Mia Thermopolis
Encyclopedia
Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Crown Princess of Genovia (named Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi in the film series), commonly known as Mia Thermopolis, is a fictional character
and the protagonist
of The Princess Diaries
novels by Meg Cabot
. The story revolves around her diary, which she writes in religiously, and her relationships with her best friend Lilly Moscovitz, her long-time boyfriend and "the love of her life" Michael Moscovitz, her grandmother, and others. She is the princess of fictional country Genovia, having been pushed into the title, being the sole heir.
Mia lives in a loft in Greenwich Village
, with her mother, Helen Thermopolis, and her ginger cat, Fat Louie. Helen begins dating Mia's algebra teacher, Frank Gianini, during Mia's freshman year, and as the series develops Helen and Frank get married and have a child together. During the year she attends Albert Einstein High School, and spends her holidays in Miragnac, a castle in France.
magazine. Helen's painting Woman Waiting for Price Check at the Grand Union won her a national award. Helen comes from a fairly simple, typical American background. Some of Mia's headstrong and modern opinions, including her feminism
, come from Helen.
Mia thoroughly hates her Grandmère, Clarisse Renaldi, dowager princess of Genovia. Clarisse is one of the strangest grandmothers ever. She is constantly portrayed as a grumpy and picky woman. She is a key person in Mia's royal education. During her stays in New York Clarisse stays at the Plaza
Suite with her toy poodle Rommel, which Mia also describes as a giant rat. She's a native French speaker, and lives in Miragnac, castle in southern France, surrounded by European socialites.
Phillipe, Mia's father, is the Genovian prince regnant. Phillipe shares a complicated relationship with his mother. He is Mia's secondary caregiver; he also pays for the loft's rent and Mia's school tuition. Phillipe is a survivor of testicular cancer. The chemotherapy and cancer caused him to become sterile which is why he acknowledged Mia as his heir.
the Cultural Diversity Dance in October and the Non-Denominational Winter Dance. The school has a very complete core-curriculum and prides itself in its gifted students. Mia is often sarcastic towards her placement in the Gifted & Talented class, claiming she was put there to improve her lowly grade in Algebra. The teacher in charge of G & T is Mrs. Hill, who spends class time in the teacher's lounge across the hall. The mascot of Albert Einstein High is the Lion. At the end of the novel series Mia completes high school and moves on to Sarah Lawrence College
.
In the final book, Forever Princess
, Mia becomes a published author, having written the book Ransom My Heart
, and begins what she believes is her true career.
, in what would prove to be her breakthrough role.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries is a series of epistolary novels by Meg Cabot in the chick-lit and young-adult fiction genre, and the title of the first volume, published in 2000....
novels by Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot is anAmerican author of romantic and paranormal fiction for teens and adults and used to write under several pen names, but now writes exclusively under her real name, Meg Cabot...
. The story revolves around her diary, which she writes in religiously, and her relationships with her best friend Lilly Moscovitz, her long-time boyfriend and "the love of her life" Michael Moscovitz, her grandmother, and others. She is the princess of fictional country Genovia, having been pushed into the title, being the sole heir.
Mia lives in a loft in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, with her mother, Helen Thermopolis, and her ginger cat, Fat Louie. Helen begins dating Mia's algebra teacher, Frank Gianini, during Mia's freshman year, and as the series develops Helen and Frank get married and have a child together. During the year she attends Albert Einstein High School, and spends her holidays in Miragnac, a castle in France.
Background
Mia's mother Helen is an upbeat artist who is featured various times in Art in AmericaArt in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
magazine. Helen's painting Woman Waiting for Price Check at the Grand Union won her a national award. Helen comes from a fairly simple, typical American background. Some of Mia's headstrong and modern opinions, including her feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, come from Helen.
Mia thoroughly hates her Grandmère, Clarisse Renaldi, dowager princess of Genovia. Clarisse is one of the strangest grandmothers ever. She is constantly portrayed as a grumpy and picky woman. She is a key person in Mia's royal education. During her stays in New York Clarisse stays at the Plaza
Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of and length of that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza...
Suite with her toy poodle Rommel, which Mia also describes as a giant rat. She's a native French speaker, and lives in Miragnac, castle in southern France, surrounded by European socialites.
