Cast that Turnip! (A New Mini-Contest)
Only one day until Mistletoe!!!!!
In the meantime, I still have a number of shiny Mischief of the Mistletoe ornaments just waiting to find good homes. As the holiday season approaches, Joanne Renaud (who illustrated the Pink comics) and I have been kicking around the idea of creating a special illustration of Turnip for all those Turnipsians out there.
So here’s my challenge for you:
— If you had to pick one actor to use as model for Turnip, who would it be?
To give people time to read Mistletoe before making their choices, the contest will remain open through Tuesday night. Ten winners, chosen at random, will be announced on Wednesday morning.
Happy casting!
Hugh Dancy! Totally cute and charming but can pull off a little bumbling. Plus he already has the British accent.
Alan Tudyk, who, though not actually British, does an excellent accent, and can pull off the whole sweet and a little bit dopey thing very well. For evidence, I refer folks to Firefly, A Knight’s Tale, and Death at a Funeral (the first 15 minutes of the film, before his character is accidentally drugged!). 🙂
I was going to suggest the guy who played the fiance from Princess Diaries 2, but now I think Hugh Dancy would be absolutely perfect.
Damn you Lauren, sneaky lady! This is my blog post tomorrow! I’ll say my casting anyway, Nicholas Rowe… you’ll have to wait for tomorrow for the whys. But I <3 Alan, so I’d be cool with that.
Mwah ha ha! My spies have done their work well…. Too funny, Miss Eliza. Great minds?
Totally! And you have a good evil laugh, or, as Alan Tudyk would say “Mine is an evil laugh!”
I was definitely thinking Martin Freeman. He is just so funny, but has that adorable look about him.
I love The Young Sherlock Holmes so rock on with the Nicholas Rowe pick! Hugh Dancy is also a good one. As for my choice… Turnip reminds me a lot of Bertie Wooster, but Hugh Laurie (a younger Hugh Laurie) is too sardonic; the guy who plays Barmy Funghi Phipps also isn’t right.
So I think I have to go with Tom Mison. He has that very earnest yet vague quality that makes Turnip so endearing.
(You may know him as Mr. Bingley in Lost in Austen. He’s the one on the right: http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/20/202476/36_2008/lost-in-austen_0.jpg)
Well, Turnip isn’t exactly the catch of the season. So I think it would have to be someone who isn’t classically good looking but is cute in his own way. I would pick Billy Boyd. For those that don’t know him – he was in the Lord of the Rings movies, but when not in hobbit costume he’s cute and could totally pull off the role of bumbling Turnip! 🙂
I can definitely picture Hugh Dancy playing Turnip to perfection. I also think John Krasinski could do goodhearted bumbling very well!
I am so out of it when it comes to current actors. But that picture of Tom Mison captures my image of dear Turnip to a T. I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised after they read the book, esp that his classical education was NOT wasted !! LOL
If only John Cusack were younger, or had a younger actor brother, etc etc… perrrrfect Turnip right there!!!
I’ll second the John Krasinski pick.
Susan, of comment 3, has the right idea. The British fiance from The Princess Diaries 2 was Callum Blue, who’s been on Smallville lately. Callum Blue is exactly what Turnip should be–good looking but in a bit of a gangly way. I can see him doing Turnip’s blundering more convincingly than a lot of other actors.
Michael Cera just a bit older with an accent. or the guy that plays Charles Hamilton in original gone with the wind. someone slightly boyish faced but can be handsome if not adorable
Although he may be a little too handsome for Turnip, I love the actor Henry Cavill (he’s in the Tudor series and was in Tristan and Isolde), he may be more of a Richard.
Someone mentioned a younger Hugh Laurie, wouldn’t he be a perfect Vaughn?
So I guess my pick would be Devon Murray, he plays Seamus Finnegan in Harry Potter, or for a red haired Turnip, Rupert Grint would work wonders.
I’m gonna have to jump on the Alan Tudyk train. Although not British, he plays an epic range of roles. Perfect example is if you ever caught the short-run series Dollhouse. He played some excellent eccentric characters on that show!
This is a hard cast if you really think on it. I use to see David Spade as him, but now I see David Wenham. =)
OMG Hugh Lauri perfect Vaughn.. mmm
Damian Lewis? Or possibly current Doctor Who Matt Smith? He could definitely pull off good-natured and bumbling, though he might have a harder time with Turnip’s dimness ;).
