Monday 26 January 2015

Existing portrayals of Miss Havisham character

 There have been several TV series/ film and theater adaptions of the novel 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. In this post I want to concentrate on the different Miss Havisham portrayals.

1946, Great Expectations

This version was directed by David Lean and had Martita Hunt starring as Miss Havisham. Responsible for the make up were George Blackler and  Ernest Gasse. For the costume department was Sophie Denne responsible.

Miss Havisham, played by Martita Hunt, in the 1946 film.

1974, Great Expectations

Directed by Joseph Hardy and Margaret Leighton was starring as Miss Havisham. Costume designers were Joan Bridge and Elizabeth Haffenden.

Miss Havisham, played by Margaret Leighton, in Great Expectations in 1974.

1981, Great Expectations

BBC TV miniseries directed by Julian Amyes and Joan Hickson as Miss Havisham. Make uo artist for this series was Gwen Arthy.

Joan Hickson as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations in 1981.

1989, Great Expectations

Miniseries with 6 episodes which was directed by Kevin Connor and starred Jean Simmons as Miss Havisham. Eithne Fennel was chief hair stylist and Eddie Knight key makeup artist.

Jean Simmons, played Miss Havisham in Great Expectations in 1989.

1998, Great Expectations

Avery modern version of the novel directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Anne Bancroft starred as Mrs. Nora Dinsmoor. In this version they changed Miss Havisham's name into Mrs. Nora Dinsmoor. 
Make up artist were Vivian Baker, Manlio Rocchetti, Cecilia Verardi and Linda Kamp. Anthony Veader, Ilona Herman and Angel De Angelis worked as hair stylist on set.

Anne Bancroft played a character called Ms. Dinsmoor in a modern version of Great Expectations, set in New York, in 1998.

1999, Great Expectations

BBC; directed by Julian Jarrold and won the BAFTA award. Charlotte Rampling was starring as Miss Havisham in this version. Make up artist were Nicola Matthews, Fran Needham and Eve Wighall.

Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations in 1999.

2011, Great Expectations

BBC, TV miniseries with 3 episodes. It was directed by Brian Kirk and had Gillian Anderson starring as Miss Havisham and Douglas Booth as Pip. I am just going to mention all of the make up artist and hair stylist because there are a lot. Luca Saccuman, Darlene Forrester, Luisa Ridge and Sian Wilson were one of the hair stylist on set. As make up artist worked Nicky Lissner, Adele Firth, Roo Maurice, Kristin Chalmers and Chris Lyong.


2012, Great Expectations

directed by Mike Newell and is starring Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham (yay Harry Potter cast ^^ ϟ 9¾ ) . As make up artist were working Amanda Rudkin, Zoe Clare Brown and Sally Rose Davidson. Marc Pilcher and Jenny Shircore were the hairstylist on set.


2013, Great Expectations

West end adaption directed by Graham McLaren and written by Jo Clifford. Paula Wilcox played the role of Miss Havisham. Costume designers were Graham McLaren, Annie Gosney and Giovanni Bedin.

Great Expectations at the Vaudeville theatre.

Looking at all the different portrayals of Miss Havisham through the decades I have to say I like the ones from 1999, 2011, 2012 and 2013 the most. Because in the older versions Miss Havisham looks more like a normal old women which I find is too boring and not that accurate if you base them upon the novel. Miss Havisham was seen as a kind of crazy women after she has been dumped by her fiance on the day of their wedding  and for me the older versions don't really portrait the craziness, sadness and longing for love. I like the 2012 version simply because well I am biased :). I totally love Helena Bonham Carter but I also liked the version because she looks quite insane there and for me portrays Miss Havisham quite well. Her character also gave me ideas for my own designs. In the 2011 version I think they portrait Miss Havisham quite realistic which I also like a lot. Realistic in the sense of  what happens if you have lack of sunlight and nutrition's. How your skin looks like if you don't go outside and get fresh air, all those things. You can see that on how her skin looks like as well as her very dry and bitten lips. Also something I found very interesting is that she looked liked she had some anxieties/ psychological problems which were displayed through her having shaky hands. What I like about the west end adaption starring Paula Wilcox is, that is more contemporary, for example she is wearing black lipstick. But even though it is more modern she displays Miss Havisham still very good. She looks like a crazy woman:). In a good way:) Charlotte Rampling which is playing the role of Miss Havisham in the 1999 version does not look like the crazy and insane Miss Havisham, just the opposite she looks very natural. But I think she looks also beautifully sad in the images. She has also a very longing gaze in the first image which shows her longing for love even if she appears to be crazy and cold hearted.

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