The white shirt worn by Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy as he emerged dripping from a lake was central to one of the most famous scenes in television history.
Now, nearly three decades since the moment in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that left legions of female viewers swooning, the famous garment could be yours.
Cosprop, a costume house founded by Oscar and Bafta-winning designer John Bright in 1965, and Kerry Taylor Auctions, last night announced the shirt is going under the hammer with an estimate of £7,000 to £10,000 in a charity auction.
The Mail has learnt it is one of seven such shirts made for Firth for the filming of his smouldering post-swim encounter with Jennifer Ehle’s Elizabeth Bennet in the hit series. It is thought that he wore each of them at some point during filming.
Cosprop’s general manager Chris Garlick said multiple versions of the shirt were made as it was worn in wet and dry scenes, and in case of re-takes.
The white shirt worn by Colin Firth ‘s Mr Darcy as he emerged dripping from a lake was central to one of the most famous scenes in television history
Now, nearly three decades since the moment in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that left legions of female viewers swooning, the famous garment could be yours
The whereabouts of three fully verified shirts are known, according to Kerry Taylor. As well as the one in the upcoming auction, held live in London and online, one was auctioned for the BBC’S Children In Need in 1995 and made £500 and the other remains with Cosprop in their museum.
The one offered for sale by Cosprop in the Kerry Taylor auction on March 5 comes in a single lot along with other Mr Darcy costume items including a muslin cravat, moleskin breeches, a velvet waistcoat, a tailcoat and a signed photograph of Firth in Pride and Prejudice.
The famous ‘wet shirt’ was designed by renowned costume designer Dinah Collin and then made by Cosprop.
Ms Collin said: ‘Mr Darcy’s ‘wet shirt moment’ was never scripted. It came about in discussions between myself and the late Christopher Prins who was then head of menswear at Cosprop.
‘In the scene Mr Darcy is spied emerging from a lake having taken a cooling swim on a hot summer’s day. Because on screen male nudity was not permitted, taking into account the BBC watershed and US broadcasts, the idea of the ‘wet shirt’ was born.
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice
Mr Darcy sitting on the bank before he takes a plunge. Costume designer Dinah Collin said the moment came about in discussions she had with the late Christopher Prins who was then head of menswear at Cosprop
‘Our way round this was for Colin Firth to be filmed three-quarter length wearing just the Irish linen shirt – copied from an antique original – which clung to the body.
‘The scene caused something of a sensation at the time and transformed Colin Firth from a respected classical actor to something of a sex symbol overnight.’
In total, more than 60 costumes from film and TV feature in the auction, including a vintage 1950s’ Christian Dior taffeta ball gown, worn by Madonna in 1996’s Evita, which could fetch between £40,000 and £60,000, and Johnny Depp’s Sleepy Hollow costume that could fetch between £20,000 and £30,000.
The proceeds of the auction will go to The Bright Foundation, an arts-based education charity which provides free access to creative activities, visual and performance arts for children and young people facing disadvantage.