Simon Woods, I think. I found him charming as Mr. Bingley!
I’m going to go with Ryan McPartlin (who plays captain awesome on Chuck). He can play handsome, charming, good-intentioned, and bumbling perfectly =D
Tom Cruise. Just kidding. I’m waiting for my copy from the library, so I’m at a disadvantage. I’ll jump on the Hugh Dancy bandwagon.
This is one character I’ve been so certain of casting wise:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Is there really any other choice? 🙂
Can I have a second chance ? I am going to second Erica for Ryan McPartlin. I am totally jealous of Ellie ! Don’t know if he can do the accent , tho.
I’d agree with Alan Tudyk. I think Simon Pegg would work too!
It’s official, Hugh Dancy is stuck in my head. That’s who I will be picturing in my head as I read Mistletoe this weekend.
As much as I love Hugh Dancy, I’m going to second the Joseph Gordon-Levitt vote. I really been enjoying him lately and he can definitely pull of the awkward.
At the same time, both of them strike me as too good looking…
And I also think it’s too bad John Cusack isn’t younger. He does the charming bumble so well!
I am going to time travel a bit (hey, the books do it) and say a young Hugh Laurie. He played Bertie Wooster in BBC Jeeves and Wooster when he was in his 20’s.
I didn’t think of Billy Boyd, but I want to say that he would be my pick of current actors.
Zita, I agree 100%. I think a young Hugh Laurie is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!
I originally was going to have to go with Alan Tudyk (frankly, I think he could play pretty much any role), but now I have to agree with Erica D and Sheila’s pick: Captain Awesome would be perfect as Turnip.
Before I read the book, I had a completely different answer, but now that I’ve read it – Jesse Spencer. As a second choice, I’d go with Andrew Lincoln, who might have been number one if Jesse wasn’t six year younger.
It must be Hugh Grant! He does the slightly foolish, but not completely an idiot so well!
I’m thinking Andrew Garfield. He was fantastic in Never Let Me Go!
All excellent picks, ladies! But I’ve gotta say- to me, its Matthew Gray Gubler (aka Dr Reid on Criminal Minds). Can do bumbling, yes… But when you look closer you realize he’s male model gorgeous chic. I also second the Simon Woods pick as #2.
For some reason I always pictured Turnip as a redhead. So I guess I’d have to say Rupert Grint, even though he’s not exactly what I imagined. Simon Woods would be good too, but he always seems to look a little bit too sinister to me.
Look, here’s Rupert Grint in period (ish) clothes!
http://news.superiorpics.com/2009/06/30/GRINT_STARSTRUCK_BY_OBAMA.html
Wow! So many great suggestions. My image of Turnip is someone who looks like Matt Damon – no I’m not a rabid MD fan but he seems the right physical type and I with his acting experience, I think he could pull off a magnificent Turnip performance. I also like the Jesse Spencer suggestion. After finishing Mistletoe, I couldn’t think of Turnip as anything other than blond. I hate to say it but I didn’t really put much thought into him previously…going back to re-read the other books now to see what I missed. :-]
After Jane’s comment about Bingley in Mistletoe I could not get the image of Simon Woods out of my head as I pictured Turnip.
I just finished the book. It was awesome so I will have to go with Captain Awesome (aka Ryan McPartlin) as Turnip (or Alan Tudyk because he could play any role)
My pick for Turnip would be Sam Troughton. He played Much on the BBC’s most recent version fo “Robin Hood.” He’s not a knockout, but he’s adorable, and Much was sort of Turnip-like in that he was well-meaning but a bit bumbling.
You know, the more I think about it, and since I now know more about Turnip (thank you again)…
Ryan Gosling.
But I do love Alan Tudyk, too.
He’s already my pick to play Miles, but I can’t help but think that he’d be amazing as Turnip, too — Simon Woods (aka, Bingley from P&P 2005). I mean, am I right or am I right? 😉
Haha Rebecca, I agree! Simon Woods would be a good one. Especially if you consider his roll in Pride and Prejudice.
I think Richard Lumsden, Mr. Robert Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility would make a PERFECT Turnip! As I read the book, I see him with the pudding and revealing the note. I can imagine him talking with Sal at school and convincing Arabella to ride to Farley Castle with him. His face is the only one I see as I read the book!
