"There is something delicious about writing the first few words of a story..."

"....you can never quite tell where they'll take you."

     (Naomi is pink/mauve, Emma is green. Like the last time. We are back. To haunt you all. Mwuhahahahahaha. And by the way, this post will contain spoilers to some degree. We don't care about hiding spoilers.)

     Naomi and I had made a mental "list" of all the movies we wanted to watch during our time together, and since Miss Potter is one we both love DEARLY it was one of the first we thought of. We watched it the other night, and ohhhhhhhh my. *wipes tears*

     We must start with getting it from the library. Because the dvd forgets allll about the beautiful mustache (practically the only cinema mustache I like) and Norman Warne stands there completely bare-faced, and it is so WEIRD. It's like they thought it would attract more viewers or something. We however, love our Norman Warne best with his mustache. *Mustache rant over*

     (I think you're getting a little off-track, Naomi.)

    Let's get this started properly. WE LOVE THIS MOVIE. Terribly much. When the music began and the credits started sweeping across the screen, with Beatrix's hands fingering her paintbrushes and the watercolors and everything, we both simultaneously caught our breath and sighed (yes, it is possible to do at the same time) over this beautiful film that we both love so dearly. In Naomi's words, "It's like a piece of my heart."

    
     I KNOW. IT IS SO GOOD. And when the paintbrush dips into the water, and there's this puff of bluey cloudiness - YOU KNOW - and it just makes you want to jump up and devote your life to drawing and fulfilling the dreams of your creative heart. (I'm sounding terribly poetical today.) (But really. This movie does particular things to me. There's literally nothing I dislike about it.)

     It's true -- it does things to you. It's not entirely a happy movie -- goodness knows, there are some teary parts and if you have any heart at all you'll more than likely find yourself weeping -- but yet, it's so hopeful and optimistic and quirky and happy and you can't come away from watching it without feeling some spark of creative inspiration. At least, to us as Creative People (we flatter ourselves) it made us want to write, and draw, and paint.....which we did actually try, by the way, yesterday, but you're not allowed to see what we painted so don't even ask.

     The main character of the movie is, obviously, Beatrix Potter, so we're going to go ahead and tell you just what we think of her.

     
     The one word for our dear Beatrix ("that's to be the last of Miss Potter, I'm afraid") is quirky. And I mean that in the best way possible. She's different, she's cheerful, she's super kind as well as adorably stubborn in certain situations - and plus, she's insanely talented. (And she makes drawing life-like bunnies at the age of what, ten, look super easy. Believe me, it is not.)

     What I love about Beatrix is that she knows what she wants for herself, but she's not overly pushy about it. She's an unmarried woman, thirty-two years old, still living with her mother and father and doesn't have too many prospects in the way of marriage, which makes her something of a social outcast (or at least on her way in that direction.) So when she takes her little "bunny book" to the publisher's and *gasp* they decide to publish it, it opens a whole new world for her. Suddenly she's got something going for herself -- something entirely unique and entirely her own. Beatrix says about the book, "It's changed me," and it has -- she was always a lovely person, but I think after the book she had a new zest for life. It makes her even more enthusiastic about everything, which is lovely to see.

     (And then there's that bald lady in the corner observing everyone of her new adventures. Lets make her fall asleep so we can dance and get engaged in private. *ahem* Getting ahead here.) Anyway, so yes, Beatrix Potter is a darling - and she has the cutest little smile ever. I love how she gets so excited and enthusiastic about her books and her characters and her drawings - how she creates this whole imaginary world of her own, and completely blossoms as it becomes more and more popular.

Enter Norman Warne. (We like him too.)

    He's so awkward in the beginning, and it is super cute. (I hate to use the word cute to describe such a good fellow as Mr Warne, but sometimes words seem to fail.) Emma, back to you. I can't really explain why I like Norman Warne so much - he's not exactly a swoony type of hero, and neither would he be on my top ten hero list - but STILL. He's such a good sport and I reallyreallyreally like him.

