I used to think Marilla Cuthbert was a scary old bat, a crusty, rusty porcupine of a woman who wasn’t quite capable of loving dear Anne the way she needed to be loved. She seemed like someone’s mean teacher or least favorite aunt. What a crabby Patty!
But that was before I became a mother myself–an adoptive mother, at that.
Rereading the whole series again in recent years, while writing my Anne-braided memoir, I gained a whole new fascination for Marilla. She’s intimidating, to be sure, but deep beneath her cranky exterior beats the heart of a Mama Warrior!
Say what you will about “Anne with an E,” but the way the writers have given Marilla (and Matthew, who I am saving for Father’s Day week) a backstory is nothing short of a revelation. For me, it’s opened up all kinds of questions about Marilla:
Why was she so awful to Anne at first? There must be a reason.
And why is she so closed off from the world before Anne comes? Again, there must be a reason.
Did she ever long to belong to someone–a husband and children? The way she finally embraces Anne with her whole heart is beautiful. She seems so fulfilled by her role as Anne’s de facto mother. Really, Anne of Green Gables is Marilla’s story as much as Anne’s, as it shows her incredible emotional journey from harsh and defensive spinster to a protective and loving caregiver.
Marilla fan Fayelle says it all here of her favorite AOGG character:
“(She is) strict, simple, and seemingly unfeeling, but then she is moved in enormous ways by Anne,” Fayelle says. “If I met Marilla I’d be so intimidated by her but probably adore the mess out of her too.”
Truly, Marilla Cuthbert is an astonishing character, and to play her, an actress must be pretty dang astonishing herself.
Last week, I compared Megan Follows, Ella Ballentine and Amybeth McNulty as the three actresses who have recently (since 1985) portrayed Anne. I got some FABULOUS comments, so don’t slow your roll now, Anne Devotees of the Internet. Every comment will be entered in a contest to win this splendid Anne art print from Carrot Top Paper shop!
Here goes. Are you ready to rumble, Marilla Maniacs? Hint: This will be the very closest this blog series will get to a three-way tie!
1. Colleen Dewhurst, Anne of Green Gables, 1985
Pros: I adore the late Colleen Dewhurst, a keen and able actress who played Marilla so indelibly. First of all, her laugh is the best ever. When she cackles with glee, say, after Anne spouts some preposterous bit such as “I suppose in the end it was a romantic way to perish…for a mouse,” we also throw our heads back and join in. Her big, bad laugh is contagious, and never insincere. When Marilla laughs, she really laughs and makes us all join in the hooting. And her voice! Spectacular!
My favorite Colleen Dewhurst scene is the one after Matthew dies, and Marilla hears Anne sobbing helpless tears of grief. She comes in the room, holds her hurting child, and they comfort one another in a way only those who have lost the same loved one can. I always cry my eyes out, and rejoice that Anne has found such a woman to love her forever.
Cons: It’s hard to find a con here, but here’s an observation: Compared to Geraldine James’ Marilla in “Anne with an E,” Dewhurst’s Marilla seems older, more out of touch, more like a grandmother than a mother.
2. Sara Botsford, “L. M. Montgomery’s ‘Anne of Green Gables’, 2016
Pros: As I wrote here, I had some serious issues with this retelling. But again, this was not the fault of Sara Botsford, whom I quite liked as Marilla.
I wrote: “…Sara Botsford turns in a strong, subtle performance as the crusty yet not entirely un-kindred spirit Marilla. We watch her confusion (they were supposed to get a boy from the orphanage) turn to turmoil–should they keep Anne?–and then to fascination and tenderness. Botsford is well cast and adds her own shadings to the character.”
Cons: This series just skims the surface of the AOGG story, skipping lightly from caper to caper. The format hardly gives an actress of Botsford’s calibre a chance to show her stuff.
3. Geraldine James, “Anne with an E,” 2017
Pros: At first, James’s Marilla seems like the meanest one of all, but soon her armor begins to dissolve, and we see the blazing heart of Anne’s new champion. Really, I was won over completely by the scene in Episode 2 or 3, when Anne, having been bullied at school runs home to the comfort of Marilla, who enfolds her in the most satisfying, motherly fashion. Oh my stars–that scene just broke me.
