The BBC have always been the best for classic book adaptations (Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice) and the first part of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations tonight was no exception.
The book centres around the life of orphan Pip, and features several important characters from Mr Joe, Pip's brother in law and guardian, Abel Magwitch, Estella and, my personal favourite Miss Havisham.
While Dickens describes the character as in her mid fifties, American actress Gillian Anderson (better known a Scully from The X Files) played the skeletal Miss Havisham perfectly, breaking away from the stereotype of casting elderly ladies in the role. Previous actresses have, despite being much older than Anderson, never managed to convey her, I feel, in such a way that really captures the words that Dickens wrote. Whilst previous Miss Havisham's such as Anne Bancroft have portrayed the spinster as someone hard and cold, yet strong, Anderson manages to get the mix of malice, bitterness and more importantly - vulnerability just right.
Dickens describes Miss Havisham as someone who is a cross between 'a wax work and skeleton' and whilst the BBC have changed some parts of the story (namely the fact that Miss Havisham boards up all her windows to avoid letting light in, thus achieving aforementioned look) she still conveyed the eerily 'bride of the dead' look I had always pictured, complete with frail skin, chapped lips and bare feet.
It truly is hard to imagine a better person to fit the role, having said that, we haven't seen Helena Bonham Carters portrayal yet.
Finally, no post about the programme would be complete without a mention of Douglas Booth, the former Burberry model who played the older Pip towards the end of Part 1 and who, thanks to those perfectly shaped lips and chiselled cheek bones, was trending worldwide on Twitter.
