I must confess that I saw Hitchcock's "Rebecca" first so I had preconceived ideas of Ms Van Hopper. However, I thought that Faye Dunaway was simply too physically attractive for Ms Van Hopper.
IMO, Cathy Bates would have been a more authentic casting: a much more appropriately matronly character.
Gladys Cooper, the original Ms. Van Hopper, was quite the angel, too, so I think the precedent had already been set. Of course, one should also observe that nothing in either films dictate that her appearance be homely or anything not resembling, for instance, Faye Dunaway. Being Mr. Dewinter's brother, the only detail implied about her appearance be that she bear a passing resemblance to Charles Dance. I guess they do.
shareI don't think that Faye Dunaway was miscast. Mr Van Hopper after all was a socialite, self obsessed woman seeking to meet "well known persons" at fashionable places like Monte Carlo. The book describes her as "large" ( just this, there is no mention about her age ), but large can mean a well built woman as well.. Not necessarily and older and physically unattractive one.
So I think that in the Hitchcock's version of Rebecca Mr Van Hopper was miscast.
Any time I watch Faye Dunaway in anything, I only ever see her portrayal of Joan Crawford.
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