The Enid Blyton Society

I'm not sure where to put this topic, or this topic is necessary or not...
forgive me if I'm wrong..

I'm sure many of Blyton fans for Famous Five fans would have their own favorite actors for Famous Five TV series...
what is your favorite actors / actresses? I'm just curious..

For me, I really like Paul Child... Even though I heard many people like Garry Russel more in acting.. I haven't watched the 70s version...
But I'm already amazed with Paul's acting. it was pretty good even though sometimes he looked not really into it... And I really like his smile.. He's pretty good looking... Marco is not bad either
and supported by his unique singing voice in his band

Jemima Rooper. No contest!

Jemima was brilliant and I loved her performance but perhaps a bit too girly for the part of George. Maybe it was her falling for the handsome pilot in 'Billycock Hill' that affected my view!

I don't think Nigel's answer came as a surprise to many people.

My favourite was definitely Gary Russell. I'm afraid that at the time of watching him back in the 1970s, his acting ability didn't register with me, I just had a school girl crush on him. Now I've watched the programmes as an adult, I think he was quite a good actor. I've only seen one or two episodes of the 1990s series, so haven't really formed an opinion on any one's acting skills.

Francis wrote:Jemima was brilliant and I loved her performance but perhaps a bit too girly for the part of George. Maybe it was her falling for the handsome pilot in 'Billycock Hill' that affected my view!

Me too! Definitely it's natural that girl fall for boy.. But it's a new experience for George. Was she really falling for that pilot in the book?

Katharine wrote:I don't think Nigel's answer came as a surprise to many people.

Who is Nigel?

eunsilver wrote:Who is Nigel?

Sorry, I should have said Moonraker. He's a big fan of Jemima's and has sung her praises on quite a few occasions in various posts. There are a couple of other people who admire her too. If you are interested, there's a whole thread devoted to her on the forums.

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/foru ... ima+rooper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I agree with Nigel. Jemima Rooper is my choice too!

eunsilver wrote

Me too! Definitely it's natural that girl fall for boy.. But it's a new experience for George. Was she really falling for that pilot in the book?

George does not 'fall' for the pilot in the book although as you say it would be natural for a girl to do so for a handsome and dashing pilot. Enid was always very careful to avoid bringing sex into her books - despite being a very sexy lady herself.

I definately prefer the 70's series, and of course Gary Russell playing the part of Dick. No contest.

I prefer the 70's series too from which I'd say Marcus Harris (Julian) plays his character very well and Michelle (George). I like the 90's series too, and I like how they made an effort to express how the Famous Five was written in the 40's through clothes, etc. Jemima plays her part very well as others have mentioned. Surprised to read in the 90's annual that it took a bit of an effort to get her to agree to having her hair cut!

90s series: Jemima Rooper is perfect as George! I also think Mary Waterhouse is great as Aunt Fanny, so kind and motherly.

70s series: It's hard to choose between the main four children as I like them all, but I think Jennifer Thanisch is particularly good as Anne. She comes across as warm, friendly and naturally feminine - not artificially "girly". I love the casting of Lou (Sean Lynch), Tiger Dan (Brian Glover) and Nobby (Gary Dundavin) in Five Go Off in a Caravan - it's one of the most memorable episodes for me.

I also think Mary Waterhouse is great as Aunt Fanny, so kind and motherly.

Though she isn't Aunt Fanny, she's Aunt Frances!

Jennifer Thanisch and Jemima Rooper

It is annoying that Aunt Fanny has become Aunt Frances in the 90s series, Poppy. And goodness knows why Pierre (Sooty) in Five Go to Smuggler's Top is called "Pete" in the 90s series! Critics sometimes complain that Enid Blyton books don't have many characters of different nationalities, yet here we have a half-French (?) boy being Anglicised.

Exactly my thoughts, too, Anita.