Who Should Play Rochester? - Jane Eyre (1996) Discussion

[–] MissPrez79 18 years ago

I just saw a clip from the upcoming BBC version, with Toby Stephens as Rochester and let me just say..WOW! It was a short clip, but I had chills go up my spine. I thought Orson Welles was great, but I think Toby is about to steal that crown. The eyes, the sneer, the voice - I think I'm in love!

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lulabelle_talulabelle 18 years ago

I have just watched part one of the four part BBC drama version of Jane eyre.

so far i have to say its been better than the Version with William Hurt

Toby stephens has been very believable as the Harsh Mr Rochester and doesnt seem to be a million years older than Jane like William hurt appeared to be. the relatively unknown casting of Jane is very good. she doesnt look over glamourous in the part and appears the way I imagined her to when I read the book.

Nice to see Georgianna who played the main character in Narnia as the young Jane.

so far so good... looking forward to next weeks episode. Hope they dont condense the ending down the way the movie did!

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[–] familyclare 18 years ago

Was also pleasantly suprised by the BBC version on Sunday. Every time a new version is released I approach it with dread to see what bits they've left out this time and how they've mangled the language. Each version the language gets more and more modern but I suppose that's inevitable. This one looks pretty good. I have seen all the versions except the Michael Jayston one and I'm amazed that everyone is ranting about it so much. I have obviously seen him in other things (Tsar Nicholas is the main one I remember) and I can't believe he'd make a good Rochester. But I'm going to buy the dvd and give it a go.
Looking forward to next Sundays JE.

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[–] lizrhodes 18 years ago

I'm not at all sure about the Beeb's latest version - why did they feel it was necessary to have a woman (albeit the fab Anne Reid) playing the foturne teller when it's supposed to be Rochester? And why the modern language - they're missing some of the romance, surely? The second episode was better than the first but given that the book has more drama already in it than a month's worth of most Tv fayre, why fiddle with it?

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[–] usfour-ln 18 years ago

I just saw the first half of the new BBC version on PBS last Sunday. It was the first time I'd seen JE on film (I do LOVE the book though) and I was impressed with Toby Stephens in the role of Rochester. I agree, the unknown Jane was a great choice for the role. The dynamic between the two is amazing. I can't wait for the second half! My entire family is just about ready to give me sleeping pills to get me to calm down about it. JE is probably my favorite classic, and though I was upset about the addition of the ouija board scene, and the change from a gypsy Rochester to a real gypsy, overall I would recommend seeing this version. After all the high praise of some of the other versions, I'll make an effort to watch those as well!

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[–] cmast33 18 years ago

Ewan McGregor.

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[–] hmnhong 18 years ago

Gabriel Byrne. Think Friedrich Bhaer in Little Women, but a bit rougher, or the Marquis de Staed in Vanity fair but less reprehensible.

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[–] catchifucan 18 years ago

none of the actors mentioned in this thread have the assertive confident qualities of rochester. i think Daniel Day Lewis would be best in this role

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[–] sallycrowley 18 years ago

Toby Stephens was a great Rochester )he seems to like his Bronte adaptations) but Josh Hartnett should make a marvelous Rochester if he could only manage the accent.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] FrenchHornGirl 18 years ago

Gerard Butler.

Alan Rickman.

Liam Neeson.

http://www.myspace.com/reebiebaby
I love my French Horn

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[–] purplepersia 18 years ago

TOBY STEPHENS !!!

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[–] xanadumagic 18 years ago

Guy Pearce????

I was thinking Russell Crowe as he is a rugged person that likes to throw telephones around at hotels...

definitely Colin Firth - he has that certain nastiness about him

Clive Owen is a good choice as he has sex appeal......

But that Toby Stephens is good hey!

I liked Karl Urban but he's kiwi

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[–] mcgarrye 18 years ago

My dream has always been to see Gerard Butler in the role of Rochester.

