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Austen is likely to have had in a mind a man with sloping
shoulders, white powdered hair, a pale complexion, thin oval
face and a small mouth, according to academics who were asked to
advise on the most historically accurate look of Mr Darcy, to
mark a television series celebrating the writer's work.
The late 18th-century depiction of masculine beauty may
disappoint the image that many women have of Mr Darcy who has
been played in cinema and television versions of the book by
actors such as Laurence Olivier and Colin Firth.
"Darcy's character has been sexed up for the modern day audience
with a turbo-charged injection of testosterone and steamy
romance," said Amanda Vickery, a history professor at Queen Mary
University of London.
"Men sported powdered hair, had narrow jaws, and muscular,
defined legs were considered very attractive, a stark contrast
to the chiselled, dark, brooding Colin Firth portrayal we
associate the character with today."
The research was commissioned by television channel Drama ahead
of the launch of its Austen season.
(Writing by Lea Dartenne; Editing by William Schomberg)
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