Laurie Love
5 ‘Little Women’ Lauries, Ranked
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is a timeless story of family, sisterhood, and coming of age. In the years since the novel’s 1868 release, the story of the March sisters has been adapted for the big and small screen several times.
Every generation has their version of Little Women (and Laurie) that they love and adore. Timothée Chalamet most recently starred as Laurie in Greta Gerwig‘s astounding 2019 adaptation. An entire generation of girls fell in love with Christian Bale as Laurie long before he became Batman.
But some of the performances rank high above the rest. Since it’s Little Women season, Swooon is ranking the five best Lauries to hit the screen. Who is your favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
5. Peter Lawford, Little Women (1949)
Now, Peter Lawford definitely looked way too old to be playing teen Laurie (he was 26 when the movie came out), but it was the 1940s. His performance as Laurie just wasn’t up to par with the other Lauries on this list. The big declaration of love moment was devoid of any movement and, really, any emotion. Lawford and June Allyson sit down the entire time. This was a turning point in the movie, and Lawford’s Laurie fell flat. We needed more! Everyone has their own opinions about their Lauries, but this guy just wasn’t it for Swooon.
4. Christian Bale, Little Women (1994)
For most millennials, Christian Bale was your introduction to Lauries on the big screen. And he’s not a bad Laurie! Just not the best. He was a little cold as Laurie in the 1994 adaptation. When Jo (Winona Ryder) rejected Laurie, Bale’s performance felt half-baked. This moment needed more groveling and heartbreak. Also, we just can’t condone that goatee later in the film.
3. Douglass Montgomery, Little Women (1933)
The 1933 adaptation is a classic for a reason. Katherine Hepburn was the perfect Jo March, and her chemistry with Douglass Montgomery‘s Laurie was excellent. A perfect onscreen match. Montgomery was everything you needed out of a Laurie at the time: handsome and sensitive. This film is nearing 100 years old, and it still stands the test of time.
2. Jonah Hauer-King, Little Women miniseries (2017)
The Masterpiece on PBS Little Women miniseries didn’t get the love it deserved. Jonah Hauer-King first flexed those Disney prince muscles as Laurie long before he was Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. His chemistry with Maya Hawke‘s Jo was excellent and watching his wide range of emotions — from anger to devastation — as he revealed his true feelings was riveting to witness. The miniseries was a loyal adaptation, albeit a bit slow, and Hauer-King was one of the shining stars.
1. Timothée Chalamet, Little Women (2019)
The best Little Women Laurie is the most recent. When Gerwig announced she’d be helming a new adaptation of Little Women, we knew it would be good. We didn’t know it would be a masterpiece. Gerwig brought together a magical ensemble that included Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, and Chalamet.
In Alcott’s novel, Laurie is the charming boy-next-door who falls in love with Jo and then her sister after she rejects him. Chalamet elevated the character unlike any other portrayer before him. Chalamet’s Laurie was charming, yes, but he was also incredibly sensitive and thoughtful. After Chalamet’s hillside monologue where his Laurie professed his love for Jo, he eclipsed every other actor. His delivery of “I figured you’d love me, Jo,” was devastating and perfect and I could watch it a million times.
But he didn’t stop there. Chalamet, along with Pugh and Gerwig, managed to make the Laurie/Amy pairing make sense for once. Laurie had love for both Jo and Amy, but Amy was the woman he needed. It’s a difficult feat to make you root for a character who is in two different relationships over the course of one film, but Chalamet did it with ease. He’s the King of Lauries, and it’s not even close.