     (If she loved him less, she might be able to talk about it more.) I agree, Norman is not the swoony type, but that's why I like him. He's not your typical hero; he's just a normal guy with a kind heart. I love how he and Beatrix start out as business partners, then friends, before anything like romance is introduced to the story (but then, I'm always the one for friendships before romance).

    (Saaaame.) And, if I might add, in comparison to his older brothers, he is DEFINITELY a swoony type.

     Are you ready to talk about his death? I'm not sure I am. IT IS SO SAD. Especially the second time watching, because you know the railway scene is their last scene together... and that their kiss in the steam is their last touch ever, because Beatrix doesn't even come back on time for the funeral. It's like he just disappears. First he writes her letters that she reads by beautiful lakes and rollicking hills; then she rushes to his house where she finds his sister dressed in black, and his brothers dressed in black, and that's it. BLEEHHH IT IS SO SAAAD.

   It is terribly sad. It's REALLY REALLY SAD. I didn't cry this time (probably because I've seen this movie about three times prior and I'd already gotten my tears out) but trust me, it's definitely tear-worthy. This is mostly due to the fact that Renee Zellweger is a fantabulous actress as well as one of the best on-screen "cryers" in Hollywood, in my opinion. She has such a sensitivity about her that makes you want to give her arm a squeeze and say, "It's going to be alright, you'll see." And then she'll go and do something amazing and you'll want to shake your fist in triumph and shout, "YEAH BEATRIX!" Her portrayal is very human, very sympathetic, and very strong.

     Wait, we were supposed to be talking about Norman, not Beatrix. (I've gotten slightly off-track. Whoopsie.) Ewan McGregor is a great actor too, no doubt about it. Also I love how his name is McGregor -- it fits, don't you think? One of those ironic little details that makes me smile. ;-)

     I love Millie. Aside from her wretched mop of hair, that is, and her ties, (I don't like ties on women. It just seems so out of place.) (For the record, Emma doesn't think Millie's hair is that bad. My own hair looks worse than that most days.)

     Millie Warne is a brick. (Which, by the way, is one of the two highest compliments that can be given a person. See me or my sister for the other one.) She's a true-blue friend, exactly the kind of companion Beatrix needs. I find it amusing how Millie has got their whole friendship plotted out and practically established before she even meets Beatrix. ;-P She's that kind of person -- if she likes you, she'll let you know, and everybody wants a friend who loves to spend time with them, right? I love Millie. I never found her "anti-man" speeches really offensive (as I've heard some do), because she's not overly pushy about it but rather endearing. What I LOVE, though, is when she confides to Beatrix that everything she's said about not getting married is "hogwash. What else is a woman on her own supposed to say?" Because that is so. so. true. Even today. Unmarried women so often tend to scorn men when it appears they're not wanted....but deep down, that's not usually how they genuinely feel. (Listen to my wise words. I know. I was one of them. At age twelve. Don't laugh.)

     Yes, I love that this movie empowers single women (none of that waiting for Prince Charming nonsense in these clever girls!!!), but also embraces the wonderful gift of marriage and romantic love. Millie and Beatrix (*cough* especially Millie) at first seem to reject any idea of husbands; they bond together and talk like they will be spinsters for the rest of her life. And then, when Beatrix tells Millie, as if embarrassed, that her brother proposed to her, Millie urges her to accept rather than the contrary. I love that scene so much. Beatrix is like, 'So you don't MIND?' And she says, 'You have a chance for love! Take it!' 

     IT'S JUST SO SWEET. I love their friendship.

     FIRST. LET ME TALK ABOUT HIS GHASTLY SIDEBURNS. This needs a proper rant right here. I was commenting on their atrocity throughout the movie (Emma and Sadie can vouchsafe to that) and before we started the review was like, 'I AM WRITING ABOUT HIS SIDEBURNS.' They are Ghaaaastly. How is he even accepted into society? How did people even come to the Christmas party at his house?

