You may not know his name, yet Andrew Davies is responsible for some of the most iconic historical adaptations ever made, from Pride and Prejudice to Bridget Jones.
He is the man behind some of the greatest literary adaptations of the past thirty years, and yet his name remains largely unknown to the general public. A Welsh screenwriter with an unconventional career path, Andrew Davies has helped millions of viewers rediscover the great classics of British and European literature. From Jane Austen and George Eliot to Boris Pasternak, he has breathed new life into novels sometimes regarded as difficult to access, through adaptations that have since become classics in their own right. Here is a look back at the career of the man many consider to be the master of the British period drama.
An unsung screenwriter with a famous body of work
Born in Cardiff, Wales, Andrew Davies initially set out to become a teacher. After studying at University College London, he taught for several years before becoming a lecturer at the University of Warwick. Eventually, however, he turned to writing, embarking on a prolific career in British television, first writing for radio serials and stage productions. He later became one of the most influential screenwriters in Britain.
Although his filmography includes around twenty productions, his name remains particularly associated with Jane Austen. No other screenwriter has adapted as many of her works for the screen: Pride and Prejudice (1995), Emma (1996), Northanger Abbey (2007), and Sense and Sensibility (2008), among others. These adaptations have become benchmarks for lovers of period films and television dramas.
Andrew Davies’ five most famous adaptations
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
This is undoubtedly his most iconic work. Jennifer Ehle stars as the lively and witty Elizabeth Bennet, while Colin Firth delivers an unforgettable Mr Darcy, particularly remembered for the famous lake scene in which he appears in a wet white shirt after an impromptu swim.
Faithful to the spirit of Austen’s novel while feeling refreshingly modern, the series played a major role in the global revival of period drama adaptations during the 1990s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5MmcT_vcBU
Vanity Fair (1998)
In this adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel, Andrew Davies focuses on a heroine of remarkable determination: Becky Sharp. Ambitious, intelligent and willing to do whatever it takes to climb the social ladder, she rises to the heights of English society — but her fall in this ruthless world proves equally dramatic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVIaBMjfqfU
Doctor Zhivago (2002)
Here, Andrew Davies takes on one of the most celebrated novels of the twentieth century. This mini-series adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s masterpiece centres on the love story between Yuri Zhivago and Lara Antipova against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Passion, war and political upheaval combine in an adaptation that is both ambitious and accessible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgJAf-NbY9w
Bridget Jones (2001 & 2004)
These are among the most contemporary films associated with Andrew Davies. Yet they still draw heavily on his favourite literary world: that of Jane Austen. The Bridget Jones saga is, after all, very loosely inspired by the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. The most obvious nod to Austen is the casting of Colin Firth as Mark Darcy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DFQNPx5sxA
Sense and Sensibility (2008)
Although less well known than the celebrated 1995 adaptation written by and starring Emma Thompson, Andrew Davies’ version aims for greater depth and detail. Thanks to its mini-series format, it has more time to explore the characters, their motivations and the subtle dynamics between the Dashwood sisters.
Davies skilfully captures the themes that mattered most to Jane Austen: social constraints, financial hardship and the romantic choices faced by young women of the English gentry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd8NRQvq8GY
And then there was Sanditon (2019)
Inspired by Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, Sanditon is one of Andrew Davies’ most personal projects. With only a fragmentary source text to work from, he had to imagine much of the plot himself while remaining true to Austen’s spirit. The result is a modern, eventful series that draws viewers into its world from the very first episode. It has proved particularly popular among fans of both Bridgerton and Jane Austen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bewgZjUVhYg
Are you looking for a new period drama? Find your next watch in these articles:
- Are you a fan of The Crown? The award-winning period drama may be getting a sequel, and the topic looks fascinating
- If you love Jane Austen and Bridgerton, you’ll be obsessed with this new British period drama following one of the Bennet sisters’ journeys
- These 5 period films by Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, are among the acclaimed writer-director’s very best
