We all love to cast the movie in our mind as we read, so now we’re asking you: if you were casting the film version of GLAPPPS, who would you love to see on the big screen?
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As I was reading the book, I immediately pictured Kate Winslet as Juliet and that never changed.
please please please DO NOT let anyone make a movie of this book. It is PERFECT in it’s current form and not even the thought of kate winslet’s portrayal of juliet (of course, kate winslet) could make me want to see it on film – at least now that i’ve read the book. READ THIS BOOK!!!!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot! Keeley Hawes or Amy Adams as Juliet!
Juliet- Julia Stiles
Dawsey- Josh Harnet
Mark Reynolds-Ewan McGregor
Sidney-Jude Law or Dermot Mulroney
Dawsey – Ralph Feinnes
Amy Adams as Juliet.
Christian Bale or Johnny Depp as Dawsey.
Michael Caine as Sidney.
Kate Winslet as Isola.
Casting suggestions from a reader in Brisbane, Australia
Juliet: Emily Watson, Kate Winslet, or the female lead (US) from the movie, “Transiberian”.
Dawsey: Steward Wright (played ‘PC Mark’ in UK TV series, Doc Martin); Actor (name eludes again) from UK ‘The Office’ who played Ricky Gervais’s nemesis, manager of the other office not in Slough.
Under pressure to read the book in 7 days as it is on ’short loan’ from the local library, I am now going back to the beginning of the story, savouring it before I have to return the book!
Cheers,
Jayne
Brisbane, Australia
I could see Colin Firth as Dawsey. Colin is tall dark and handsome like I pictured Dawsey. He also has the silent, sexy character personality.
I think Kate Winlet would make a great Juliet.
For the part of Juliet- I would love to see Nicole Kidmann- Dawson- Hugh Jackman-
I am picturing Liam Neeson as Dawsey …maybe that would be my Dawsey! I can almost see Renee Zelwegger as Juliet too….her energy and wit. Isola was my favorite character….not sure who I’d cast for her.
Hi,
I don’t pick actors who I would like to play roles of characters I read. I think if this book were to ever be made into a movie the characters should all be actors we know nothing about, but still are fabulous actors and pleasing to the eye. I think it would take away from the uniqueness of the story if it were well known actors starring in a movie version. The people in the book are just your average, ordinary people and I would want it to still have that feel if it were a movie. As much as I love Johnny Depp and Jude Law, i wouldn’t want them in it!
Kate Winslet as Juliet was my immediate thought.
And Hugh Jackman should be in everything, so he would do just fine for Dawsey!
While Colin Firth is handsome and brooding, I think he is getting a little old to play Dawsey, sorry to say.
Please, no American actors playing the British characters!
For Juliet, I pictured Emma Thompson, even though Emma is a bit more advanced in age than Juliet, but I never thought of Kate Winslet! That would be lovely.
For Amelia i pictured Judi Dench.
Dawsey, I pictured Stephen Moyer,
Isola – Frances De La Tour
I love the book in its own form, too.
But think that Anne Hathaway could be a lovely Juliet.
The trick for me in casting for me is who would play Elizabeth.
Definitely Colin Firth as Dawsey. No question. Juliet – Renee Zellweger, Kate Winset, Emily Watson (someone a little more mature than Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, etc.). How about Emma Thompson for one of the Guernsey ladies?
I agree with Amy C-although I debated wanting to see this book made into a movie; as it is in such perfect form, if it were to be done, I don’t want to see a familiar face cast. I want to see Juliet as I know her face from the book, and Dawsey as the authors intended…not a famous face to sell an already fantastic story!
We so enjoy As Time Goes By, a BBC TV show. I could see this book as a TV serial/sitcom. Wanted to make a suggestion to the BBC but the process was too complicated. Oh yes, Colin Firth as Dawsey.
ok, i know everybody has already said it, but kate winslet would be a great juliet, and amy adams as elizabeth? (maybe???)
