Sense and Sensibility (film) could capture Mr. Palmer's disenchantment and redemption so perfectly, and make it funny." Thompson wrote the part of Edward Ferrars with Grant in mind, and he agreed to receive a lower salary in line with the film's budget. Grant called her screenplay "genius", explaining "I've always been a philistine about Jane Austen herself, and I think Emma's script is miles better than the book and much more amusing." Grant's casting was criticised by the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA), whose representatives said that he was too handsome for the part. Actress Kate Winslet initially intended to audition for
Sense and Sensibility (2008 TV series) novel during an interview with Paul Carey from the "Western Mail", calling Austen his "favourite novelist". He also admitted that due to the acclaim he received for his adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice", there was pressure on him to get "Sense and Sensibility" right. Davies later stated that the aim of the miniseries was to make viewers forget about Ang Lee's 1995 film adaptation of the novel. The opening episode of "Sense and Sensibility" features the moment Willoughby seduces Eliza, a young schoolgirl. Davies told Carey and Claire Hill from the "Western Mail" that he wanted "to do justice" to