Who's the sexiest Mr Darcy?

Matthew Macfadyen and Colin Firth

Forget the new Government, Air New Zealand layoffs, Saddam Hussein or bird flu - the big issue of the week may be who makes the sexier Mr Darcy: Colin Firth or Matthew Macfadyen?

The new (and umpteenth) version of Jane Austen's 1813 novel of manners and marriage, Pride and Prejudice, sees Macfadyen - last seen in the film of Maurice Gee's novel In My Father's Den - challenging Firth for the prize of sexiest thing to fill a pair of 18th-century breeches.

The BBC's 1995 television series made Firth a surprised and rather reluctant sex symbol.

It's the story, you see.

Austen's tale of middle-class Elizabeth Bennet and the repressed, considerably wealthier Mr Darcy creates the most romantic and erotic tension possible between fully clothed characters.

The new film, also starring Keira Knightley and directed by Joe Wright, opened in Auckland on Thursday night.

A highly unscientific survey on Queen St didn't find a hands-down winner, but did reveal that women knew why they had a favourite.

"I'd say deffo Matthew Macfadyen," said one.

"Colin Firth just isn't, well, manly. Charming, perhaps, but that's not enough to ring one's bell and wave one's knickers in the air.

"Matthew Macfadyen is much more the smouldering type. Colin Firth did make an excellent arrogant twat, though. I'll give him that."

Here's Amy Baker, an avowed Firth fan: "If you saw him in Girl with a Pearl Earring [in 2003], his eyes were like milk chocolate buttons that were melting, and you just wanted to pick them out and eat them!"

Er, right you are then.

For Jackie Wadham, 51, it's also about Firth's eyes.

"They talk to you more [than Macfadyen's]. They say 'come hither', definitely."

Funny what some people will reveal to a complete stranger on the street.

"Oooh!" shuddered one woman, rolling her eyes. "Colin Firth ... him in leather pants on a motorbike!"

But a couple of 18-year-olds plumped immediately for Macfadyen.

Sorry Colin, they said, you lost some of your sex appeal playing such a dork in the film Bridget Jones' Diary, which leans very heavily on Austen's story.

Some women who had gone into Pride and Prejudice as avowed Firth fans were wavering.

"Ooh," said a colleague, "I have to say I'm leaning very heavily towards Matthew.

"I never thought I would say it, but I really thought the movie was better than the TV show. Matthew's voice is spectacular, so deep and caramelly."

Another admitted she just couldn't choose.

"In the afterglow of the film, I'd say Matthew. But I think that might be a bit unfair on poor Colin, whose breeches I would happily have jumped a few years ago."

COLIN FIRTH

Born 1960.

Played in TV series Pride and Prejudice in 1995.

Has played a Mr Darcy on three occasions. Once in Pride and Prejudice (1995) (mini), in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and again in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).

Married to Livia Giuggioli, two children.

MATTHEW MACFADYEN

Born 1974.

Played spy Tom Quinn in BBC drama Spooks.

Came to NZ to film In My Father's Den.

Married to actor Keeley Hawes, one daughter.