     (Sorry. I know. Looks ain't everything.) (But his looks really AREN'T everything.)

     Beatrix's parents are a study. As usual, her father is nice and her mother is not. (Were there any famous authors whose parents, both of them, approved of their work, I wonder?) I'm fond of Mr. Potter, despite his rather horrid mutton chops. I am not as fond of Mrs. Potter, who is a first-class snob and also happens to be played by Barbara Flynn whom I have a vendetta against left over from childhood and begun by the fact that she plays the mother of Horatio's undeserving wife in the last two Hornblower movies. (It's not Barbara Flynn's fault. I just hold on to my unreasonably prejudices anyway because I'm pigheaded and unreasonable.)

     Miss Potter's parents are an interesting couple. Mrs Potter is pretty nasty and does NOT take her daughter's art and talent seriously- (I mean really woman, just look at the way your eleven-year-old daughter draws a rabbit. BE IMPRESSED. NOW.) and Mr Potter also does not fully realise the extent of Beatrix' talent until she is a popular and published author. He is way nicer than Mrs Potter, though, and I just love it when he buys her book and gives her a proud daddy-hug.  

     Willie Heelis is Awesome with a capital A. I love the scene with little Beatrix and young Willie where she shows him her drawing of Jemima Puddleduck and they talk about life and what they think about it.....*ahem* (private joke). When I was younger and I watched this movie I thought young Willie Heelis was the biggest dreamboat ever. 

     (I still think he's cute.) 

     Older Willie Heelis is a fine, sturdy, dependable, kind person, and I love how he and Beatrix's friendship is rekindled when she comes back to the lake district. Oftentimes I don't like it when a character's spouse/fiance dies and then they go on to marry someone else...but in this case, I do. I wouldn't have wanted Beatrix to be lonely, and "Mr. Heelis" is a pretty great guy. They'd be happy together.

     Willie Heelis... ahhh. YES I LOVEEEE the scene when they are little kids; and they talk about Beatrix's characters in the rain. It's soooo cute and he's soo cute and she's sooo cute and they're sooo cute. It's at that moment that you start to fear that perhaps Norman Warne might not make it to the end anyway. I know, I know; I know what you're thinking: Beatrix and Norman are priceless together. (Because hey, Let Me Teach You How To Dance and All That.) But also, let's be honest here, I'm enormously glad that Beatrix found love again, and it feels so good that it's Willie.

     I love that Miss Potter is not a typical love story. It doesn't end with Lady and Man no. 1 ending up together. Yes, Lady loves Man no. 1., but she doesn't end up with him. This movie portrays real life in a way that other movies often don't. The movie spans a wide amount of years, obviously, but it shows us that one can get over sad times in our lives. That's what life is, you know - Ups and Downs - and Miss Potter shows all this in a beautiful and aching way. I'm glad she ended with Willie Heelis.

     WOW. That got deep.

     

     (I actually told her to say that. :-P)

     

     We love little Beatrix because she's perfectly adorable. Also because she's dreadfully creative and imagines her parents driving off in a pumpkin coach pulled by six white rabbits. 

     That's enough about little Beatrix. (Although yes'm, she's an adorable creature with a pathetically amazing drawing talent) but how about us talking about the dance scene?

     BLAHHH I just love this romance so much; it's just basically the cutest thing ever. I love that they are older than most movie couples (Hello, those sixteen-year-old heroines!) and I love that they're doing something 'scandalous' in the eyes of Beatrix's picky mother, but that it really is so beautifully innocent and sweet. It's Beatrix's first taste of romance; in her bedroom, in the arms of her almost-fiance... and he's singing for her. (To her, whatever.) I love the song; it's really simple, but it's also so twinkly and gorgeous and sweepy and swoopy AND ME LOVES.

