An auction in London Tuesday focused on costumes from period dramas, including one very special item: The very shirt Colin Firth wore in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
An auction in London today focused on costumes from period dramas, including one very special item.
KERRY TAYLOR: Oh, my word. Everyone’s got so excited about this lot. So it’s Colin Firth’s wet shirt.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Oh, yes, the very shirt Colin Firth wore in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride And Prejudice” – you know, that scene where his character, Mr. Darcy, jumps into a lake?
(SOUNDBITE OF WATER SPLASHING)
SHAPIRO: Then he has that awkward interaction with Jennifer Ehle’s Elizabeth Bennet.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”)
JENNIFER EHLE: (As Elizabeth Bennet) Mr. Darcy.
COLIN FIRTH: (As Mr. Darcy) Miss Bennett, I…
EHLE: (As Elizabeth Bennet) I did not expect to see you, sir.
TAYLOR: It was a very sexually charged moment.
CHANG: Kerry Taylor hosted the auction.
TAYLOR: But being the BBC, no nudity is allowed, so hence him having to wear this dripping white shirt.
CHANG: Taylor says that white shirt and moment holds a place in people’s hearts.
TAYLOR: We’ve had so many emails from women and men, actually, who say that, you know, they love this particular production of “Pride And Prejudice.” They love this scene. I mean, I remember seeing it and being completely knocked out by it.
SHAPIRO: In fact, Taylor bid on the lot herself, which included Firth’s whole outfit from the scene, breeches and all. In the end, she was outbid.
TAYLOR: Gavel raised at 20,000.
(SOUNDBITE OF GAVEL BANGING)
TAYLOR: Sold.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANG: All proceeds from the auction will go to the arts-based organization, The Bright Foundation.
(SOUNDBITE OF MYA SONG, “ANYTIME”)
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