'Persuasion' Director Praises Henry Golding's 'Brilliant' Performance as 'Regency FBoy' Mr. Elliot

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Nick Wall/NetflixHenry Goldingis done playing Mr. Nice Guy in his latest role.The actor, 35, said he “could just have fun” with portraying William Elliot in Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’sPersuasionas he explained his process for embodying the character in an interview withTown & Country.“It’s really about staying true to our script and coming to the table with a point of view about how Elliot should be when there have already been so many different iterations. For me, that made it easier to really enjoy playing such a colorful character on the screen,” Golding said.Persuasiondirector Carrie Cracknell shed some light on Golding’s “brilliant” point of view on the character, which ultimately convinced her to cast theCrazy Rich Asiansactor.“It just seemed to me that Henry had this incredible combination of charisma, intelligence, confidence, and wit, which felt like such a fresh thing for a Jane Austen story,” she recalled. “I had this brilliant conversation with him, and he was excited about the possibility of playing Mr. Elliot.Nick Wall/Netflix"He described the character as a ‘Regency f—boy,’ which I completely loved. There was also something about Henry’s confidence and the sharpness of his wit that felt like he could make Mr. Elliot a real contender,” Cracknell, 42, continued.Golding stars alongsideDakota Johnsonand Cosmo Jarvis in Cracknell’sPersuasion, a feature adaptation of Austen’s last completed novel, which was published in 1817. The film also starsSuki Waterhouse,Richard E. Grantand Nikki Amuka-Bird.The Malaysian-born star raved about getting to play the blunt opportunist Mr. Elliot, who isn’t shy about his attempts to seduce his distant cousin Anne (Johnson) and his intentions to inherit the family fortune.RELATED VIDEO: Henry Golding on Meeting Wife Liv and Life With Their Daughter: “Nothing Else in the World Matters"“I think he’s far less complicated than we would imagine he is,” Golding explained. “He’s one of those people who knows what he wants and is going to mold the universe to his will. Within the story, he has his goal and he’ll do anything to get it—or to get into the pants of his perspective target. For me, it was a joy to know that as much as the character goes through, he’s not going to end up with lady. I could just have fun with that.“Persuasionis now streaming on Netflix.

Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix

Henry Goldingis done playing Mr. Nice Guy in his latest role.The actor, 35, said he “could just have fun” with portraying William Elliot in Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’sPersuasionas he explained his process for embodying the character in an interview withTown & Country.“It’s really about staying true to our script and coming to the table with a point of view about how Elliot should be when there have already been so many different iterations. For me, that made it easier to really enjoy playing such a colorful character on the screen,” Golding said.Persuasiondirector Carrie Cracknell shed some light on Golding’s “brilliant” point of view on the character, which ultimately convinced her to cast theCrazy Rich Asiansactor.“It just seemed to me that Henry had this incredible combination of charisma, intelligence, confidence, and wit, which felt like such a fresh thing for a Jane Austen story,” she recalled. “I had this brilliant conversation with him, and he was excited about the possibility of playing Mr. Elliot.Nick Wall/Netflix"He described the character as a ‘Regency f—boy,’ which I completely loved. There was also something about Henry’s confidence and the sharpness of his wit that felt like he could make Mr. Elliot a real contender,” Cracknell, 42, continued.Golding stars alongsideDakota Johnsonand Cosmo Jarvis in Cracknell’sPersuasion, a feature adaptation of Austen’s last completed novel, which was published in 1817. The film also starsSuki Waterhouse,Richard E. Grantand Nikki Amuka-Bird.The Malaysian-born star raved about getting to play the blunt opportunist Mr. Elliot, who isn’t shy about his attempts to seduce his distant cousin Anne (Johnson) and his intentions to inherit the family fortune.RELATED VIDEO: Henry Golding on Meeting Wife Liv and Life With Their Daughter: “Nothing Else in the World Matters"“I think he’s far less complicated than we would imagine he is,” Golding explained. “He’s one of those people who knows what he wants and is going to mold the universe to his will. Within the story, he has his goal and he’ll do anything to get it—or to get into the pants of his perspective target. For me, it was a joy to know that as much as the character goes through, he’s not going to end up with lady. I could just have fun with that.“Persuasionis now streaming on Netflix.

Henry Goldingis done playing Mr. Nice Guy in his latest role.

The actor, 35, said he “could just have fun” with portraying William Elliot in Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’sPersuasionas he explained his process for embodying the character in an interview withTown & Country.

“It’s really about staying true to our script and coming to the table with a point of view about how Elliot should be when there have already been so many different iterations. For me, that made it easier to really enjoy playing such a colorful character on the screen,” Golding said.

Persuasiondirector Carrie Cracknell shed some light on Golding’s “brilliant” point of view on the character, which ultimately convinced her to cast theCrazy Rich Asiansactor.

“It just seemed to me that Henry had this incredible combination of charisma, intelligence, confidence, and wit, which felt like such a fresh thing for a Jane Austen story,” she recalled. “I had this brilliant conversation with him, and he was excited about the possibility of playing Mr. Elliot.

Nick Wall/Netflix

“He described the character as a ‘Regency f—boy,’ which I completely loved. There was also something about Henry’s confidence and the sharpness of his wit that felt like he could make Mr. Elliot a real contender,” Cracknell, 42, continued.

Golding stars alongsideDakota Johnsonand Cosmo Jarvis in Cracknell’sPersuasion, a feature adaptation of Austen’s last completed novel, which was published in 1817. The film also starsSuki Waterhouse,Richard E. Grantand Nikki Amuka-Bird.

The Malaysian-born star raved about getting to play the blunt opportunist Mr. Elliot, who isn’t shy about his attempts to seduce his distant cousin Anne (Johnson) and his intentions to inherit the family fortune.

RELATED VIDEO: Henry Golding on Meeting Wife Liv and Life With Their Daughter: “Nothing Else in the World Matters”

“I think he’s far less complicated than we would imagine he is,” Golding explained. “He’s one of those people who knows what he wants and is going to mold the universe to his will. Within the story, he has his goal and he’ll do anything to get it—or to get into the pants of his perspective target. For me, it was a joy to know that as much as the character goes through, he’s not going to end up with lady. I could just have fun with that.”

Persuasionis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com