     

     

     I love it too. Especially how Beatrix is so adorably awkward and won't look directly into his eyes...but I digress. I remember watching this movie when I was just a wee thing and sighing dreamily over this scene even then. :-)

     Everything about Miss Potter is timelessly lovely -- the music, the Victorian English setting, the darling characters, the lush green grasses of the lake district (and the MUSIC)....it's a movie that will always makes my heart sing, no matter how many times I watch it. It's a classic, in my book. It's something any period drama fan should watch, or any person who loves a good movie for that matter. (I'm overthinking this, clearly.) Point made: I love Miss Potter. It's one of my favorite movies of all time, and it was absolutely wonderful to watch it with my best friend for the first time. 

     Basically, there is nothing I dislike about this movie. Not a thing. And I'll leave you with that, after the following question: 

     Isn't this movie darling?!!!

     Yes. The correct answer is "yes".

Favourite Railway scenes

So, following this post here (in which I show you the epic emotional 'Daddy! Daddy' scene in 'The Railways Children' (which, naturally, is The Movie to look into when one is thinking of Railway scenes)), I am going to talk about my favourite Railway scenes in Costume Dramas. I love Railway scenes. They're so romantic, with all the lace hankies fluttering and waving, and the goodbye or hello kisses, and the steam, and the last-minute stuff going on. Seriously, one day I want to have my own romantic scene at a railway. It's just so easily romantic. :-)

I'm making a list, because it's my one weakness, and I'm going to end with my favourite of all. You know, keeping the best till last, because that's what people DO.

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1. North and South

This is probably one of the most gushed-over, most Squealed-with-capital-letters-over Railway scene in cinema history. I do like it, and it has given me feelsies which made me Feel Good. BUT, it's not my favourite ever. I'll take the liberty of explain why, if you don't mind.

Firstly, I think the kiss is too long. I personally prefer shorter, more simplistic and sweeter things. I like simple love scenes - I squeal more over a darling holding-hands-scene than a passionate, too private kissing scene which just doesn't seem to stop. Granted, North and South isn't that bad, but I think the kiss is a bit too much. Also, it's shown far to close. Just my opinion okay. Secondly, it drives me CRAZY that Mr Thornton has his shirt unbuttoned. I know, I know, it's a little thing of no consequence, but it Drives Me Crazy. And Thirdly, I think it's weird that they 1) Hardly talk and that 2) Margaret just goes back with him, forgetting about luggage or all that kind of thing.

But, yes, this train station scene is pretty epic and yes I DO love it. :-) It's just not the first one I would squeal over, that's all. (Also, I'm not a huge Mr Thornton fan. And also, North and South isn't my favourite Period Drama, really. But I DO love it. Don't get me wrong. ;-P (After all, I DID mention it in this post.))

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2. Anne of Green Gables

Haha, this is the only railway scene in this post that does not involve a romantic couple - (Ahem, m'dear, I wonder why.) - but seriously, WHO does not love the Anne of Green Gables scene where Matthew Cuthbert meets Anne Shirley for the first time?! (Only silly people with no imagination, that's who.)

I know it's not in the book (and seriously, I actually like this scene better in the book, because Anne talks more, and oh, I frankly can't have enough of the girls tongue, I can't) but I LOVE that they did the Matthew-hides-behind-the-corner-thing. It's adorable. It's really quite hilarious. GAH I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS.

And also, in that scene later on in the movie, where Matthew and Marilla say goodbye to Anne when she leaves to The Big School, it reminds us of when we met her first and it makes me rather emotional. I love that Matthew and Marilla talk about 'the lucky mistake' as the train goes off. Gack, it's the luckiest mistake ever invented. Thank you, Montgomery.

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3. Testament of Youth

Testament of Youth! Oh, how this movie makes me MOURN. It has three very very good Railway scenes, but I'm going with the second Vera and Roland one, because it's my favourite of the three, duhh. The first Vera and Roland railway scene is the one where they finally get to be alone without that chaperone, and where they kiss. (How surprised we all are.) I did really like that one. It was very well filmed, and very dramatic and epic. There's also another railway scene where Vera and her parents wave their brother/son off to war. Ugh, that scene was sad. Not that the others aren't. Haha.

