Nancy's image has changed from her creation to today. Everything from her wardrobe to her hair color hasn't been the same. I'm going to go through her image and appearance, as well as other changes, from her creation to today.
With the changes that happened, I want to say that what hasn't changed is her love of mysteries and empowerment of women. She has encouraged young girls for decades and the idea of Nancy Drew has not died since her creation.
A Brief History
Nancy Drew was created in 1930 by Edward Stratemeyer and maintained by ghostwriters. To this day, various Nancy Drew series are written by ghostwriters under the name "Carolyn Keene". She is known for her courageous solving of dangerous mysteries, her sense of style, her roadster, her father being a lawyer, and her hometown of River Heights. Her constant friends are Ned Nickerson, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne.
Starting with the 1930s and 1940s books, her hair color changed from strawberry blonde to red with one misprint. This is why she is sometimes blonde and sometimes a redhead. Her clothes are usually updated based on when something was filmed or written.
Her image started with a long scarf, a knee-length dress, short hair under a hat, and thick heels. She started as blonde, but it began to vary. Her character was daring, fashionable, and well-liked by everyone, except the culprit. She's not a goody-two-shoes, but she isn't a rebellious teenager either. Danger doesn't phase her.
From here, we got different Nancy Drew series sprouting in the forms of TV , movies, games, and books. I'm going to start with the TV shows and the distinct differences in how she is portrayed.
TV Shows
TV Shows
Nancy Drew Hardy Boys Series - This started in the 70s and Nancy Drew wasn't a part of the third season. The third season was the end of the whole series (just Hardy Boys by then). She is portrayed as her spunky self and they suggest that she and Frank Hardy have a romance (what is known by fans as "Francy"). That suggestion has stood the test of time in several other series.
Nancy Drew 1995 - This series is not well known. It has one season, is a drama, and doesn't get much discussion. It takes place in Los Angeles. She is 21 and a criminologist. The show was canceled mid-season due to low ratings. I have personally watched two episodes and never want to own it.
Nancy Drew CW - This is new, as of 2019, as in brand new. So far my impression of it, based on reviews, is that this Nancy is nothing like the books. It may have the same name as Nancy, but the relationships, town, and plot are different. I could go on about this for a while, but the bottom line on this one is that Nancy Drew here is unlike Nancy Drew anywhere else. It is more sexualized, also.
Books Series
Given that the original series is the 1930s and 1940s books, I won't be talking about that series and differences because it is the standard. Every book series has a different tone, but all have the name Carolyn Keene.
Nancy Drew files - The book series started in 1986 and focuses on romance and drama, as well as mystery. In this one, Nancy sometimes has men other than Ned. It is more dramaful than the original books from 1930 and 1940.
Girl Detective - The book series is set in current day. The setting is in River Heights, just like most everything else. She has the same characteristics as the original Nancy, just in modern-day time. I personally love this one, mostly because it has the same charm as the originals with modern mysteries. This one includes Deirdre Shannon as a main character, too.
Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Supermysteries - This series started in 1988 and supports the idea of "Francy" to the max. It also has some drama about romance here and there, with a lot of good mystery mixed in. I like these ones, too, mostly because I like the idea of "Francy".
Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Supermysteries II - An intersection of girl detective and undercover brothers, this is set in modern day and is also as fun as Girl Detective. The title explains itself, so I don't think I need to explain much. It has the same feel as Girl Detective because it's the same publisher, and maybe similar ghostwriters.
On campus - With this one it is mostly a soap opera in a book, with a mystery subplot. Nancy and Ned break up in this series. It began in 1995 and Nancy is going to college. It was not the most loved series if you expected a real mystery. She came across as less intelligent. To make a long story short, if you like soap opera you might like this one. If you wanted a mystery? Not so much.
Movies
When it comes to films, everyone likes a different Nancy. Some like the modern and some like the classic (1930s) Nancy. Whatever your taste, here's how each Nancy actress portrayed this teen sleuth.
Bonita Granville - She was Nancy in four short films, all of them made in 1939. They include Ned as "Ted" and don't imply a romantic relationship. She tends to solve the mystery however works and she has a fondness for her father and Ted, creating trouble for both. She's adorable, smart, and determined. Somehow, she also never gets in trouble herself, though she gets Ted into a lot of awkward situations.
Emma Roberts - Set in California, this Nancy has to avoid mysteries because her father doesn't want to worry about her. She picked a house with a mystery, oops. Emma Roberts portrays a goody-two-shoes, "I want to help people" Nancy with old fashioned values. She assumes the best in people, managing to make friends with some quirky classmates. Her and Ned seem to be at the beginning of their relationship. They kiss for the first time at the end of the movie. She is a bit out of place in Los Angeles and doesn't fit in, so she does get made fun of by a pair of girls in her new school. 
Sophia Lillis - This portrayal of Nancy is aimed at Millennials and younger. I loved it, but not everyone did. She rides a longboard and just moved to River Heights after her mother died. She and her father have some spats because she hadn't wanted to move away, but they reconcile. She is a bit reckless and plays a few pranks within the film. She ends up doing community service after the prank we see in the beginning. She grows up within the film, rather than being perfect immediately. The film also includes Helen Corning, a character from the books we rarely see in today's books and films.( Helen Corning acts more like Deirdre Shannon in the opening scenes. ) There is no Ned in this one, but there is Deputy Patrick, a nonromantic character. Like the books, Carson Drew (the father) is in danger.
Games
Nancy Drew games, DS and PC, are out there. Some of them are seek-and-find, while others put you in the place of Nancy Drew and you solve the mystery. Herinteractive makes Nancy Drew games and began making them in 1998 with Secrets Can Kill. They will be releasing another one December 3rd Midnight in Salem.
These games portray Nancy in a relationship with Ned. Nancy is calling Ned, Bess, George, and the Hardy boys for helpful hints and is often traveling. She unravels the mystery of what happened to her mother in Silent Spy and solves several mysteries tied to threats, murder, sabotage, and ghosts (though some of them may not be real).
This is a particularly long blog post, but it was worth it. This is a subject I love to talk about! Want to hear more? Comment below!
Sources:
http://nancydrew.info/nd0.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drew#1986%E2%80%931997:_Files,_Super_Mystery,_and_On_Campus
Pictures:
New York Times
Just Jared Jr.
Herinteractive wiki fandom
pinterest
thedailyfandom.com
flickeringmyth.com
theweek.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drew#1986%E2%80%931997:_Files,_Super_Mystery,_and_On_Campus
Pictures:
New York Times
Just Jared Jr.
Herinteractive wiki fandom
thedailyfandom.com
flickeringmyth.com
theweek.com
elite daily
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