“Lizzie Bennet” Stars Ashley Clements and Daniel Gordh Talk YouTube’s “Pride & Prejudice”

The stars of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries YouTube phenomenon – Ashley Clements (Lizzie Bennet) and Daniel Vincent Gordh (William Darcy) – join Shira Lazar and co-host Tyler Oakley in the What’s Trending studio to answer fan questions about the webcam adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

While Daniel only recent came onto the scene in today’s episode, Ashley’s been with the project from the start and she says of the show’s runaway success, “None of us had any idea that it would turn into this.”

“This story’s been so popular for so long and people want to hear it again,” Daniel says of Austen’s timeless tale of love. “People are happy to have it re-told in new ways.”

Ashley proceeds to translates the plot onto today’s traditional rom-com format. “They actually become better people because they know each other and they love each other and I think that’s what we all want, right?”

The characters’ personalities can also be easily translated into a modern setting. “She’s flawed,” Ashley says of what she loves about Lizzie. “She is an imperfect person in an imperfect world and she is doing her very best. She doesn’t always do the right thing but she is always willing to learn.”

Meanwhile, Daniel says of Darcy, “He’s someone who has very strong values. Even if he comes off pretentious, he has the best intentions.”

The show is also playing a major role in reinventing how audiences interact with scripted programming. Not only do the actors engage with viewers via social platforms, but the characters have their own Twitters, Facebook pages, and Tumblrs, fostering a multi-layered, meta user experience.

Be a part of that dedicated fanbase and watch “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries” every Monday and Thursday at 9 a.m. PT on YouTube and follow @TheLBDofficial on Twitter – along with Ashley Clements and Daniel Gordh!

Subscribe to co-host Tyler Oakley on YouTube and follow him on Twitter.

For all of your YouTube exclusives and interviews with today’s hottest celebrities innovating online, subscribe to What’s Trending and join us LIVE every weekday at noon pt/3 pm est on YouTube.