In this scene, Vera and 'the Chaperone' find Roland waiting to be set off, with a fever. THE POOR BOY. He gets cared for by the ladies, and Vera tries hard to comfort him. He calms a bit, thank goodness, but the poor chap is scared to death, he is. Vera strokes and kisses him as much as she can as the train starts to move. I know it's cliché. BUT I LOVE IT. It's so sweet and romantic. *explodes in stars*

And then, together with all the other mothers, sisters, fiancés, girlfriends and wives, she waves frantically, sending last glances of encouragement. ISN'T THAT A SCENE.

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4. Miss Potter

And here we have the railway scene in Miss Potter! TALK ABOUT SWEETNESS. This couple is just too stinking sweet and oh this scene is just too good and oh. (That is how my sentences end up like when I describe things I'm very fond of. You should read my review of Rilla of Ingleside. It's filled with terribly ungrammatically-incorrect sentences which would make Henry Higgins turn over in his grave. (But, as Valancy Stirling says, I dare say he would like that for a change.))

(Spoiler paragraph ahead.) Just mark how sad and romantic this all is, people. Mark the mistiness. And mark that this is their first AND last kiss ever. (YES. DON'T WORRY. THE FACT THAT YOU'RE CRYING IS NORMAL, perfectly normal.) Because this is the last time that Beatrice sees, talks to her moustache-man, ever. So when she waves him goodbye from the train, with that lovely happy smile of hers, it's a REAL goodbye, and oh, it breaks many viewers hearts.

Look. HE HELPS HER IN. Too adorable, right? I actually don't remember this scene very well, because it's been awhile since I've seen this, but I remember I adored it, so I do think it fully deserves this place in my list. :-)

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5. Downton Abbey

ASDFGHJKLM!!! (I recently learnt this series of letters are very matchable to unexpressable thoughts, so I thought I might use them, even though I have an AZERTY keyboard and not a QUERTY one.) SERIOUSLY GUYS. This scene is just beyond heart-breaking! It's like this. Matthew goes off to the trenches, he's dreading it, he's scared. And Mary, she's there to comfort him and to wish him good luck, trying to hide her fear of loosing him. It's simple, this scene is, but I just ADORE it.

Just look at those blue eyes. I just adore Matthew Crawley, he's so perfect. (Note for Eva: In fact, I imagine Walter from 'Rilla of Ingleside' to look just like him.) They're in such a serious situation and so quietly in love - in fact, Matthew doesn't even realise, the silly boy, that he loves Mary. Because he's engaged to Lavinia, or whatever they call her. BUT STILL. He obviously SO appreciates Mary's coming to wave him off so much and OH IT'S TOO SAD AND I MUST CRY.

And then Mary kisses him goodbye. On the cheek, like a good sister. It's all so simple and good and... perfect. But it's also horrible and not right. I CAN'T EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR THIS SCENE. I really can't. I love it to bits, that's all I can say. I love it to bits, and I will fangirl over it until I am ninety-something (because by then, I'll probably have lost my sight or something like that.)

Then she watches him leave till she can't see the train. And then only, with the steam quietly vanishing at her sides, she hides her beautiful brown-eyed face behind her leather gloves and starts to cry for her dear Matthew.

I JUST CAN'T. (And I really can't. I'm not just saying 'I just can't' because it's a cool thing to do. I really haven't said half of the things I wanted to say about this scene.)

This is Matthew in the beginning of the scene. I told you he was handsome.

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What railway scenes do you love?

Have I mentioned it? (Because if I haven't, you should tell me without any futher ado.)

Do you like watching sad movies?

I love crying whilst watching movies. Well, love heh, isn't 'zactly the right word to describe it. It's just that, when a movie makes me cry, it means it has touched me inside and normally those movies are the ones I can't forget, even if I want to. Those kinds of movies kind of live inside me for a long time.