Phillipe, Mia's father, is the Genovian prince regnant. Phillipe shares a complicated relationship with his mother. He is Mia's secondary caregiver; he also pays for the loft's rent and Mia's school tuition. Phillipe is a survivor of testicular cancer. The chemotherapy and cancer caused him to become sterile which is why he acknowledged Mia as his heir.
Education
Albert Einstein High School is headed by Principal Gupta. The school makes various attempts to celebrate and encourage diversity, includingthe Cultural Diversity Dance in October and the Non-Denominational Winter Dance. The school has a very complete core-curriculum and prides itself in its gifted students. Mia is often sarcastic towards her placement in the Gifted & Talented class, claiming she was put there to improve her lowly grade in Algebra. The teacher in charge of G & T is Mrs. Hill, who spends class time in the teacher's lounge across the hall. The mascot of Albert Einstein High is the Lion. At the end of the novel series Mia completes high school and moves on to Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
.
In the final book, Forever Princess
The Princess Diaries, Volume X: Forever Princess
The Princess Diaries, Volume X: Forever Princess is a young adult book in the Princess Diaries series. Written by Meg Cabot, it was released on January 6, 2009 by Harper Collins Publishers and is the final novel in the series....
, Mia becomes a published author, having written the book Ransom My Heart
Ransom My Heart
Ransom My Heart is a romance-novel by Mia Thermopolis with help from Meg Cabot. It was released in the US on January 6, 2009, concurrently with the novel Forever Princess. The book is, according to the Princess Diaries series, written by Mia Thermopolis as her Senior project...
, and begins what she believes is her true career.
Mia in the Films
Mia was portrayed in the films by Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (actress)
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
, in what would prove to be her breakthrough role.
Differences between the movies and the books
- In the movie Michael shows that he likes Mia, but in the book she is the one who likes him (He actually liked her the whole time in the books, he just did not tell her until the third book).
- In the books, Mia lives in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; in the movie, she lives in San Francisco. - In the book, Mia's mom meets and marries her algebra teacher, Frank Gianini. In the movie, Mia's mom meets and marries her debate teacher, Patrick O'Connell.
- Perin, Tina, Shameeka, Ling Su, and J.P. are significant characters in the book series who do not appear in the films. (Later novels refer to "unofficial" films made about Mia, and some of the characters joke about the inaccuracies.)
- Boris's character in the books is replaced with Jeremiah Hart in the film.
- At the beginning of the second film, Mia is 21 and has graduated from college. In the last book, Mia graduates from high school.
- The name of Mia's baby brother in the books is Rocky; in the film it is Trevor.
- In the books Mia only spends her Christmas and summer vacations in Genovia, whereas the first film ends with her moving there.
- Mia's bodyguard in the books is called Lars, and he notoriously follows her everywhere she goes. In the films she is watched over by Joe, Genovia's head of security.
- In the books, Mia's father Phillipe is part of his daughter's life but only reveals his princely role when he recovers from testicular cancer and knows he will not be able to father any more children. In the films Mia has rarely seen her father, and it is his premature death that prompts her discovery of his royal role.
- In the books, Lana has only one friend, Trisha; in the movie, her friends are Anna and Fontana.
- In the books, Lana is called Lana Weinberger, but in the film she is called Lana Thomas.
- In the books, Josh is called Josh Richter, but in the film he is called Josh Bryant.
- In the books, Fat Louie has orange fur; in the movie, he is black and white.
- In the books, her grandmother's dog is named Rommel; in the films his name is Maurice.
- In the books, Mia's grandmother (called Grandmère by Mia) is quite mean and bossy, but in the movie, she is kinder and more loving.
- In the books Mia is a dirty blonde, but in the movies, she is a brunette.
- In the books Phillipe is an only child; in the first movie, Clarisse mentions her other son Pierre, who gave up his rights to the throne to join the Church.
- In the books, Genovia is a principality, not a kingdom; Mia's title is accordingly Her Serene HighnessSerene HighnessHis/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Sovereign Princess of Genovia rather than Her Majesty Queen Amelia.- In the movie, Mia's grandmother is a queen, but as Genovia is a principality in the books, her title is dowager princess.
- The book series ends when Mia decides to attend Sarah Lawrence CollegeSarah Lawrence CollegeSarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
, whereas the second movie opens with Mia graduating from Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Woodrow Wilson School. - Principal Gupta is the school's head principal in the books; in the movie, she is a vice-principal.
