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It’s so much fun to conjure up a hero when writing a novel. He looks just like I want him to look, down to the thickness of his hair and the breadth of his hands. I don’t generally use visual aids–my imagination does just fine, thank you. But when the books come out, readers often want to know who would play these characters? I thought about it and present, for your viewing pleasure, the gentlemen of Hadley Green.
For the Year of Living Scandalously, I wanted a very handsome, black-haired, green-eyed Irish hunk in the role of Declan O’Conner, Lord Donnelly from County Galway. I instantly thought of Pierce Brosnan. He’s a little old for the role now (although he’s not too old for me, hubba-hubba:
But check him out a few years ago:
and:
For Lord Eberlin in The Revenge of Lord Eberlin, I needed someone who could be ruthless, but could also be devilishly handsome while being ruthless. it was tough, but I think Ryan Gosling suits very well. Imagine this man looking at you and calmly telling you that he will stop destroying your home in exchange for your virtue. Yowza. Hmm…home or me. Home or me. 
In the upcoming Seduction of Lady X, (on sale March 27!) I was focused on Harrison Tolly, who is the steward of the Carrey family holdings. He’s a man of principle and conviction, he is the model of propriety. And he harbors a blazing torch for someone he can’t have. This one was easy. Harrison Tolly would be played by Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame:
I am going to have to find one more leading man, as I am writing one last book in the Secrets of Hadley Green series. Look for The Last Debutante next spring!
Happy Fros!
ALL are great leading heroes for your recent series, Ms. London. I liked them all!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:43 am.
Robert Pattinson looks pretty hot in Bel Ami. He’d be a great new leading man
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/86.m6p4311NOqsSas6DkGQ–/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA–/http://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/blogs/the-bike-shed/robert-pattinson-bel-ami-1.jpg
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:37 am.
He’s be a great Eberlin. I am not familiar with that movie. Is it a new one?
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:56 am.
I just saw the trailer recently. Even though the reviews aren’t too good, I still want to see it… love costume dramas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlFlZVLG46c
It’s based on a novel by a French author.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:32 am.
I always had a thing for Pierce Bronson. Good choices
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:55 am.
Excellent inspiration, Julia! Pierce has been a favorite of mine since way back in the day and was the image I immediately thought of when I first “met” Declan.
I’ve been having a hard time visualizing Lord Eberlin. No more! Ryan Gosling is perfect!
Everyone who has fallen in love with Downton Abbey (me!) should be thrilled with your third leading man. Counting down the days until March 27th!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 9:04 am.
Excellent choices… I can see why you were inspired!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:19 am.
Shut the front door! These men are too hot. I cam see how they were your inspiration. Keep us updated for your last choice…I can’t wait to find out.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:29 am.
Great choices, Julia! I could look at all of them all day long…but that would be very unproductive, sigh. Congrats on the new baby, er, The Last Debutante!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:30 am.
Pierce Brosnan is SO hot and the others aren’t too shabby either. He’s still my favorite Bond, James Bond, and I can see where you got your inspiration from all three. You have excellent taste in men, Julia.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:59 am.
I’ve always had a thing for Pierce Brosnan. He’s aged well too.
You’ve picked some great inspiration for a great series !! Can’t wait for the next one!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:00 am.
Chalk me up for some Pierce Brosnan. He can’t sing but he is totally lust worthy all the same.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:03 am.
Very interesting that you make a celeb connection after you’ve written the book. I prefer the hero to be whoever I want him to be while reading.
Great series, by the way. March 27 can’t come soon enough.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:06 am.
So happy to see that Pierce is still getting the love!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:15 am.
Julia,I have always had a crush on Pierce since his Remmington Steele days. He also makes a great James Bond. I loved Ryan Gosling in “The Notebook” and Dan Stevens is really yummy:)
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:17 am.
mmmmm How can you not like Hadley Green with those gentlemen running about?
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:21 am.
A VERY happy FROS!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:13 pm.
Dear Julia,
I find your hero-inspiration photos to be very distracting. Please stop showing us your awesome looking heroes while I’m trying to write about the hesitant beginning stages of a romance. Now my characters just want to jump into bed.
You are evil.
Regards,
Suzanne Enoch
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:48 pm.
Very funny!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:44 pm.
Ditto here!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:57 pm.
Oops. That was something else. What I mean to say was, You are Very Welcome Mz. Enoch
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:57 pm.
Now these Boyo’s I would be saying “Top O the Morning to ya” for sure…
Thanks for giving me a pre birthday and St.Patrick’s Day gift…What a more beautiful spring day this is turning out to be.
Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:56 pm.
*sigh* That does it, I am moving to Hadley Green!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:58 pm.
Wow, Ryan Gosling and Dan Stevens really could be brothers. They look a lot alike. Pierce Brosnan is definitely aging gracefully. Very inspiring, all three.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 3:43 pm.
I’ll take Pierce and Dan any day!!!
I love Downton and Pierce is my favourite Bond.
Julia you have exquisite taste! Thanks xx
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:01 pm.
How strange, Julia, that those men are exactly how I pictured your two heroes as I read your books, even though I did not associate them with “movie star” faces. Of course, Tobin would be unconventionally handsome or our heroine would never have accepted his dare. I’ve pictured Lily as a young Elizabeth Taylor, even though the book cover shows a brunette Tori Spelling. I think young Elizabeth was much yummier than Tori.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:15 pm.
I’m very happy to have hit the mark! Susan, Liz Taylor was gorgeous, and I kind of had her in mind, too. But this model is gorgeous, too.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:43 pm.
I found you my FROS!!! For some unknown reason my computer would not let me see today’s FROS. I became so alarmed I mentioned it on FaceBook, to which I was informed that it was only me who was having difficulty, everyone else was basking in the glory that is FROS! I am here now and I can be happy! Thank you Julia for stepping into the breach for Karen, you are a true friend of us all!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 6:48 pm.
Have always like Pierce.
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 12:05 am.
I’m so glad that I checked FROS. I can’t believe that I nearly forgot.
HUGE fan of Pierce Brosnan. Love Ryan Gosling. And Dan Stevens – yum. I can’t wait until the next season of Downton Abbey!!
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 1:07 am.
ALL GORGEOUS!!
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 3:40 am.
All excellent choices, Julia! Might I also suggest Luke Evans for Declan (since he should be the right age), and we can keep Pierce to ourselves.
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 9:43 am.
I could go with some Luke Evans
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:55 pm.
The time change got me all dis-combobulated and I missed FROS yesterday!! But whew, I made it here today and there was still some left for me to see.
Thank you!!
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 8:12 pm.
Ryan Gosling is exact who I pictured for Tobin.
Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:08 pm.