I have to admit, my favourite movies are not ones that really make me cry, though. My favourite movies are the ones that are beautiful and most-part happy and British and Jane Austen-y. They have their fluttery parts, but they aren't usually handkerchief-y. Movies such as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Wives and Daughters and Anne of Green Gables have made me cry but they aren't, in my opinion listed under the title 'sad movies.' They are movies that make one happy. Movies that one watches to get cheered up. Cosy-hours-movies. Perfect.

But then I have seen sad movies which have managed to reach my 'favourite' list, so I do enjoy the sad ones. 

Of course, different people define different movies as sad (for instance, Little Women. Many people say it's a 'sad movie' - but I think it's rather cosy and happy-feelsy. Although OF COURSE it has a sad bit or two. I cry my eyes out at Beth's death. But I wouldn't call it a 'sad movie'. I don't know, there's more to Little Women than sadness. It's a cosy, happy family story.) And of course, there are several kinds of sad-movies I just can't watch. 

For me, sad movies must have...

1. A re-assuring ending. I need HOPE. 

It doesn't have to be all rosy and happy and sparkly and golden (although I have to admit I like those too) but it needs to have an ending with hope. Not one of those 'Oh goodness, how am I going to ever get over that' endings. Ugh.

'Testament of Youth' was a brilliant movie, but the ending didn't have as much hope and 'happy feeling' as I would have liked. Still, I just about tolerated that, and I love 'Testament of Youth' because it's so gorgeous and pretty. But I wish they would've made the ending more hopeful.

'Miss Potter,' for instance is, in my opinion, a rather sad movie, but I absolutely love it - it has a good ending. Beatrice finds another guy and you can finish the movie with a smile on your face and a happy feeling inside, despite all the sad feels and tears.

2. The sad movie has to be my kind of sad. 

I know, that might sound weird. But there is a 'my kind of sad' and a 'not my kind of sad.' Let me sit down and clear my throat and explain. (Thank you for letting me. You really are too kind.)

'Not my kind of sad' movies are the gruesomey kind of sad. Like, I can't CANNOT watch Holocaust movies. I tried once and I had nightmares even though I stopped before half of the movie. It was just too BLACK and GRUESOME. Like, I was trembling with the horrid sadness. That is so not my kind of sad. Goodness, reading books about the Holocaust make me snag for breath in anguish. Of course I can't watch Holocaust movies.

And Les Miserables is not my kind of sad either. I couldn't watch it. One sad thing after another. Endless shots of miserable, raggerdy, blood-smotched faces - so. much. vivid. misery. I just didna like it, I didn't.

The only movie with slightly 'gruesome' and 'vivid' sadness I love is 'North and South.' Oh, and I like most of the Dickens movies. But really, most sad movies with the 'scary, violent sadness' are so not for me. No thank you.

Movies that are my kind of sad can make me cry and even leave me with misery-feelings. Testament of Youth made me feel absoblumelootely miserable, but I also absoblumelootely love it. It's a vivid movie, but it not one-thing-after-another-gruesome. Miss Potter, as I mentioned earlier, is SO my kind of sad. It's quiet and twinkley sad. Umph, it's so good.

I have a question for you. Two, in fact.

1. Do you like watching sad movies?

2. Do you know some my-kind-of-sad Period Dramas you think I would like?

(Because I obviously need to lengthen my to-see list. Haha.)

By the way, isn't that picture from 'Sense and Sensibility' gorgeous?!! I have a serious love affair with pretty Period Drama pictures. Ahum, perhaps you noticed.

10 fictional darlings

SO!

Olivia tagged me with the '10 favourite Screen Characters Tag'! Thank you, old sport. I'm one of those delightful little creatures that has tons and tons of favourite fictional characters, so, as other people have done before me, I won't pick my ten favourite characters - I'll pick ten of (mark the of) my favourite characters. It'll be fun.

By the way, the first five will be male and the last five will be female. Just, in case you can't see the difference between the two. Or just in case you scroll down and meet only men for awhile and don't understand why there aren't any females - they will come.

