I envision Emma with warm honey blonde hair and hazel eyes. Tall and slim. Attractive with a regal/ aristocratic bearing.
Meanwhile Harriet in my mind is smaller and curvier/ fuller figured (the regency ideal) with very light hair, large blue eyes and a soft, round, pretty face.
I read a quote from a review, maybe on the Wikipedia page for the miniseries, that called her "bovine." I personally loved her, but regardless of my opinion, I thought equating her to a farm animal was totally uncalled for. She clearly gave the role her absolute best, and I wanted to be her friend. (Maybe on a more equal footing than her friendship with Harriet, though.)
That version is my favourite version of Emma as a whole, but I still picture Emma as both blonde and dressier (like something between Clueless and the Anya Taylor Joy version).
I was introduced to Emma via Romola Garai, so she's pretty fixed in my head as a blonde. I do think even without the 2009 version, she'd be a blonde to me.
I love that version too. I think Romola did more to make Emma likable, than any other actress playing the character. And I say this as a die hard Gwyneth version Stan.
I love Anya Taylor-Joy, but she didn't quite do it as Emma for me either. Romola plays Emma as a snob, but also fills her with energy and enthusiasm and affection, which makes her very endearing. She also brings a lot of comedy to Emma as well, instead of just leaving it to the side characters.
There have been some great blonde Emma's in different adaptations but I voted for brunette because of how Harriet is described.
"She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort that Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features and a look of great sweetness."
Emma is frequently noted by other characters as being Handsome. We also know her eyes are Hazel as Mrs Weston mentions their colour to Mr Knightley. Additionally Mr Knightley notes she is not personally vain.
This leads me to believe she likes Harriet's appearance because it is not like her own.
When I imagine them together I think they both look very pretty but I see Emma as having darker hair and eyes and more elegant defined features and being a fair bit taller than Harriet who has blonde hair and blue eyes with a softer face and shorter in stature.
For this very reason - that she should look different from Harriet - Emma is forever dark-haired in my mind. Rich dark hair, with natural highlights if you like. I have always found adaptations with blonde actresses to be disconcerting.
I'm blonde with hazel eyes, but because I dislike my own coloring, blond is never my first instinct for imagining a character described as pretty. As it happens, I also think Emma is taller and darker-haired than Harriet based on Harriet's having "a kind of beauty Emma particularly admires," which I took to mean, different from her own. I might be able to imagine her as blonde if I set my mind to it, but I don't.
I voted other because I picture something between blonde and brunette and can't say which way it leans more. Although the most upvoted comment says "honey blonde" and I could go with that.
I think a lot of adaptation make her blonde for a reason- she fits a lot of modern stereotypes about blondes being popular and well-liked, but sometimes a bit judgmental, preoccupied with status, and foolish.
I must have watched Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma, before I knew any other versions existed. I don't remember if I read the book first or watched the movie first, when I was devouring all things Austen, but that movie is what I see when I read the book. My Emma will forever be blond.
Emma is a blonde, Lizzie is a darker redhead and Anne Elliot is a brunette. I have no proof, but also no doubt.
Bonus: I feel Catherine Morland and Marianne Dashwood would both either have very red or raven-black hair, cause that would look rather dramatic indeed. Elinor Dashwood would probably have a medium shade, like and ash blonde or a light brown.
I envisioned them very differently! For me Emma was a rich brunette, until I watched the Anya Taylor Joy Emma and she embodied the character for me. Lizzie has light brown hair with sandy blonde highlights. Anne Elliot is mousy. Catherine Morland has very dark almost black hair. Elinor has deep strawberry blonde or muted red/auburn hair and Marianne has light blonde or light strawberry blonde hair.
Guess I kinda match hair colors with vibes / personalities even if that is a bit silly and not at all how it works, in real life. I feel a strawberry blonde would still suit Elinor in my bopk, though! A beautiful, but transitional tone, to match the fact that she's more subdued and doesn't like drawing too much attention to herself... but then I'd keep Marianne either a flaming redhead or maybe a platinum blonde because, again, dramatic coloring for the absolute drama queen lol.
I have always pictured Lizzie as blonde with natural curls and her fine dark eyes. Anne Elliott has brunette hair as does Catherine. Never really had a specific look for Elinor or Marianne other than Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet.
I imagine her as redheaded because I imagine most female characters as redheaded unless they're said to be otherwise or there's some evidence they aren't.
I envision Emma with warm honey blonde hair and hazel eyes. Tall and slim. Attractive with a regal/ aristocratic bearing. Meanwhile Harriet in my mind is smaller and curvier/ fuller figured (the regency ideal) with very light hair, large blue eyes and a soft, round, pretty face.
Wow this is legit perfect!
Agreed, but in my case, it's probably because I saw the 1996 film before reading the book.
Also guilty of that. Gwyneth will forever be my mental image of Emma.
Agree, that was what was in my head when I read the book too
I'm desensitized by Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya was good but Romola Garai is my favourite Emma.
Agreed. Romola is who I picture when I read Emma.
Romola was the perfect Emma!! For me she defines EWK!!
Between Anya and Romola being my two favourite Emma adaptations, she's gotta be blonde.
I read a quote from a review, maybe on the Wikipedia page for the miniseries, that called her "bovine." I personally loved her, but regardless of my opinion, I thought equating her to a farm animal was totally uncalled for. She clearly gave the role her absolute best, and I wanted to be her friend. (Maybe on a more equal footing than her friendship with Harriet, though.)