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[–] KittyGrimm 17 years ago

Totally agree! He'd be the perfect Mr. Rochester and I think he would be able to add the same playfulness as Timothy Dalton added. I always pictured Gerard Butler as Mr. Rochester since reading the book for the first time around the same time I first saw "Phantom of the Opera". Brilliant actor with intense passion and love and he knows how to cry and actually make people feel their pain which is rare for many actors.
If not Gerry, then probably Matthew McFayden.
I can see him as Mr. Rochester with a newcoming actress (hopefully myself) as Jane with Fionulla Flanagen as Mrs. Fairfax and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as St. John. With Mr. Brocklehurst, I'm torn between Gebriel Byrne and Julian Sands. Possibly Julian Sands because he has that same coldness for the character.

"If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the eye looking at you must be blind"

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[–] SnapdragonSmile 18 years ago

Definitely Ralph Fiennes. I don't care that he played Heathcliff. He'd be excellent. I think he'd be a better Rochester than Heathcliff, because of the sort of chilly brusque gentleman thing.

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[–] la_guagua5 18 years ago

tobey stephens was teh rochester, purrrrfect. (dammed, I swore never to be girlish in a forum. My bad)

I think an actor should not be labeled like more than one period hot character at a time. So no Alan Rickman or Colin Firth. and I adore them.

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[–] kukuliik 18 years ago

What about Bono? :-P He's got the arrogance at least...

Now, seriously, I have to agree 100% with everybody suggesting Alan Rickman! He would really be the best...

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[–] asphodel_and_wormwood 18 years ago

ALAN RICKMAN!ALAN RICKMAN!ALAN RICKMAN!...a lot of the guys mentioned on this board could NOT pass off as the smouldering hot AGEING man (daniel radcliffe,people? ughh...let's stick with men, not the boy ladies. gerard butler? undeniably fine...perhaps believable with a few grays added in) Bronte described as Rochester.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Kargemari 18 years ago

well ok let see, I agree with many of you and have a couple other I don't think were mentioned...

You know who I'd really love to see is Dougray Scott (from Ever After and a ton of other things!!) I absolutely love him

Alan Rickman would have been perfect I agree with that

Same with Liam Neilson

Yeah Russell Crowe would be good

I think Richard Armitage would be good although I associate him sooo much with Thornton from North & South I don't know if I could get over that but I still he'd be perfect

Never thought of Daniel Day-Lewis but yeah I could kind of see that too

And I know this is kind of weird choice but I like Ben Chaplin I think he's just awesome and I'd love to see him in a role like this

Some people I think are too young now but would be good in like 5-10 years are:

Matthew MacFadyen

Hugh Dancy (from Daniel Deronda, Ella Enchanted, Black Hawk Down), I think he's a bit too pretty but maybe in like 10 years, I dunno I just love him and think he's great!!

I agree with someone who said Gerard Butler, mmmm hottt

Can't think of any other right now :-)

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[–] btzby84 18 years ago

I agree with the first post! Definitely Joaquin Phoenix!!!! When I read the book he comes closest to mind when I thouhgt how Rochester would look.

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[–] farmerswife732004 18 years ago

hi- i'm new to this board. i've been over on the JE06 board. i think you've got some interesting choices here but my personal favorites would be Clive Owen(who would have made a very good James Bond!!) and Hugh Jackman. How about Rufus Sewell? or is he too "pretty"?

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[–] benjaminorchard 17 years ago

What about Nathaniel Parker? He played the young Rochester in "The Wide Sargasso Sea" and he has grown a lot as an actor in the years since then.

I think it'd be interesting to see how he would play the part now, and how his experience playing the young Rochester would inform his performance in a production of "Jane Eyre".

For similar reasons if a remake was done now, I would like to see Karina Lombard return to the role of Antoinette / Bertha.

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[–] familyclare 17 years ago

Nathaniel Parker is a great idea! I think he'd be fantastic - definitely got the looks. Also Rufus Sewell - he's lovely but could be sardonic and cruel. Yes, I'd go for Rufus!

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[–] postmortem 17 years ago

Colin Firth.

Love is a grave mental illness-Plato

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[–] ewmayer 17 years ago

I'm gonna go with a more recent, darker Rochester:

Shane Brolly (who played Kraven in the Underworld series)

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[–] edjavega 17 years ago

Alan Rickman.

Russel Crowe.

Jeremy Northam (why hasn't he been mentioned)

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