#1. Lionel Logue

(Geoffrey Rush, The Kings Speech)

Lionel Logue is Awesome. I just love him. If I had a pick a father of the Period Drama world, I'd pick this one, without a doubt. He's childish. He's funny. He's serious. He's smart. He loves people and he has flaws. He's definitely one of my all-time favourite screen peeps. I want to spend an afternoon with him and give him a big bear hug. I basically want him to exist.

#2. Bertram Wooster

(Hugh Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster)

Ah, Bertie. I have devoted an entire post or more to him, but I had to add him. Because, to be frank, he's that one character that cheers me up and I can never have enough of. He must be so much fun to doodle around with. Just imagine going for a walk with Bertie Wooster at your side - I really want to do that.

#3. Tevye

(Chaim Topol, The Fiddler on the Roof)

What even is Tevye's last name? Or is that it? What is his first name then? It'll always be a misty unknown-ness to me, it seems. Anyway, about him. He's just AMAZINGLY funny and awesome. I just love him. I even love how he shouts and loses his patience after five seconds of waiting and how he mumbles and kicks the chickens. He's just hilarious and one of the best characters, ever.

#4. Roger Hamley

(Anthony Howell, Wives and Daughters)

Roger Hamley is one of my favourite heroes and, to be naomi (well, my name isn't Frank, is it?), I don't understand why more people share my love for him. He did fall for Cynthia, yes. But he felt sorry for it afterwards and he's super kind and sweet and handsome. He can even pull of a beard.

#5. Mr Knightley

(Johnny Lee Miller, Emma)

I did think of adding Mr Palmer in Sense and Sensibilty or Sparkler in Little Dorrit but then I remembered Mr Knightley and all thoughts about the grumpy hilarious Hugh-Laurie-role and the Sparkler-ideas vanished. I LOVE Mr Knightley. Yes, love as in love. He's the kind of man I want to marry one day, if you see what I mean. He's just SO kind and good and wise and so handsome-especially-when-he's-super-angry. He'd also make a really good father, don't you think? He's my favourite hero, period.

#6. Beatrice Potter

(Renee Zellweger, Miss Potter)

I love Miss Potter. Aside from she being a huge animal-lover and me not that huge, I relate to her a lot. We both love to write, we both love to paint and have a super artsy bedroom. She's quirky and special and does things. 

#7. Elizabeth Bennet

(Jennifer Ehle, Pride and Prejudice)

BECAUSE SHE'S AMAZING. How can you not love her? She's just the nicest character. Quick tongue, pretty starry eyes, sweet smile, witty one-liners, kind kind heart. She could be my friend, please. I will never tire of her. Indeed, there is not a tiry bone in her body - one can be entertained by her for hours in succession. Lovely heroine.

#8. The Dowager Countess

(Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey)

Oh my goodness, how can she not be everyone's favourite Downton character? She definitely is mine. She just SUCH a character. I want her to be my Grandma so bad. Is it possible to have three Grandmothers? I want her to be my third. (Want, want.) She's HILARIOUS. Everything she says - every little syllable that whisps out of her body - is hilarious. Her facial expressions are hilarious. And what makes it even more hilarious is the fact that she's the most serious character at the same time.

#9. Melanie Wilkes

(Olivia de Havilland, GONE WITH THE WIND)

She deserves more friends. She loves everyone. She never sees wrong. She's almost soppy. But yet I love this beautiful darling doll. She's so sweet. Olivia de Havilland did her so well. What does annoy me about Melanie is the fact that she so adores that witch-Scarlett. But still, I can't dislike Melanie. She's just a pot of shining gold. I always cry when I read her death scene.

#10. Maria von Trapp

(Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music)

Starting off as a wild, getting-into-trouble, big-hearted, challenge-accepting, problem-solving tomboy. Ending as a mature wife, darling mother, beautiful-smile-owner. I just love Maria von Trapp. She's a lovely nanny and a lovely mother. Exactly what Geog and the children needed, I should say. And she's funny too, isn't she?

Have you seen these movies?

Do you enjoy the same characters as I?