(London) What must undoubtedly be the “most famous wet shirt in the history of television” was sold on Tuesday for 20,000 pounds ($34,500 CAN) – water not included.
The white linen garment worn by Colin Firth in the role of Mr. Darcy for the television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, on the BBC in 1995, was the centerpiece of an auction of film and television costumes on Tuesday in London.
The suit worn by Colin Firth – also including boots, moleskin breeches and a velvet waistcoat – sold for more than double its top estimate of 10,000 pounds ($17,200) at a sale at Kerry Taylor Auctions. The complete costume fetched a total price of 25,000 pounds ($43,000) once the auction house’s fees were added.
The scene in which Mr. Darcy’s brooding character emerges from a pond, surprising his future love interest Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle), was once voted as the most memorable television moment in the UK.
It was then reinvented in Bridgerton in a scene featuring British actor Jonathan Bailey. Colin Firth referenced his own performance with other romantic immersions in Love, Actually And Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
Other items up for sale Tuesday include a 1950s Christian Dior taffeta ball gown worn by Madonna in the film Eva from 1996, sold for 40,000 pounds ($69,000). Johnny Depp’s costume in Sleepy Hollow was sold for 24,000 pounds ($41,500).
Clothes worn by Depp as the Earl of Rochester in The Libertine and in that of the writer JM Barrie in Finding Neverland were also among the approximately 60 items up for auction Tuesday.
Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Bright Foundation, an arts education charity founded by costume designer John Bright, who won an Academy Award in 1987 for Room with a view. The items up for auction were donated by his costume house, Cosprop.
“My life’s work has been spent designing costumes for film, television and theater, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path,” said Mr. Bright. I firmly believe that the arts and creativity can shape happier, healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential. »