Colin Firth’s costume from famous ‘Pride and Prejudice’ scene nets a tidy sum

What’s arguably the most famous wet shirt in TV history sold for $25,000 on Tuesday — water not included.

The white linen garment worn by Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC’s 1995 TV adaptation of“Pride and Prejudice”was the star item at an auction of film and TV costumes. Firth’s costume — including boots, moleskin breeches and velvet waistcoat — fetched double its top presale estimate of $12,700 during a sale at Kerry Taylor Auctions.

The total price is $32,000 (or 25,000 pounds in Firth’s native United Kingdom), once an auction house fee known as the buyer’s premium is added.

The scene in which Firth’s brooding heartthrob emerges from a pond, startling soon-to-be true love Elizabeth Bennet (played by Jennifer Ehle), once was voted the U.K.’s most memorable TV moment.

It was later re-imagined in a 2022 episode of“Bridgerton”in a scene featuring British actor Jonathan Bailey.

Firth referenced his own performance with further romantic soakings in “Love, Actually” in 2003 and “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” in 2004.

Other items up for sale included a 1950s ball gown worn by Madonna in the movie “Evita,” which sold for $50,000, and Johnny Depp’s costume for Ichabod Crane in “Sleepy Hollow,” which fetched $30,000.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Bright Foundation, an arts education charity founded by Academy Awardwinning costume designer John Bright. The items have been donated by his costume house, Cosprop.

“It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children, and enable young people to reach their full potential,” Bright said.