Hmmm..that is a tough one since I am just starting on the book….but I would have to say it’s gotta be Ryan Gosling all the way baby! LOVE me some Ryan!
But if not Ryan….then definitely Hugh Dancy…**PPPrrr**
Armie Hammer from the Social Network! He might be a little too handsome but he’s tall and blonde…
Sam Troughton gets my vote!
I’ve been looking up all the people that…err people…have mentioned. I’m bad at casting games. Maybe it is because I just watched Lost in Austen (and Jane does make the Bingley comment), but I’m going to have to go with Team Tom Mission.
However, this picture of Simon Wood seems very Turnip-esque to me.
http://tiny.cc/2172a
However however, I always imagine Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster when Turnip talks, anachronistic or not.
I see I’m not the only one who thinks that Turnip looks like Simon Woods. I can’t even blame Jane comparing him to Bingley, as I think he’s Bingleyish enough that I’d have made the connection even without that comment.
I think Simon Woods, the chap who played Bingley in the Pride and Prejudice remake. He has that sweet and innocent yet eager persona that I imagine Turnip would have.
If you want a hunkier red head-Kevin McKidd from Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Hunt or from Made of Honor as the jilted groom. Still dreamy as a turnip!
Love the idea of Alan Tudyk playing the role. He really would be perfect. Has the look and affable charm of Turnip.
I have to second Simon Woods. He was great as Bingley and I think he could play the awkward role that Turnip sometimes portrays well 🙂
A younger Hugh Grant
A have a new one to add and he’s perfect:
James McAvoy!!!! (of “Becoming Jane” and “Atonement)
I would actually love to see Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films. He can definitely do the comedy, and he’s grown up to be an awkward kind of handsome. Anyways – he’s who I picture when I think of Turnip.
Oh God. . . Ryan McPartlin – tall, cute; Jesse Spencer – cute, a little awkward and with the accent; Simon Woods – maybe too sure of himself! All three are good candidates for Turnip. Thank God I don’t have to make this decision. . . Lauran you have graced us with another fabulous book. In fact, even though I’m still sick, reading it made me feel better. I’m glad your Boston event was a success. I had been planning on going since last summer. Darn this getting sick!!!
Oh God. . . Ryan McPartlin – tall, cute; Jesse Spencer – cute, a little awkward and with the accent; Simon Woods – maybe too sure of himself! All three are good candidates for Turnip. Thank God I don’t have to make this decision. . . Lauren you have graced us with another fabulous book. In fact, even though I’m still sick, reading it made me feel better. I’m glad your Boston event was a success. I had been planning on going since last summer. Darn this getting sick!!!
I would have to go with Ioan Gruffud who played William Wilberforce in “Amazing Grace”. He would have to have his hair dyed blond though~! Just finished the book today Lauren, and I have to say there were some truly hilarious moments which actually had me laughing out loud! Congrats on another great read!
i like the previously mentioned idea of Simon Woods. Very cute, and i think could do the awkward fumbling!
oooh, I hadn’t thought of Ryan Gosling, but I could totally see that!!! Hmm, I may have to change my vote…
I agree with Emily that the guy who plays Neville Longbottom would be a great Turnip, but I think Rupert Grint would be a good one too!
Ugh, just looked up Joseph Gordon-Leavitt (vaguely recognized the name, but couldn’t place it).. he’s so much the “younger John Cusack” that I was craving as Turnip.. may have to change my vote again…
THIS IS HARD!!! lol
I whipped through the Mistletoe book last night, and I was totally picturing Tom Mision, aka Bingley from Lost in Austen! So props to Pam for this pic: http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/20/202476/36_2008/lost-in-austen_0.jpg
As for other casting… I imagined this actress for Amelia: Magda Apanowicz. She plays Lacy on Caprica. She’s probably too short and would need to lighten her hair, though. 🙂 http://www.zap2it.com/news/custom/photogallery/tv/zap-caprica-pictures,0,3433751.photogallery?index=12
I like the idea of Hugh Dancy. You have to make all the bumbling worth it with some good looks 🙂
Ryan Kwanten from True Blood. He is a gorgeous Australian actor who is fantastic at accents and plays the charming/endearing (but not terribly clever) character perfectly.