Two decades after its release, the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice still stands its ground as the most well-known Jane Austen adaptation, and one of the most beloved period dramas ever made.

It follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, who initially dislike each other due to Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice, as well as social and economic differences.

The movie depicts their journey from animosity to love through misunderstandings and personal growth, while exploring themes of social class, marriage, and the importance of judging individuals based on character rather than appearance or status.

After release, Pride & Prejudice went on to become a romance staple - nominated nominated for many major accolades, including Academy Awards, BAFTAs (winning one) and Golden Globes - and its stars achieved mainstream recognition.

Here’s a look at the film’s main cast, and their careers and lives after Pride and Prejudice.

Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Bennet)

Knightley’s turn as Elizabeth Bennet earned her both an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. That role cemented her status as a leading star capable of emotional depth and period poise, and, since then, she has taken on a blend of high-profile projects - from the true-crime drama Boston Strangler (2023), playing reporter Loretta McLaughlin, to fronting the 2024 Netflix thriller Black Doves - earning Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice nominations for her performances.

Upcoming roles include the psychological thriller The Woman in Cabin 10 with Guy Pearce, and a returning Black Doves Season 2 shot in early 2025.

Aside from acting, she’s branched into production and writing - developing her own projects through Sky Arts and See-Saw Films, published children’s essays on feminism, and penned a children’s book. Knightley also balances her career with family life, choosing roles that allow her to stay close to her daughters.

Her accolades include two Oscar nods (Pride & Prejudice, The Imitation Game), BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG nods, and even a Laurence Olivier nomination for her stage work.

Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy)

Macfadyen’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy is one of modern cinema’s most memorable roles. Following Pride & Prejudice, Macfadyen continued his journey in British television and film.

He rose to prominence as Tom Quinn in Spooks, and in recent years became globally recognized for his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning turn as Tom Wambsgans in Succession (2018–2023).

Since Pride & Prejudice, he’s also starred as Major Charles Ingram in ITV’s Quiz (2020), appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), and portrayed the embattled MP John Stonehouse in 2023’s Stonehouse, opposite his wife, Keeley Hawes. Looking ahead, he is set to star as spy George Smiley in Legacy of Spies, based on John le Carré’s novels.

He is the winner of two Emmys, one Golden Globe, three BAFTAs, and two SAG Awards.

Donald Sutherland (Mr. Bennet)

By 2005, Sutherland was already an established legend. His seasoned portrayal of Mr. Bennet lent the Bennett family depth and generational warmth.

After Pride & Prejudice, he continued to grace screen and stage, taking on supporting roles in projects like The Hunger Games and the Netflix series Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous.

Aged 88, Sutherland died under hospice care at the University of Miami hospital in June 2024, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His death was mourned by the film industry and even the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who called him “a great Canadian”.

Judi Dench (Lady Catherine de Bourgh)

Dame Judi Dench, already a Dame Commander and Oscar winner, made a memorable cameo as Lady Catherine.

She has since remained active - having starred in a wide range of roles, from Shakespearean dramas to films like Shakespeare in Love and the James Bond series, where she portrayed M, the first female character to hold that position.

She has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, BAFTA awards, and Olivier awards, and is considered one of Britain's best actresses.

Rosamund Pike (Jane Bennet)

Debuting professionally in Pride & Prejudice, Pike swiftly climbed the ranks - and had brief relationships with her on-screen lover, Simon Woods (Simon Woods) and the film’s director, Joe Wright.

After major franchises like Jack Reacher and Gone Girl, she earned acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Gone Girl (2014).

She has also played Bond villain Miranda Frost, won and Emmy award for her role in the miniseries State of the Union (2019), and is set to make her National Theatre debut in summer 2025, with the play Inter Alia.

Brenda Blethyn (Mrs. Bennet)

Brenda Blethyn brought depth and wit to the frazzled matriarch Mrs. Bennet, and the role helped cement her as a fixture in British drama.

Since Pride & Prejudice, Blethyn has earned acclaim (and a BAFTA) for her role in Secrets & Lies, and other notable performances include Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It. On television, she is best known as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope in the long-running ITV series Vera - which concluded in early 2025.

Blethyn continues to champion causes close to her heart, particularly cancer charities like Macmillan, and remains a prominent and respected figure in UK screen acting. She was even appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama in 2003.

Tom Hollander (Mr. Collins)

Tom Hollander’s hilariously awkward Mr Collins is one of Pride and Prejudice’s standout performances. This role elevated his emerging profile in period and contemporary cinema.

Since then, Hollander has carved a diverse and critically respected career, in Sauce in Gosford Park (2001), In the Loop (2009), and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015). Film roles include Hanna (2011), About Time (2013), The Night Manager (BAFTA-winning, 2017), and The King’s Man (2021).

On stage, he won the Ian Charleson Prize in 1992 and earned Olivier and Tony nominations for Travesties. Television highlights include Rev. (for which he won a BAFTA) and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans (2024).

Jena Malone (Lydia Bennet)

As the youngest and most impulsive of the Bennet sisters, Jena Malone’s portrayal of Lydia marked a solid transition into more mature roles after a standout child-teen career.

Before joining Joe Wright’s ensemble, Malone had already earned praise for roles in Contact (1997), Donnie Darko (2001), and Saved! (2004).

After Pride and Prejudice, Malone’s career hit major highs, notably through her scene-stealing role as Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games franchise (2013–2015), which brought her to global mainstream audiences, a role as Rocket in Zack Snyder’s cult film Sucker Punch (2011), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - although her character (Barbara Gordon) was controversially cut from the theatrical release.

Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet)

Before Pride and Prejudice, Carey Mulligan had never appeared on screen - being cast as Kitty Bennet at just 19 .

Her big breakthrough came just four years after Pride & Prejudice, when she played schoolgirl Jenny Mellor in An Education (2009). The role earned her a BAFTA, a Golden Globe nomination, and her first Oscar nod.

Since then, Mulligan’s career highlights include Drive (2011), Shame (2011), The Great Gatsby (2013), Promising Young Woman (2020) - which gave Mulligan her second Oscar nomination - and, most recently, Maestro (2023) - for her third Academy Award nomination.

Off-screen, Mulligan has been a vocal advocate for social justice and gender equality. She’s worked closely with War Child UK and spoken out on industry sexism and the representation of women in media. She’s also a mother of two, married since 2012 to Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons.