Details

Release year: 1996

Storyline

While matchmaking for friends and neighbours, a young 19th Century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.

Top credits

Directors

Douglas McGrath

Writers

Cast

Gwyneth Paltrow — Emma Woodhouse
James Cosmo — Mr Weston
Greta Scacchi — Mrs Weston
Alan Cumming — Mr Elton

See all 27 credits →

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

See all awards →

Did you know

• Toni Collette had to gain weight to portray "the Rubenesque Harriet" and she explained, "I think it's important for people to look real in films. There's a tendency to go Barbie doll and I don't agree with that at all."

• Jeremy Northam revealed that when he first tried to read 'Emma', he did not get very far and was not a fan. When he read the script for the film, he was initially considered for another role, but he wanted to play George Knightley. He stated "When I met the director, we got on very well and we talked about everything except the film. At the end of it, he said he thought Knightley was the part for me, so I didn't have to bring up the issue at all." Northam added that Knightley's faith in Emma becoming a better person was one of the reasons he loved the character.

• Emma and Mr. Knightley's dance is called "Mr. Beveridge's Maggot" (to the tune of the same name). (A "maggot" is "a whimsical fancy.") This same tune and dance were previously used in Pride and Prejudice (1995) for Elizabeth Bennet's dance with Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Ball.