Como House, Melbourne
I’ve been watching Miss Fisher’s mysteries for a little while now. I used to live in Melbourne, so it’s nice to see the familiar streets and buildings such as Rippon Lea, The Manchester Building, Como House and Melbourne Town Hall. And the fashion! If I could have anyone’s television wardrobe it would be Miss Fisher’s – in fact, it’s become so celebrated that Vanity Fair wrote an interesting piece devoted to the secrets of her wardrobe – you can read it here.
The other thing I love about the show is seeing the characters come to life. I first discovered Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher books about fifteen years ago and was instantly hooked. I loved Greenwood’s stories of 1920’s Melbourne, of wealthy Phryne and her devil-may-care attitude as she solved mysteries and set the world to rights. When I heard it was going to be made into a series, I was thrilled. And, so far, it has not disappointed (other than the fact that the divine Lin Chung was relegated to a one-episode lover). Essie Davis is perfect casting as the elegant Phryne, as is Ashleigh Cummings as Dot, Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Constable Collins, and Nathan Page as Inspector Robinson.
Luna Park, Melbourne. The iconic park is in St Kilda, home to the fictional Phryne Fisher
I had a recent conversation in the comments section on one of my posts with Kristin, from Pursuit Of A New Adventure. Kristin has read both Oak and Mist and No Quarter (thanks Kristin!), and she was talking about how she pictured the characters in her head, naming one celebrity in particular as her image of Deryck. This was interesting and really, really cool. I loved hearing what she thought, as I have a clear picture in my own mind of each character and how they look. And of course I have considered the idea that one day, if my books ever took off, they could be televised or made into a movie. In fact, if I’m being really honest, I might have even spent a bit of time googling images of different actors, assembling my fantasy cast should it ever come to pass.
Well, that’s not embarrassing at all, sharing that with you 😀
But it’s true, and I bet I’m not the only one out there. I didn’t base any of my Ambeth characters on real people (except for one, who looks like a friend of mine). But as they’ve come to life in my mind it’s been an interesting process to try and marry their physical appearance with someone in the real world. For reference purposes, you understand 😉 And while I’ve not yet ‘cast’ every character, I have a pretty good idea of who I’d like to play most of them.
So many stars to choose from 😉
It would be fascinating to see my work interpreted by somebody else, which is why I so enjoyed Kristin’s comments. I wonder how Kerry Greenwood feels, seeing her creation on the small screen. I also wonder if the cast match her original vision of the characters as she saw them.
So how do you feel about the idea of seeing your characters onscreen? And do you have a fantasy cast list already? (go on, you can tell me)
Helen Glynn Jones 
Peter Jackson ‘stole’ my Merlin and called him Gandalf… 🙂
Meanie! You might have to steal him back… 🙂
I think I should, you know 😉
I don’t think he’ll mind 🙂
Gandalf might when he reads the script 😉
😀
Omg awesome post and thx for the shout out girl! I was thinking of Ioan Gruffudd as one of the kings since he’s all regal and Welsh but i think everyone was blonde lol! I googled your Miss Fisher and I must read her. She looks fab!
You are welcome! Our conversation had me thinking, then I was watching Miss Fisher last night as well (btw, the books are great, you should definitely look them up!). And not all the characters are blonde – mostly the bad ones are, I think 🙂 Thorion has dark hair and Iona Gruffudd is not a bad choice at all… I would choose Idris Elba as Meredan 😉
Omg yes on all accounts! I like casting your movie lol!
Oh, it’s hours of fun, that’s for sure 🙂
I adore Miss Fisher! Over here in BC, we’re just now getting to watch the third season. It’s a weekly treat.
As for a dream cast for my books, I have individual photos of random people, hauled off a Google Image search, that I keep in a side window while writing, to help me “see” my characters. And yes, some of them are actors. Right now, there’s a Sir Derek Jacobi about to come walking down the mountain to meet with my MC…
Oh, I love that! It does help, doesn’t it, once you have their faces in your mind. And we have season three of Miss Fisher on here in the UK too – it definitely is a treat and I can recommend the books as well, if you haven’t already read them 🙂
I actually haven’t read the books yet – I might have tried the first one years ago and didn’t like it that much at the time, but now I’m going to try it again. Actually, it’s sitting on the holds shelf in the library as we speak!
Oh, well good luck – let me know how you go 🙂 The tv series is fab, though, isn’t it?
I haven’t cast my characters yet, but I have planned the book launch party! Also, my son has written music to accompany some of the scenes in the movie! We’re not counting our chickens or anything, not at all. Not when I haven’t finished the rewrite, no agent or publisher has accepted it yet, and I don’t even know if it ever will be published!
Nothing wrong with planning ahead! Dream big, because you never know what might happen 🙂 I love that your son has written music for the scenes as well, that is so cool. I have a friend who works on films as a medic (she did Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy among others) and she says she will work on my movies when they come out LOL. Why not, I say – it happens to other people, so why not to us. Agent schmagent – Still Alice, which Julianne Moore won the Oscar for last year, was self-published, and so is The Martian, which again they say will be up for loads of awards this year 🙂
Nothing happens without dreaming of it first, so let’s keep on dreaming away …