Top 10 Portrayals of Jane Austen Heroines

There aren’t many chapters of Sanditon - Jane Austen only really had the chance to introduce us to a few key characters. However, Charlotte Heywood was already shaping up to be as likable a protagonist as those who came before. As portrayed by Rose Williams, Miss Heywood is warm, sensible and intelligent. When the series strays into decidedly un-Austen territory, Charlotte remains the constant. Meanwhile, Crystal Clarke plays Georgiana Lambe, a character we hadn’t yet properly gotten to know in the book. Clarke brings Jane Austen’s first Black character to brilliant life - coming into her own in the second season in particular. The rebellious heiress balances out the more practical Charlotte and we love the friendship between the girls.

“Pride and Prejudice” has been updated many times, but never quite like this. In 2022’s “Fire Island” the Bennet sisters become a group of gay men and longtime friends, visiting the infamous party island for their annual vacation. Writer and actor Joel Kim Booster creates a Lizzie Bennet stand-in in Noah, who’s instantly recognizable while also being able to explore issues that are particularly relevant to Asian men and the LGBTQ+ community. He’s smart, snarky and fiercely loyal to his friends - especially Howie, a very sweet re-imagining of the Jane character. His rapport with the uptight Will also captures the Lizzie/Darcy dynamic perfectly.

Anne Elliot is quite a tricky character to get right. She’s a quiet observer, so the actress playing her has to convey a lot with very little dialogue – unless you’re Dakota Johnson. Johnson might have been great with a better script, and Sally Hawkins gave an intense and passionate performance in the 2007 TV movie. But Amanda Root has got to be the best Anne to date. “Persuasion” gave Root her first major part in a movie, but it was well-deserved. Her subtle acting choices and warm on-screen presence were perfect for the heroine who keeps her passionate feelings under wraps. And of course, she had great chemistry with Ciarán Hinds as Captain Wentworth.

Kate Beckinsale is no stranger to an Austen adaptation - she joins the ranks of brilliant actresses who’ve played Emma over the years. However, she’s also depicted the less well-known Lady Susan on film. It’s a star turn that makes it hard to imagine anyone else ever playing the role. The title character of one of Austen’s early novels, Lady Susan is a manipulative anti-heroine with an abundance of charm. She’s not your typical Austen protagonist, but she’s loads of fun, and Beckinsale flirts and maneuvers her way through the movie like a pro. Whit Stillman’s script is full of fitting humor and his leading lady sells it to the utmost. Her costumes are all gorgeous too and she always looks fabulous.

In Gurinder Chadha’s Bollywood take on Jane Austen, who better to play Elizabeth Bennet than one of India’s biggest stars? It might be difficult to believe that anyone could find her only ‘tolerable’- after all, Rai is a former Miss World. But here it’s Darcy’s cultural insensitivity that offends. Lalita Bakshi has Lizzie’s intelligence and playfulness, but she’s also proud of where she comes from and ready and able to defend her culture to those who fail to give it the respect it deserves. She’s a fierce friend and a closet romantic - and she’s got that eye roll down to a fine art.

Keira Knightley will always be a star, and she did a great job as Elizabeth Bennet. But the magic in this movie came from casting Rosamund Pike as her elder sister, Jane. Jane is supposed to be the Bennet sibling who stands out from the crowd, and Pike is lovely enough to make you believe it, even when she’s standing next to Keira Knightley. She manages to convey both Jane’s shyness and her charm, together with a quiet vulnerability that makes you want to protect her, just as Lizzie does. She has great chemistry with Mr. Bingley, and when they’re on screen together it’s almost unbearably sweet.

“Northanger Abbey” is one of Jane Austen’s most overlooked novels, and when it comes to adaptations, there aren’t many to choose from. But Felicity Jones really deserves her place as the definitive Catherine Morland. She has a lot of fun with the role of the wide-eyed heroine, perfectly capturing her good-hearted nature, innocence, and those moments that make us cringe. She’s believable as an Austen protagonist - but also as a typical teenager with a crush. Jones has some great comic timing and good chemistry with JJ Feild’s Henry Tilney. She also makes the perfect foil for Carey Mulligan’s coquettish Isabella.

There have been some fantastic portrayals of Emma Woodhouse over the years. Gwyneth Paltrow captured her elegance. Anya Taylor-Joy perfectly balanced the nice and nasty sides of her character. But the most Emma-ish Emma of all is actually a Cher. In 1995’s “Clueless”, Highbury becomes Beverly Hills and Emma is transformed into a rich high-schooler. But the movie just really gets her. Alicia Silverstone manages to combine everything that made us fall in love with the character who Jane Austen herself worried nobody would like. Silverstone perfectly embodies the spoiled, popular kid, but she remains stubbornly captivating with charm to spare, even when she’s acting totally clueless.

“Sense and Sensibility” gives us two heroines, and both Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet do the Dashwood girls justice. Winslet captured Marianne’s youthfulness and spirit, as well as the character’s tendency to be a bit of a drama queen. Her charismatic portrayal makes it easy to see why both Willoughby and Colonel Brandon fall for her. But she also manages to inject the part with a lot of humor. Meanwhile, Thompson proved she had what it takes and more to portray Elinor. She understands the character so well, and acts so beautifully, that by the end, you’re left in awe of her talent. Her Elinor is calm and considered, but also warm and relatable. Together, they made the perfect team.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet, “Pride and Prejudice” (1940)
Her Clothes Might Be From the Wrong Era but She’s Definitely a Star

Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse, “Emma” (2009)
Probably the Warmest Emma so Far

Charity Wakefield as Marianne Dashwood, “Sense and Sensibility” (2008)
A Spirited Marianne Who Rivals Kate Winslet’s Portrayal

Hattie Morahan as Elinor Dashwood, “Sense and Sensibility” (2008)
Different From Emma Thompson’s Elinor, but Great in Her Own Way

Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet, “Pride + Prejudice + Zombies” (2016)
Zombies Aside, She Still Makes a Great Lizzie

Elizabeth Bennet has appeared on our screens many times and in many different guises. But in the 1995 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” Jennifer Ehle probably comes closest to the Lizzie we meet on the page. Mr. Darcy famously comments on Elizabeth’s “fine eyes” and Ehle can convey a lot with a single look. Her portrayal is playful, strong and exasperated by turns. She doesn’t overdo the snark and she doesn’t forget that Lizzie isn’t just smart - she’s nice too. Her scenes with Mr. Bennet and Jane really capture the warmth of her relationships. Plus, there’s a lot of depth in her interactions with the other characters – especially Darcy of course - it’s impossible to ignore that chemistry.