Madame Doubtfire facts for kids
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First edition
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| Author | Anne Fine |
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| Original title | Madame Doubtfire |
| Cover artist | Bob Lea |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
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Publication date
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1987 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 175pp |
| ISBN | 0-14-037355-1 |
Madame Doubtfire, known as Alias Madame Doubtfire in the United States, is a 1987 novel written by English author Anne Fine for teenage and young adult audiences. The novel is based around a family with divorced parents. Well received upon its publication in the UK, it was shortlisted for awards, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, and Whitbread Children's Book Award.
In November 1993, six years after its publication, the novel was adapted into Mrs. Doubtfire, a film starring Robin Williams and Sally Field.
Synopsis
Daniel and Miranda Hillard are separated and Miranda, a successful businesswoman, severely limits the amount of time Daniel, an impractical, out-of-work actor, is allowed to spend with their three children Lydia, Christopher and Natalie.
When Miranda decides to hire a nanny, however, Daniel disguises himself as a woman and gets the job. The two eldest children immediately know who "Madame Doubtfire" is, but the youngest and Miranda are fooled. Daniel uses his disguise to spend time with his children. Miranda comments that the house has never been run better.
After Miranda discovers Daniel's secret — and after one more terrible fight — both parents admit to mistakes and make arrangements for Daniel to see his children more often.
Awards and nominations
- 1987 – Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (shortlist)
- 1987 – Observer Teenage Fiction Prize (shortlist)
- 1987 – Whitbread Children's Book Award (shortlist)
Film adaptation
The feature film adaptation was produced by 20th Century Fox (with a budget of $25 million) and was released on 24 November 1993. The adaptation was directed by Chris Columbus, and written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon. Robin Williams played the eponymous character, and Sally Field played his wife Miranda.
In the film, his disguise is so well done that no one in his family recognises him at first, though the nanny and Miranda get very close. Greg Cannom, Ve Neill, and Yolanda Toussieng received the Academy Award for Best Makeup for creating Mrs. Doubtfire. Grossing $441.3 million worldwide, it became the second-highest-grossing film of 1993, behind only Jurassic Park.