A year ago when I read the book I had envisioned Kate Winslet as Juliet. I think that Luke Wilson would be great to go against typecast and be Dawsey. Helen Mirren could be Iola. There you be since you asked.
Trying to stick to an all British cast:
Juliet — Julia Ormond
Dawsey — Richard Armitage (from “North and South”)
Eben — Alan Rickman
Isola — Helena Bonham Carter
Amelia — Emma Thompson (although she’s too young for this role)
Elizabeth — Kate Winslet
Sidney — Rupert Everett
No offense to all the Colin Firth fans (I’m one, too), but you need to spend time around the strong, silent, intelligent farmer/rancher type. I can’t really see Mr. Firth in the role. It needs to be someone who can slop (and butcher) pigs, build walls stone by stone, and still enjoy slinging toddlers up on his shoulders and curling up with a good book. Think of how Alan Rickman portrayed Col. Brandon in Sense and Sensibility — that person who could made people feel calmer because he was so competent, but was also full of a deeply passionate nature.
I immediately thought of Rachel McAdams for Juliet, but Kate Winslet is a wonderful suggestion as well. I can also imagine Matthew Rhys as Dawsey and Meryl Streep as Isola.
Kate Winslet as Juliet;
Toby Stephens as Dawsey;
Aaron Eckhart as Mark Reynolds;
Judy Dench as Amelia,
and am seconding Belinda’s request: Please Please No American Actors playing British characters
Matthew McFadyen can portray the right level of quietness and maturity for Dawsey, and be funny too. Reading the book, I couldn’t really fix on what age he would be, and I believe Mr. McFadyen can create this complex character. Overall, I would prefer actors who are not the blockbuster hollywood A-listers, but less-celebritized talents who can project the subtle gravitas needed.
Patrick Dempsey or Ewan McGregor should be Dawsey. While reading, I have pictured no one in particular, as I am soaking in the life and hardships during those unthinkable years, that none of would ever be able to imagine. However, I could now see Shirley MacClane as Isola. Sidney…hmmmm… he could be portrayed well by Bruce Willis. And the dashing Mark – Christian Bale! Oh, Juliet… my pick is Isla Fischer. Wouldn’t that be fun to watch?
Yes, yes, yes I concur Kate Winslet as Juliet would be ideal. Has anyone considered Keira Knightley in the role of Elisabeth?
I also agree that British actors should play the roles of the English characters.
I too like the suggestions of Rupert Everett as Sidney, Helena Bonham Carter as Isola and I think perhaps Dame Judi Dench would make a perfect Amelia. Now Dawsey is a tricky one; you need someone with a quite sense of purpose and dignity for that role that would compliment Kate/Juliet – will have to consider that one further…………
After some more thought Clive Owens (he appeared in Gosford Park) comes to mind as a possilbe Dawsey. He has an understated but strong presence that would be just right for that role I think.
After some more thought Clive Owens (he appeared in Gosford Park) comes to mind as a possible Dawsey. He has an understated but strong presence that would be just right for that role I think.
Juliet – Kate Winslet
Dawsey – Daniel Craig – even though he is not dark and slight he has that lonesome sort of spirit yet he can charm like Dawsey – I figured they could give him some hair dye. Or Ralph Fiennes. – He has the mysterious nature but is not as charming to me. He is a great actor however so maybe he could pull it off?
Elizabeth – Andrea Riseborough – she has those grey eyes. Anna Friel. Although it occured to me that Kate Winslet would make a great Elizabeth too.
Sidney – Rupert Everett
Markham – Eric Bana or Aaron Eckhart (again with some hair dye).
Remy – Juliette Binoche if she were younger. Maybe Audrey Tautou?
Amelia – Helen Mirren
Isola – Emma Thompson or Maggie Smith
Richard armitage as Dawsey is a good choice too!
What about Adelaide??
Colin Firth is Dawsey, no doubt. Juliet is harder… She has to be pretty but mature in a certain way. I don’t like any of the previous suggestions for Juliet. NOT Kate Winslet. MAYBE Rachel Weisz. Marion Cottilliard would make a good Elizabeth.