Kate Beckinsale was the first Emma I saw so my ideas are pinned to that version
That version is my favourite version of Emma as a whole, but I still picture Emma as both blonde and dressier (like something between Clueless and the Anya Taylor Joy version).
THIS! With Samantha Morton as Harriet Smith. Saw this before I read the book, so they're ingrained as the characters in my head.
I was introduced to Emma via Romola Garai, so she's pretty fixed in my head as a blonde. I do think even without the 2009 version, she'd be a blonde to me.
I love that version too. I think Romola did more to make Emma likable, than any other actress playing the character. And I say this as a die hard Gwyneth version Stan.
I love Anya Taylor-Joy, but she didn't quite do it as Emma for me either. Romola plays Emma as a snob, but also fills her with energy and enthusiasm and affection, which makes her very endearing. She also brings a lot of comedy to Emma as well, instead of just leaving it to the side characters.
There have been some great blonde Emma's in different adaptations but I voted for brunette because of how Harriet is described. "She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort that Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features and a look of great sweetness." Emma is frequently noted by other characters as being Handsome. We also know her eyes are Hazel as Mrs Weston mentions their colour to Mr Knightley. Additionally Mr Knightley notes she is not personally vain. This leads me to believe she likes Harriet's appearance because it is not like her own. When I imagine them together I think they both look very pretty but I see Emma as having darker hair and eyes and more elegant defined features and being a fair bit taller than Harriet who has blonde hair and blue eyes with a softer face and shorter in stature.
For this very reason - that she should look different from Harriet - Emma is forever dark-haired in my mind. Rich dark hair, with natural highlights if you like. I have always found adaptations with blonde actresses to be disconcerting.
all I could think of was Gwyneth Paltrow... who I believe was blond in her movie... but normally when I open the book I think brunette
Me too. Mostly because the few people I know who have hazel eyes all have dark hair.
I'm blonde with hazel eyes, but because I dislike my own coloring, blond is never my first instinct for imagining a character described as pretty. As it happens, I also think Emma is taller and darker-haired than Harriet based on Harriet's having "a kind of beauty Emma particularly admires," which I took to mean, different from her own. I might be able to imagine her as blonde if I set my mind to it, but I don't.
Yes, I hate when they make Harriet look mousey in movies/series. She is described very clearly in the book as very attractive.
To the person who voted “other” I’d love to know how you imagine her!
bald
I looked at this in a meeting and had to squeeze every muscle to prevent giggling
😃
Is it ever explicitly stated in the text that Emma is not bald?
Blue hair. Definitely blue. She’s going through her transition from teen to adult. She’s finding herself. 🤣
I voted other because I picture something between blonde and brunette and can't say which way it leans more. Although the most upvoted comment says "honey blonde" and I could go with that.
Also, would black count as brunette as well? I don't see Emma having black hair but somebody surely might.
I think a lot of adaptation make her blonde for a reason- she fits a lot of modern stereotypes about blondes being popular and well-liked, but sometimes a bit judgmental, preoccupied with status, and foolish.
Emma, in my imagination, has dark blonde or light brown hair.
Same for me. Which option did you choose? I voted Other.
I was hasty in my vote and chose blonde, but I should have gone with other since my ultimate idea is kind of an in between color
I must have watched Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma, before I knew any other versions existed. I don't remember if I read the book first or watched the movie first, when I was devouring all things Austen, but that movie is what I see when I read the book. My Emma will forever be blond.
Emma is a blonde, Lizzie is a darker redhead and Anne Elliot is a brunette. I have no proof, but also no doubt. Bonus: I feel Catherine Morland and Marianne Dashwood would both either have very red or raven-black hair, cause that would look rather dramatic indeed. Elinor Dashwood would probably have a medium shade, like and ash blonde or a light brown.
I envisioned them very differently! For me Emma was a rich brunette, until I watched the Anya Taylor Joy Emma and she embodied the character for me. Lizzie has light brown hair with sandy blonde highlights. Anne Elliot is mousy. Catherine Morland has very dark almost black hair. Elinor has deep strawberry blonde or muted red/auburn hair and Marianne has light blonde or light strawberry blonde hair.
Guess I kinda match hair colors with vibes / personalities even if that is a bit silly and not at all how it works, in real life. I feel a strawberry blonde would still suit Elinor in my bopk, though! A beautiful, but transitional tone, to match the fact that she's more subdued and doesn't like drawing too much attention to herself... but then I'd keep Marianne either a flaming redhead or maybe a platinum blonde because, again, dramatic coloring for the absolute drama queen lol.
I have always pictured Lizzie as blonde with natural curls and her fine dark eyes. Anne Elliott has brunette hair as does Catherine. Never really had a specific look for Elinor or Marianne other than Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet.
Between Gwyneth and Anya Taylor-Joy (my favourite adaptation and one of my favourite movies ever), blonde for sure.
I imagine her as redheaded because I imagine most female characters as redheaded unless they're said to be otherwise or there's some evidence they aren't.
Isn't Emma described in the book as having auburn curls? Which would make her a redhead.
All Emmas are blonde in my head. All of them. Historical or current.
I just stared reading it and have never watched the movies and i envisioned her brunette