Rosamund Pike: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

3. Jane Bennet - Pride & Prejudice

Playing the part of an iconic literary character is never an easy feat, though Pike confidently assumes the role of Elizabeth Bennet's (Keira Knightley) demure, beautiful older sister Jane, aptly conveying both the joy of her romance with Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and her devastating heartbreak when it looks like it won't work out. Jane is, of course, a vital piece of the puzzle, an important aspect of the on-off relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden), and as such, had Pike's portrayal not hit the mark, it would make the entire picture feel less convincing. Though some Austen purists take umbrage with the movie's bolder interpretations of the source material (namely transforming Bingley into a more oafish character than he was ever written as), Pike's Jane is one for the ages, living up to the prior cinematic and TV renditions of the character, and playing a totally convincing sister to Knightley's Elizabeth.