I finished the book yesterday and LOVED it so much, I didn’t want it to end. I don’t think making the story into a movie would do it justice.
I thought Dawsey was 40ish, so I can see Colin Firth playing him, but I also like the idea of Matthew Macfadyen. Josh Hartnet is too young and Christian Bale is too…Christian Bale. We all have pre-conceived ideas of what these characters look like; I think any well-known actors would disturb, possibly ruin, the lovely images in our heads. Although I am American, I definitely agree with Belinda and Susan, no American actors should play the British characters.
I am so torn about whether I would like this book to be made into a movie or not? I love the book and the thought of being made into a movie both scares and excites me.
I think a lovely BBC mini series would be much more fitting and you could tell the whole story. Those are my thoughts. And I agree, even though I am American, no American playing Brits!
Could we fit Hugh Dancy in somewhere?
Ahhhhh, for Traci and others of you who think Colin Firth wouldn’t be as quiet and rugged (farmerly) for the Dawsey role, didn’t you see him recently in “Easy Virtue?” The movie was fine, but he was great – a wonderful role – he plays an emotionally “wounded” man from WWI, puttering in his barn, rugged and unshaven. I can definitely see him as Dawsey, along with Ralph Fiennes or Liam Neesom. And yes, Rupert Everett as Sidney! I just saw him on Broadway in Blithe Spirit with Angela Lansbury. Smashing!
In my mind as I read, Juliet looks and sounds like Victoria Tennant who played Pamela Tudsbury in both Winds of War and War & Remembrance, 2 miniseries of the 1980s. I realize she’d be too old to play Juliet now, but she’d have been perfect. I’d say Renee Zellwegger except she isn’t British, and I’ve noted comments that say “No Americans”! As others have commented, I’m not real sure I want this book made into a movie; but if it was, I’d be first in line on opening night!
I recently watched both miniseries on DVD; and it is so lucky that I finished the series first becuz my knowledge of WW 2 was (and still is) pretty limited. I understand GLPPPS so much better than I would’ve before the series. GLPPPS has lead me to other material, and I hope others will do the same. Altho I was a “war baby” born in 1943, my parents didn’t speak often of the war. Strangely, I’ve become very interested in WW 2; unfortunately, I lost both of them the past 1 1/2 years; I so wish they were here to relate stories and answer questions. Every generation must be reminded of WW I and 2. Mary Ann Shaffer’s book hopefully will do just that! Sorry. I’ve kind of gotten off the topic. Love this book!
Not many have given a preference for Elizabeth. Shocking, since she was the co-heroine with Juliet. As soon as I started reading about Elizabeth, the person that popped into my mind was Isla Fisher. I think she’s Australian, but I think she could do a British accent. She definitely has the mischievous spark that Elizabeth needs!
Actress Kate winslet has become too big and I’d be forced to concentrate on her as an actress/person and not as Juliet. But I’m an American. I might feel the same way about a too well-known Brit. However, its a British story and shoukld only have British actors who probably do stage most of the time and so are more honed to the tones, moods, themes of the characters. I want it to be close, very close to the book and not filled with a lot of lushy romance. This is a hostory book with all of it’s WWII drama – too real to be read fast, too real to be read without tears and big tightness in the throat. Each character on screen would have to be able to steal their scenes away from each other and yet it would all come out one fabukous whole.
A younger, English version of Ed Harris should play Dawsey.
As a writer, yes I can see this becoming a BLOCKBUSTER FILM that includes both American, French, Irish and English actors – if an American could write such a lovely book, I have faith American actors will not let us down either.
I believe this is the most delightful and unexpected treasure I have ever had the pleasure of breaking the binding on! It was absolutely a delicious piece of work; I laughed until I cried when I actually wasn’t crying…brilliant and so ever charming! What an absolute gift this book is. I am buying a copy for my three very best friends….my book club.
Who would I cast?
