera Knightley - Way too pretty. I like her. She is stunning though. Jane is a mousey looking, plain little thing. I do think that she would be an amaing choice for Blanche though.
Ellen Page and Kristen Stewart - In a modernized version, maybe. Never in a period piece. I lumped them together because they would both fail for the same reasons, they're too modern and I don't trust them with the accent (I do like Kristen Stewart as an actress, sure Twilight sucked, but she's been good in other movies). Also, Kristen is too pretty.

My actual choices:
Carey Mulligan - Yes, she is still attractive, but it's in an unconventional way and I do think that they could make her appear less so. She can play determined and ahead of her time without seeeming out of place. She would be my first choice for Jane. I think that she would be amazing in that part.

Romola Garai - Again, she is is still pretty, but not in an ordinary way like Anne or Keira. (Don't judge her based on the Dirty Dancing sequel, she's much better than that.) She is a little old though to be playing Jane, but I think she could pull it off.

Emily Browning - Not much to say. I think that she would be a good Jane. She's the perfect age and has the quiet but stil powerful thing down.

The more difficult part is cast Rochester. You need someone quiet and strong and arrogant, but not unlikeable and need someone around 20 years older than Jane but who wouldn't be creepy. He also need to be not conventionally attractive (preferably even a bit ugly) but still understand the appeal. Actually Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility would be my choice, but now he's too old for the part. I'm surprised William Hurt wasn't better in Jane Eyre b/c he's a pretty good choice actually.

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Carey Mulligan and Clive Owen as Jane and Rochester.

What's the worst that I could say
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight

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The part of Jane is always so awkward to get right with looks and age. Joan Fontaine was good, but, the wrong age while I , actually, never cared for Ruth Wilson. Charlotte and Mia are the best ones and nearest to the character. I'm a fan of both Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley, but, both are too pretty. Carey Mulligan would be good. Now Rochester is far easier for me as I think Richard Armitage would make a marvellous Rochester

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