Miss Potter (2006)

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness, and success.

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writer:

Richard Maltby Jr.

Stars:

Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Zellweger	...	Beatrix Potter
Ewan McGregor	...	Norman Warne
Emily Watson	...	Millie Warne
Barbara Flynn	...	Helen Potter
Bill Paterson	...	Rupert Potter
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Miss Wiggin
Lloyd Owen	...	William Heelis
Anton Lesser	...	Harold Warne
David Bamber	...	Fruing Warne
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Warne
Patricia Kerrigan	...	Fiona
Lucy Boynton	...	Young Beatrix
Oliver Jenkins	...	Young Bertram
Justin McDonald	...	Young Heelis
Judith Barker	...	Hilda

Storyline

In 1902, in London, spinster Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) lives with her bourgeois parents. Her snobbish mother, Helen Potter (Barbara Flynn), had introduced several bachelors to Beatrix until she was twenty-years-old, but she had turned them all down. Beatrix Potter has been drawing animals and making up stories about them since she was a child, but her parents have never recognized her as an artist. One day, Miss Potter offers her stories to a print house, and a rookie publisher, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor), who is delighted with her tales, publishes her first children's book. This success leads Norman to publish two other books, and Miss Potter meanwhile becomes the best friend of his single sister Millie Warne (Emily Watson). Soon Beatrix and Norman fall in love with each other, but Helen does not accept that her daughter would marry a "trader". However, Beatrix's father Rupert Potter (Bill Paterson) proposes that his daughter spend the summer with his wife and him in their ...

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Plot Keywords:

illustrator | character name as title | beatrix potter character | adult lives at home | picture book | 

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Taglines:

One of the greatest love stories never told

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of the farm boy, William Heelis, was based on Beatrix Potter's real husband who studied law.

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Goofs

In the film the book "The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck" is shown to be published followed by "The Tale of Two Bad Mice" then "The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle". In reality "Two Bad Mice" and "Tiggy-Winkle" were released in 1904 and 1905 respectively and "Jemima Puddle Duck" wasn't published until 1908 with five other books in the intermediate years.

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Quotes

Beatrix Potter: [voiceover] There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. Mine took me here, where I belong.

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Connections

Referenced in Getaway: UK 4 Every 1 (2007)

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Soundtracks

Let Me Teach You How to Dance
Music by Nigel Westlake
Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr.
Performed by Ewan McGregor
Another Name Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

An Engaging, delightful surprise

Only the most curmudgeonly won't delight in this tender, inventive movie -- Miss Potter.

There aren't many movies that one can recommend to all of his or her friends, but Miss Potter may be the rare exception.

It has flair, style, and humanity.

Rene Zellwegger -- not everyone's favorite -- only occasionally simpers in her sensitive, forceful performance as writer Beatrix Potter.

Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson fit perfectly into their very likable characters.

The direction, screenplay, and art direction are all first-rate. And the sparing use of animation is wonderful. Peter Rabbit never looked so charming.

Details

Country:

UK USA Isle Of Man

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miss Potter

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,653, 31 December 2006

Gross USA:

$3,005,605

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,078,241

Company Credits

Production Co:

Phoenix Pictures, UK Film Council, Grosvenor Park Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1