Director Confirms Matthew Macfadyen's Iconic Hand Flex in Pride & Prejudice

To mark the 20th anniversary of the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, director Joe Wright and actor Matthew Macfadyen have revealed new details about the iconic 'hand flex' scene. The gesture, where Mr. Darcy flexes his hand after helping Elizabeth Bennet into a carriage, was not in the original script but was improvised by Macfadyen during rehearsal. Wright explained that the moment captures the characters' physical attraction before they consciously understand their feelings, illustrating how their bodies respond to each other even as their minds resist. The director admitted he initially doubted the impact of the scene, but it has since become a viral sensation and a defining symbol of yearning in popular culture. Focus Features is commemorating the anniversary by releasing merchandise inspired by the hand flex. The scene's authenticity and subtlety are widely credited with deepening the film's romantic appeal.