- In the book Mia has grey eyes, while in the film she has brown eyes.
- In the book Mia calls her grandmother Grandmère and in the movie she calls her Grandma.
- In the book, it is shown that Mia writes in her diary at the very beginning of the series. In the movie, Mia only starts writing in her diary at the end of the movie and she is not really shown writing in it during the second movie.
- In the book Mia's last name is Renaldo but in the movies it is Renaldi.
- In the book Mia doesn't wear glasses, but she does in the movies.
- In the book she lives in a loft but in the movies she lives in a refurbished firehouse.
- The plot that requires Mia to marry in order to become Queen of Genovia in the second film is an invention for that release; nowhere in the books is such a law referred to for Genovia's ruler.
- In the books, Michael's band, Skinner Box, disbands, and he later works on creating a robotic surgical arm that would save millions of lives. In the second movie, however, he is no longer with Mia because of his band.
- In the books the next heir to the throne after Mia is her second cousin Sebastien, her grandfather's sister's grandson. In the second film the new character of Nicholas Deveraux is introduced as the next in line.
- In the Movie, Mia's full name is Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, but in the books it is Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo.
- In the books, Lilly's show is called Lilly Tells It Like It Is. In the movie, it's called Shut Up and Listen.
- In the book, she can speak French, but in the movie, it does not show that she speak French, as to she calls her grandmother Grandmere but in the movies she calls her Grandma.
- Mia's mother and Mr.G have their child through wedlock in the book. In the movie the baby comes after a wedding.
Flings and romantic relationships (book series)
| Boy | Status | Start Up | Broke Up | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Richter | Kissed; one date | The Princess Diaries The Princess Diaries (novel) The Princess Diaries is the first volume of the critically acclaimed, best-selling series of the same name by Meg Cabot. It was released in 2000 by Harper Collins Publishers, and later became a film of the same name starring Anne Hathaway.-Summary:... |
Josh just used her for media spotlight. | |
| Kenneth "Kenny" Showalter | Boyfriend | Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight The Princess Diaries, Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight The Princess Diaries Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight, released in the United Kingdom as Princess Diaries: Take Two, is the second book in the series The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and was published in 2001... |
Volume III: Princess in Love The Princess Diaries, Volume III: Princess in Love The Princess Diaries Volume III: Princess in Love, , is a young adult book in the critically acclaimed Princess Diaries series... |
Mia was in love with Michael since "second Grade when he handed Lilly her Project (red play dough parthenon a mini replica) at the playground". |
| Michael Moscovitz | Boyfriend | Volume III: Princess in Love | Volume VIII: Princess on the Brink The Princess Diaries, Volume VIII: Princess on the Brink The Princess Diaries, Volume VIII: Princess on the Brink, released in the United Kingdom as The Princess Diaries: After Eight, is a young adult book in the critically acclaimed Princess Diaries series. Written by Meg Cabot, it was released in 2007 by Harper Collins Publishers and is the eighth... |
Before Michael leaves for Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... , Mia finds out that he slept with Judith Gershner (in a past relationship) but then realizes her mistake but it's too late; Michael is on the plane. |
| Volume X: Forever Princess The Princess Diaries, Volume X: Forever Princess The Princess Diaries, Volume X: Forever Princess is a young adult book in the Princess Diaries series. Written by Meg Cabot, it was released on January 6, 2009 by Harper Collins Publishers and is the final novel in the series.... |
- | |||
| John Paul (J.P.) Reynolds Abernathy the Fourth | Boyfriend | Volume IX: Princess Mia The Princess Diaries, Volume IX: Princess Mia The Princess Diaries, Volume IX: Princess Mia, released in the United Kingdom as The Princess Diaries: To The Nines, is a young adult book in the critically acclaimed Princess Diaries series... |
Volume X: Forever Princess | J.P just used her for media spotlight and because he lied a lot to her and dated (and subsequently dumped) her friend Lilly to get to Mia. |
External links
- The official website for Mia Thermopolis
- I Hate Mia Thermopolis.com (In the series, the website is set up by Mia's then ex-best friend, Lilly, while they are fighting in book 9.)
- The Princess Diaries page on Meg Cabot's website.