Lucy seems more like Mary from the book; studious and judgemental. Although Talulah was much more obvious in the fact that Mary is interested in Mr. Collins. Tough choice.

Yes, I was going to say that while Talulah's character was nice, Ms. Briers' character was more spot on with the book.

I also agree with the obvious interest in Mr. Collins with Ms. Riley.

^^Exactly^^. Basically everything I've wanted to say in the comments of all these picks has already been said by you two!

Does anyone else think that Talulah was too pretty to be "the plain one"?

Idk, my answer is prejudice

Lucy Briers was a caricature, whereas Talulah Riley was a real character. I don't blame the actors--it's mostly the directing. But in the 2005 film, I felt really sorry for Mary, and I liked that I could sympathize.

As to TR being too pretty, that's really a matter of interpretation. The book doesn't make it clear; she could really have been ugly, or she could have just been overshadowed by the beauty of her sisters. It's two different interpretations.

she is much more a mary with unsocial tasitone and everything else

agree jillywinkles....briers was stupiddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

Briers only showed the studious and judgemental side of Mary. Riley made the character 3-dimensional. Not only did she do what Briers did, but we also saw the side of her that had emotion (it broke my heart when Mr. Bennett went to comfort her and she was crying at the ball).

Lucy's looks where right on with her personality as Mary. She looked dead and dull, and that's how Mary was-dead and dull.
PERFECT!!!

I just think Talulah is way too pretty to be Mary, but then again, Lucy was way too annoying, really not like I pictured Mary...Dunno, both were good, I guess, but I just like the 2005 cast much better...

Yeah, Talulah was way too pretty to be 'the plain one'. Lucy just looked so ugly, and was always saying annoying smart stuff.

She wasn't just a comedy piece like Lucy seemed to be. Talulah was quiet and...real. I sympathized for her. Plus she's cute. Mary was said to be plain, but that doesn't mean ugly.

95 was so ugly and boring, not really behaving how anyone would in real life, exaggerating her attitude almost like someone with a disorder. the 05 version made more sense, reading and playing piano but still being respectful and respectable most of the time. more like poor ignored "middle child."

Lucy Briers (P&P 95) nailed the part. Plain and annoying is how the character of Mary was described in the book. Lucy was perfect.

BTW, Lucy Briers was a beautiful woman in real life. Her performance in P&P 95 was a result of skilled acting and superb hair and makeup to change her into the unattractive Mary Bennet.