Kate Winslet – Juliet
Johnny Depp – Dawsey
French Actress – Sophie
Remy – The woman actress who starred in Chocolat – sorry her name escapes me – she is a true French beauty.
Sidney-Jude Law
Mark – Ewan McGregor
Ameila – Judi Dench
Isola – Helen Mirren
John Booker – Colin Firth
Eben- Liam Neeson
Eli – Ralph Feinnes
Gilly Gilbert – Michael Caine
Adelaide Addison – Shirley MacClaine
Peace, love and many good books to all.
ohh Emily Blunt for Juliet! I think of feisty joyful Juliet and automatically think Emily Blunt. I think Elizabeth needs to have a sense of sweet earnest mischief and I think Rosamund Pike would do well. I echo the no Americans sentiment– with the exception of Markham.
Juliet- Kate Winslet
Dawsey- Hugh Dancy
Amelia- Meryl Streep
Isola- Renee Zellweger
While Streep might be a bit younger than Amelia in the book, she is perfect for such a smart, strong, maternal role. For intangible reasons, Kate Winslet is the only person to play Julia, as so many others mentioned. As for Dawsey, I’m sort of surprised that no one thought of Hugh Dancy. His roles in “Evening” and “The Jane Austen Book Club” demonstrate that he has the quiet charm that the part requires. Zellweger is always brilliant in quirky roles, and Isola’s unique spirit reminds me in a way of Renee’s zany character in “Cold Mountain”.The rest of the cast should be relatively unknown; when there are too many famous actors in a movie, they tend to be a distraction. It’s especially important, in my opinion, that Elizabeth is played by a talented, but unrecognized actress so that the audience sees her as Elizabeth, and not as “that one girl who played the part in that one movie”.
I thought Hugh Jackman would do as Dawsey.
Whether or not we want this book made into a movie, it most likely will be. I can only see Amy Adams as Juliette. As for the others, Clive Owen, Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, and Kate Winslet.
For elizabeth, i think Cate Blanchett would be perfect.
How about Emily Blunt for Juliet? I can see her throwing a teapot!
One of my favorite of the many quirky characters is Isola, and the great British actress Imelda Staunton comes to mind. If not Isola, then she would be a great Amelia.
I am from Guernsey, my grandparents retired there and would be appalled if the characters weren’t British! I think ideally unknown actors from the area would be best but Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson are great reccommendations.
My choice (sometimes inspired by the other’s good ideas!):
Juliet = Kate Winslet (definately!)
Dawsey = Daniel Day Lewis (or Colin Firth)
Sophie = Emily Watson (if she’s in the film)
Elizabeth = Helena Bonham Carter
Sidney = Bill Nighy or Jude Law (if Bill Nighy is a bit old for a big brother)
Susan = Emma Thompson
Mark = Pierce Brosnan (can he take an American accent ?)
Isola = Julie Walters
Amelia = Judi Dench
Eben = Ben Kingsley
Remy = Audrey Tautou
Billie Bee = Isla Fisher
The nasty journalist (can’t remember his name, started with a G?) = Ruper Everett (though I agree he’d make a good Sidney, but we’ve seen him so many times playing a gay intellectual, let him play a mean journalist!)
Oh!
and I always saw Chris Cooper’s face as John Booker while I was reading the book (though he’s American)
Juliet: Kate Winslet is the right age and temperament to play her
Dawsey: Toby Stephens or Matthew Macfayden (again, right ages and both have proven they can play “quiet and brooding”
Remy: Audrey Tatou
Elizabeth: Keira Knightley
Isola: Emma Thompson
Mark: Aaron Eckhart or Simon Baker
I just finished the book and can’t wait for the movie, even though it won’t be out until 2011.
Michael Sheen as Dawsey. He’s of a slight Welshman build and that dark hair.
Eben – James Cromwell (American but does a good English accent) or Jim Broadbent
Isola – The dark-haired irish actress who was in Waking Ned Divine
Amelia – Helen Mirren
Elizabeth – Keira Knightley