Every winter, the stereotypical “frazzled English woman” pops back up in pop culture. You know the type: think of Bridget Jones, Emma Thompson’s character in Love, Actually, and definitely Kate Winslet’s Iris in The Holiday. These characters often portray a life in disarray—late for everything, tangled in relationships, and engulfed in mess. It’s a cozy kind of stress you often find in Nancy Meyers movies, which somehow romanticize chaos. Yet here’s the catch: these characters aren’t really struggling all that much. They’re just single.
Breaking Down Kate Winslet’s Iris in ‘The Holiday’
In The Holiday, we see Iris portrayed as a complete disaster, and this almost comical chaos in her life stands in stark contrast to Cameron Diaz’s glamorous Amanda. Both women are depicted as needing an escape, making the idea of a house swap seem fitting. When Amanda gets to England, she ends up in Iris’s tiny cottage, which is so freezing that she literally wears a hat and gloves in bed. The cottage is filled with quirky, impractical furniture. Meanwhile, Amanda’s California mansion has automatic shades, a massive swimming pool, and an enviable DVD collection. We’re told Iris is some kind of miserable journalist, struggling with a sad, lonely existence. But let’s face it: the setting tells a very different story.
When the filmmakers were scouting for the perfect cottage, they realized they wanted something close to London for convenience. This search ended in Surrey, notably one of the wealthiest areas in the UK. The inspiration for Iris’s fictional Rosehill Cottage? It’s modeled after Honeysuckle Cottage, which is a private home in the stunning Surrey Hills. The actual cottage was built a bit away from its original location on nearby farmland, right next to St. James’ Church, which some may recognize from Bridget Jones’s Diary. And yes, it’s not just any village; the local store and the pub where Amanda meets Jude Law’s Graham also add character to this historic English setting.
Now, you might think this quaint location offers a rustic charm—and technically it does. But believe it or not, according to Rightmove, Honeysuckle Cottage went for a whopping $826,000 (£650,000) back in 2018. It also had short-term rentals on Airbnb going for $375 a night! Can you believe that? When the movie came out in 2006, it sold for around $635,000 (£500,000). Fast forward to 2025, and by that point, it could be valued at about $965,000 (£760,000). What’s wilder? To afford a home like that, Iris would need to rake in around £168,000 annually (or about $213,000). Good luck finding a journalism job that not only pays that much but also gives you several weeks off during holidays to jet off to LA and ‘haphazardly fall’ for Jack Black! Plus, keep in mind, this was before remote work existed—meaning Iris likely had to board a train daily to Fleet Street for her job at The Telegraph. This isn’t the life of a struggling, barely surviving journalist—it’s a life of someone who’s established and notably highly paid.
Then there’s her brother Graham, a widowed editor and single dad, who supposedly pulls around $76,000 (£60,000) a year. Yet he somehow lives in a property worth $1.52 million (£1.2 million). You really need to wonder: where is all that money coming from? The film never dives into their parents’ backstory, and the siblings stick together like they’re each other’s only family. Could Iris and Graham secretly be heirs to some family fortune? Or do they have another surprise backstory waiting to unfold in Apple TV’s upcoming remake?
The Escapism of Nancy Meyers’ Films
It’s not just The Holiday that’s ridden with logic gaps—this is a mainstay in all of Nancy Meyers’ work. Her female protagonists often feel emotionally unsatisfied instead of financially. They live in these breathtakingly beautiful homes, excel in their creative jobs, and yet somehow, they still feel empty. It’s always about their love lives overshadowing their achievements.
Take Elizabeth James, played by Natasha Richardson in The Parent Trap. She’s a renowned wedding dress designer living right near Harrods in Kensington and enjoying the service of her own butler. The actual home used for filming this character’s life sold for a jaw-dropping $16 million (£12M) in 2011, as per Rightmove. Clearly, professional success and financial stability aren’t enough for Meyers; true happiness only comes with love. The women in her films might be accomplished, but without a partner, they just don’t feel complete.
But come on, do we really sit down to watch a Nancy Meyers movie with a calculator in hand? Hopefully not! Her films aren’t designed to reflect real life—they’re pure escapism! They invite us into a dreamy world full of romance, chaos, and envy-inducing lifestyles, where the biggest issue is simply deciding who to enjoy all this with. With Meyers, it’s possible for women to have it all: a multimillion-dollar home, a dream career, and a charming partner to share it with. Count us in!
If you want to revisit The Holiday, you can find it available for rent or stream on various VOD services.