I wrote here:
“Anne’s heartbreak is now being tended by loving hands, which makes this episode redemptive. She’s not alone anymore. Now she has Marilla, a budding mother, whose hard facade is cracking open more by the day. It’s no wonder Geraldine James is an OBE (a recipient of the Order of the British Empire) for her acting.”
It’s subjective, I know, but I feel as if somehow this Marilla and this Anne bond in a deeper way. At least, their relationship was incredibly compelling to me. They grew to respect one another, and that was such a joy to witness. You knew without being told explicitly that Marilla loved this new daughter of hers to the moon and back. You knew Marilla would take an arrow to the chest for Anne, just by the look on her face when she gazed at her.
Cons: Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL for Anne and Marilla being strong, competent, autonomous, able, etc. But some of the modern feminism seemed a little clunky to me sometimes. Was this Marilla’s feminism really true to the book’s character?
For me, the Best Marilla goes to…
Geraldine James, by a hair. While I absolutely honor Colleen Dewhurst’s wonderfully crusty, cackling, and nuanced performance, the way that James’ Marilla conveys fear, uncertainty, loyalty, and a slow-burning love–for a girl she never wanted but now cannot live without–is breathtaking. She had me at the moment she opened her arms to Anne and embraced her as her own heart’s “kin.”
Who is YOUR favorite Marilla and why?
Tell me below, respectfully, of course, and we can all talk about Anne, Anne, ANNE until the cows come home (or they get let out of the pasture by mistake!)
Every comment on my blog from now until my “Who is the Best Anne Character?” blog series is done in four weeks will be entered in a contest to win a fetching Anne of Green Gables art piece or frameable quote from my favorite Etsy shop, Carrot Top Paper Shop!
I’m not quite finished “Anne with an E” because I’m reviewing each episode for my podcast and I can’t watch more than one episode a week or I will get confused.
I love Colleen Dewhurst. She was how I always envisioned Marilla in my imagination.
But Geraldine James is fascinating. I love the character development we are getting with Marilla and Matthew in “Anne with an E.”. I also love how Anne and Marilla are on parallel journeys. Learning how to risk rejection and push past that fear and learn to love and be loved in return.
So for bringing more depth to Marilla, I will ageee with you and say I believe Geraldine James is my favourite Marilla.
Aimee, this: “Learning how to risk rejection and push past that fear and learn to love and be loved in return.” Yes! And also, can’t wait to listen to your Anne Heads podcast!!! XO
Colleen dewhurst is my favorite. I feel like she was so perfect for the role and I loved the slow affection but that you could see that twinkle in her eye. I loved the scene where she went out to the field after the prayer conversation with anne.
I do agree though that Geraldine James does a great portrayel. I started Anne with an e and after episode 2 decided to stop but then changed my mind. After 3 I was discusted with the show but still decided to finish it. After having watched the whole season now I still don’t like it. I won’t ever watch it again. But I think her portrayel of marrilla is one of the best things about it.
Hi Cheryl! I take your opinion very seriously. I agree, love the twinkle in Colleen’s eye and the scene where she goes out in the field is wonderful. Thank you for reminding me about that scene.
My vote is for Geraldine! (We’re on a first-name basis!). A couple of reasons for my choice: one, I don’t have clear memories of the original series, although I did rewatch with the girls when they were younger. Second, Marilla is possibly my favorite character in this series. As the show progressed, her nurturing, mother heart shows itself more and more. She is vulnerable, compassionate, a mother, and has a dry wit that makes me laugh. I think she had suppressed her desire for children (because of the hardships in her own life) and now, with Anne, there is permission to be a mom! I am so interested in seeing how she and Anne navigate the next series, when (gulp) Matthew passes. The last episode was so poignant–Anne and Marilla working together to save the farm!
I love this, Heather:
“I think she had suppressed her desire for children (because of the hardships in her own life) and now, with Anne, there is permission to be a mom! I am so interested in seeing how she and Anne navigate the next series, when (gulp) Matthew passes. The last episode was so poignant–Anne and Marilla working together to save the farm!”
Yes, their mutual affection and respect is inspiring!
I’m sorry but I can’t choose between Colleen and Geraldine. I love Colleen’s edge and humour, but Geraldine is giving Marilla some new facets that are compelling and pull the heartstrings.
