The Princess Diaries

About The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries is a 2001 American coming-of-age film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Garry Marshall. Based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 novel of the same name, the film focuses on a teenager named Mia Thermopolis who discovers she is the heir to the throne of a European kingdom, Genovia. Throughout the film, Mia undergoes a transformation from an awkward teenager to a confident princess under the tutelage of her grandmother and queen of Genovia, Clarisse Renaldi.

Making / Production

Garry Marshall directed the film adaptation of The Princess Diaries, with a screenplay written by Gina Wendkos. The movie was filmed primarily in San Francisco and includes iconic locations like the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a commercial success, grossing over $165 million worldwide, and launched a sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Actors

• Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis: In her breakthrough role, Hathaway plays Mia, a teenager who discovers she's a princess. Hathaway brings charm and relatability to the character of Mia, making her transformation both believable and engaging.
• Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Renaldi: The evergreen Julie Andrews shines as Queen Clarisse, combining authority with a touch of warmth and humor.
• Heather Matarazzo as Lilly Moscovitz: Matarazzo plays Mia's best friend, Lilly, who supports Mia in her journey to becoming a princess.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was a breakout role for Anne Hathaway, establishing her as a leading lady in Hollywood.
• Jessica Alba auditioned for the role of Mia Thermopolis but ultimately lost out to Hathaway.
• Robert Schwartzman, who plays Michael (Lilly's brother and Mia's love interest), is the real-life brother of director Sofia Coppola.

Awards

The film was nominated for several awards, with Anne Hathaway earning a nomination for the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance. The film won the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress (Anne Hathaway).

Quotes

• "Just in case I'm not enough of a freak already, let's add a tiara." - Mia Thermopolis
• "The Queen is never late, everyone else is simply early." - Queen Clarisse Renaldi
• "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Queen Clarisse Renaldi

Music and Soundtrack

• The soundtrack features songs from artists like Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore, and NSYNC.
• It contains pop and teen pop genres typical of the early 2000s.
• The film's score was composed by John Debney.