The most iconic swimming scene in TV history

THERE are few swimming scenes that could’ve launched a Hollywood star’s career or started a cultural revolution that’s lasted for 20 years.

The most iconic swimming scene in TV history

JANE Austen’s contemporaries would have been scandalised — the sight of a gentleman plunging into a lake in his undershirt only to then carry on an (awkward) conversation with a lady while wearing said wet shirt.

There was a sexual tension that ran through the scene that encapsulated the chemistry between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, a hard feat to accomplish in a pretty faithful period adaptation. It also helped that Colin Firth carried off that wet shirt quite well. Yes, quite well.

But it’s that very iconic scene from the BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which isn’t in the book, that most people recall when they think of the miniseries celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It’s like the Austen equivalent of when Daniel Craig emerged from the ocean in those tight trunks in Casino Royale.

“Writer Andrew Davies’ treatment of Austen was crucial to the success of the adaptation. He was the one who famously put in that swim,” Susannah Harker, who played Elizabeth’s very sensible sister Jane Bennet in the series, told news.com.au. “I remember reading the famous Darcy swim scene the first time I read the script and being very amazed at how Davies had managed to introduce the modern, sexual thrill of that encounter without veering away from the integrity of the original story.

“It connected to a modern audience and it got in, and under, them in a way. I knew when I read it that it was something different, that it was special, that there was something thrilling about it.”

That scene and the overall success of Pride and Prejudice was what shot Colin Firth to international stardom, as well as launching a tide of mainstream adaptations of works from Austen, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, the Bronte sisters and the all those English authors you dreaded reading in high school.

The Pride and Prejudice effect spread over the two decades since the original, including a film adaptation from Joe Wright starring Keira Knightley and even spin-off/sequel series such as Lost in Austen and Death Comes to Pemberley. And then there was the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book (and soon to be a film).

Susannah Harker as the very good Jane Bennet (middle).

Of course, one of the most prominent references was Bridget Jones’ Diary. In a very meta casting decision, Colin Firth essentially reprised his role as Mr Darcy in the Bridget Jones movies as Mark Darcy.

“Even though we knew it was special, it was still a surprise that it had the impact it did, as broad as it did and for as long as it did,” Harker said. “I think that took us by surprise, as it would anyone. You can never truly guess that.

“Pride and Prejudice put Austen back on the map, and that was what was extraordinary about it. That it suddenly came alive — it was a gateway to a great flood and it suddenly entered the collective consciousness. When I was young, no one was interested in Austen. I remember reading Northanger Abbey when I was 12 and being bored by it.

“Now it’s common language and we all relate to it and young people are thrilled by it. And our series was responsible for triggering that change. It made Austen sexy and appealing. Whatever the alchemy was there, it worked.”

Even two decades later, Harker, who also played Mattie in the original House of Cards, still gets recognised as Jane Bennet.

“Jane Bennet follows me everywhere, which I do enjoy but I tend to disappoint sometimes because I can’t ever live up to the goodness of Jane Bennet, personally and in other roles I play. I think people get a little confused by that when they’re expecting to see Jane Bennet.”

Pride and Prejudice will air on UKTV from October 18 at 8:30pm.