I love that you can’t choose! I hated to choose! I agree that Geraldine brings new facets…
I am so glad you are doing this post. I have been waiting to watch the 80s Anne until I finish Anne with an E, but I am excited to hear that both Marillas are very well cast — as the book Marilla is so wonderful. Anne’s story is very much, as you said, Marilla’s story, too, as Anne is an almost static character compared to the dynamic changes she provokes in Marilla’s life through the novels.
Love this comment, Courtney: “Anne is an almost static character compared to the dynamic changes she provokes in Marilla’s life through the novels.”
I’m glad I found this lovely blog Lorilee. It brought Anne back to me, more than the new series did, by allowing me to express and share my thoughts with other kindred spirits.
So Marilla is next. Let’s see…I’ll start by getting Sara Botsford out of the way. She did a fine job with what she was given but as I mentioned in my other posts, I am of the opinion that the series she was in was lacking in quality. The directing, the script, it was all very average and although the actors were the best it had to offer, they just didn’t have much to work with. So Sara is my 3rd choice.
Next is the classic Colleen Dewhurst. She is a classic for a reason. She is the person I imagine as Marilla whenever my mind remembers the books. She has been my mental image for this character for so long that it is hard to replace her now. I remember her laughter and share on Lorilee’s opinion that it is the best thing ever. I remember much more from her because the miniseries covered a lot more story than we have yet to experience in the recent version. In spite all of this she will be my 2nd.
Finally we have Geraldine James. She starts by being a fine actress with enough experience under her belt to pull off playing this complicated and nuanced character. Then she’s lucky to have such a great script to work with. Not only is she asked to be Anne of Green Gables Marilla, she’s also asked to be Moira Walley-Beckett’s Marilla. This great writer gives this incarnation of the beloved character a new depth by adding more background to her story. She is put in new situations that feel much more real and dark which allows any actor to really show their quality and shine brighter. The scene in episode 2 where Marilla asks Anne for forgiveness just sealed the deal for me. Even though they’ve only met you feel and believe the true bond that has just been created between the two. There is no scene like it in Colleen’s version. Geraldine is my 1st.
In the end I am most graceful to all of these actors for bringing me great joy as I relived Anne’s story through their interpretations.
Mori, you are rich in insights, my dear!
Thank you for your multifaceted thoughts on each actress and the beloved character of Marilla.
And thanks for this: “It brought Anne back to me, more than the new series did, by allowing me to express and share my thoughts with other kindred spirits.”
I thought Marilla was cold at the beginning out of fear. Matthew is her brother, her only living relative, her closest companion. He’s the one she loves and relies on most, and they initially seek to adopt to help him. She’s thinking about his welfare, the person she loves most, & when it turns out Matthew comes home with a girl and he won’t get any of the help he needs her fear of losing Matthew comes out as being harsh and cold toward Anne (who she doesn’t even know yet). It’s funny, I never noticed that in the original Anne, but was something I observed in Anne with an E. I didn’t realize before how much Marilla loved Matthew. It was another heartbreaking revelation for me. The depth of this version was striking.
Incredible insight, Heather! Yes, we see Marilla’s love for Matthew in a new way!
My 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Crowner was my Marilla. We were all lead to believe she was hard as nails, and in many ways she was. But she stands out as the teacher I learned the most from, and I came to admire and even like her tremendously.
I love that you shared about your real life Marilla! I can totally picture Mrs. Crowner!
Hands down Colleen Dewurst. While I’m sure others can put it more eloquently, I can only say that she’s always my Marilla in my imagination. She’s steady and firm, soft and warm-hearted inside – but you know, she’s completely motherly in that way. I love that about her. She’s multifaceted… and I just feel like she must have been almost exactly what L.M. Montgomery was imagining.
I think you put it quite eloquently, Sarah! 🙂
Colleen Dewhurst is my favorite by a long shot. I can’t pretend I’m not biased, though. I grew up with this series and actually wore the tapes out before I was old enough to break down the books from reading them so often. While I believe the other two actresses gave Marilla their own enjoyable spin, I love how Colleen’s portrayal unfolds.
Thanks, Amanda! Especially, thanks for at least keeping an open mind to the other two actresses! 🙂 I love that you wore out the tapes AND broke down the books!
I kind of have my own Marilla in my mind, but I agree with you-Colleen’s laugh is the best!
The very best laugh! 🙂 Although someone suggested she laughed like that because of too many cigs…so I am trying to block that out!
Hello I just found this site. I enjoyed your description of the three productions. I haven’t (and probably won’t finish the Sara Botsford production), it just annoys me.
