This post was written by Miss Eliza of Strange and Random Happenstance.
If there is one man in all of Lauren’s books whom I want to sweep me off my feet, I cannot deny that it’s Turnip Fitzhugh. Of course there’s every chance Turnip could trip me and literally sweep me off my feet, but nevertheless, you get my point. Like my love of Henry Tilney, I view humor and goodwill as a cornerstone of romance. For me there is only one person who could be Turnip. I know, this is a sweeping statement. While I can occasionally see many actors in the roles and even agree with many of the alternative suggestions put forth, there is one and only one person who could play Turnip. Let us now go back into the mists of time when I was a young impressionable girl who loved to spend her time watching Mystery! on PBS with my parents, reveling in all things Victoriana, especially Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. Total aside, but does anyone else think that as a young man in My Fair Lady he looks just like Daniel Day Lewis? OK, so it is just me, and back to Sherlock Holmes. The truth is, despite my love of Jeremy Brett and even Benedict Cumberbatch, to me there’s only one Sherlock Holmes, and that’s Nicholas Rowe.
The first time I watched Young Sherlock Holmes my heart was forever lost. It wasn’t just that Nicholas’s Holmes is brilliant, it’s that he’s funny and cute and gangly and just perfect. Plus the love of his life was named Elizabeth, sigh. While never attaining the fame of some British actors, Nicholas consistently shows up on the television screen and is perfection no matter how large or small a role. I’m particularly looking forward to his cameo in Mr. Holmes as “Matinee Sherlock.” Apparently (or so I’m guessing), the makers of this film understand that even if you have Ian McKellen playing Sherlock, there are people out there like me wishing for Nicholas Rowe! As to why he’d be perfect as Turnip: he has a goofy, supercilious air about him that hides a heart of gold. Plus, that floppy lock of hair and that I could totally see him in a carnation waistcoat on his tall body, everything adds up to perfection. Mmm, yeah.
As for his better half I totally envision Claire Foy. The initial reason I saw her as Arabella is that as Amy Dorrit in Little Dorrit she has this wonderful vulnerability that has a will of iron behind it that protects her family above everything else. This is how I view Arabella. She sees her situation and makes up her mind that teaching is the way to help her family and she does it. Arabella has doubts and concerns, which is where the vulnerability enters in, but in the end, her iron will makes her take the leap. But if I hadn’t been totally convinced of her, well, Going Postal nailed it for me. She’s caustic and humorous. The key to the Turnip Abrabella union is that they genuinely like each other and know how to have a good laugh. So I give you Nicholas Rowe and Claire Foy, Mr. and Mrs. Turnip. Who do you see?
Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh played by Nicholas Rowe
Arabella Dempsey played by Claire Foy
I know Sheila has already put forward her choice for Turnip: Simon Baker! Personally, I think Simon Woods has potential. Maybe Simons make good Turnips??
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