MovieChat Forums > Vanity Fair (2004) Discussion > Becky pregnant in key scenes in book?

Becky pregnant in key scenes in book?

posted 17 years ago by phoenixgirl1212
6 replies | jump to latest

My guess is that the producers wrote Reese Witherspoon's pregnancy into the script. Highly pregnant women would not have been attending balls or receiving propositions of adultery. She also appeared to be pregnant in the later scenes in the film -- when the Marquess de Steyne comes on to her and when she is living years later in Germany. Her clothes were always loose-fitting and it seemed like she was often sitting or standing behind an object.

Do she and Rawdon have a child in the book? If so, does much happen during her pregnancy?

It also bothered me that the producers did little to make her and Amelia look like women in their 40s at the end.

[–] krazyj2472002 17 years ago

I haven't read the book but obviously they had to work around Reese's pregnancy. It was obvious she was pregnant from the very first scene of the movie and it made me nuts. I can't believe they were so desperate for Reese Witherspoon to play this part that they did not recast! It's all I can see in any scene. No matter how many scarves they had draped on her, rugs they had her carry, couches she stood behind... this is what you do when you have a 'regular' on a television series who becomes pregnant...NOT a role in a major motion picture. Recast or wait til she has delivered her baby and film the movie with the character appearing the way she should appear.

[–] randommovies2002 17 years ago

No, they didn't write the pregnancy into the script. They were trying to hide it, but failed miserably, didn't they?

[–] SpiderManGrrl 17 years ago

I thought they were glad she was pregnant because the character was supposed to be big and full figured.

R.I.P. Ennis Del Mar. Heath Ledger- 1979-2008

[–] randommovies2002 17 years ago

No she isn't.

Rebecca is repeatedly referred to as "petite" in the novel. Her feet are described as being "little" and her foot as "the prettiest little foot" and her shoe as "the prettiest little sandal" (chapter 37).

[–] gemini5291-1 17 years ago

Randommovies is right in context of the novel. But I read somewhere that Mira Nair was reported to be THRILLED upon discovering that Reese was pregnant. Why this should be I don't know, especially as Becky in the book is described as being slight, petite and almost childishly figured.

[–] BeBeSee 16 years ago

Well, I guess it worked for the few scenes where she was SUPPOSED to be pregnant. It certainly added a nice effect in the scene where she says goodbye to Rawdon before he goes to battle and he kisses her very pregnant belly.

Like the above posters have said though, overall they did do a rather terrible job at hiding the pregnancy.