I loved Colleen back in the day and I agree she has a marvellous laugh borne of too many cigarettes I’m sure.
I adore Geraldine’s portrayal though. She is so nuanced. So strait laced (that belt!) at first. Anne’s prattling would drive you nuts. But she’s impressed with Anne’s resourcefulness and you see cracks in her amour. The way she touches her cheek in the last episode implies that it’s been a long long time since anyone kissed her there.
Can’t wait for the next series.
I just got a chill remembering how Marilla touched her cheek..you hit on the high points, here, Caroline! Thanks!
I started with your blog post on who played Gilbert better and worked my way backwards… partially because I knew that it would be more difficult for me to choose when it comes to Marilla. ARGH. Ok, here goes nothing…
Since I haven’t watched the 2016 version of AOGG, I cannot give a fair of accurate option of Sara Botsford’s portrayal of Marilla. She might be fabulous in the role, but I simply have to say that I don’t know since I haven’t watched it. If I ever do decide to watch it I might have to come back with further thoughts.
I adore Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla. She loved Anne fiercely and the older both she and Anne got, the more comfortable she seemed to feel in showing Anne how much she loved her. One of my favorite Colleen Dewhurst scenes is when Anne leaves for Queens and Matthew and Marilla see her off at the station… as Anne waives goodbye from the train Marilla says that she couldn’t help wishing she had stayed a little girl. Matthew said “she sure had her queer little ways,” and Marilla, with tears in her eyes, replied “I loved her for them.” Marilla changes perhaps more than any other character in AOGG throughout the story. If I could change one thing about Colleen Dewhurst’s portrayal I think that I would make her more comfortable showing affection to Anne when she is younger. I feel like Geraldine James might have the edge a bit in this area. However, I love your comments about Collen’s laugh. It’s just contagious and it expresses her pure and utter joy and delight in Anne and her escapades. For me, her laugh (and sense of humor overall) edges her out by a tad. I feel like humor is something that is greatly missing from Anne With an E in general,and that’s so sad because L.M. Montgomery was excellent at incorporating humor into her writing.
Geraldine James gives a fantastic portrayal of Marilla–I love when new actors take on roles of characters that I have loved for a very long time and force me to challenge my own biases in regards to the portrayal of the character. Geraldine does just that (as Lucas Jade Zumann does with his portrayal of Gilbert). This Marilla also loves Anne fiercely and is, perhaps, less inhibited in showing it. One of my favorite scenes between Anne and Marilla in Anne With an E is when Anne gets her period for the first time and she thinks that she’s dying and Marilla comforts her and assuages her fears. Geraldine’s Marilla feels a bit more in-touch and more “in the trenches” with Anne in regards to life issues like helping her understand her period. This could, perhaps, be due to the differences in the adaptions and the aspects that they focus on, but I do very much enjoy this about Geraldine’s Marilla.
I have been struggling with actually making a choice here the entire time I have been typing this post. I almost decided to conclude that I just couldn’t choose one, but decided not to let myself take the easy way out here. I do love a good challenge. SO…. I think I will give my “who played it best” for this round to Colleen Dewhurst. Her laugh, her joy and delight in Anne and her all-around sense of humor is something that greatly endeared the 1980’s adaption to me and something that I feel is vastly missing from Anne With an E. I do hope that as Anne With an E continues that they will delve more into the humorous side of AOGG– it’s definitely there, just waiting to be explored!
“Matthew said “she sure had her queer little ways,” and Marilla, with tears in her eyes, replied “I loved her for them.””: Tears!
And:
“I do hope that as Anne With an E continues that they will delve more into the humorous side of AOGG– it’s definitely there, just waiting to be explored!”
I know this is an old posting but anyway….I’ve seen all three and I have to say my favorite hands down is Geraldine James’ Marilla. The scene when Anne first arrives is hard to watch, I admit. And the missing brooch was excruciating. I believed Marilla was heartbroken when she thought Anne had turned out to be a thief and that angered her as she had began to open he heart up already. Her panic and guilt over how she had treated Anne was palpable as Matthew searches for her. The evolution of their relationship, their love, felt so real. To be fair, Anne with an E is by far my favorite so maybe I’m biased. I think the so called darkness ppl complained about was far more accurate so when the bond and the love became so strong with the Cuthbert family and they became a happy family, it made it intensely joyful.