Honestly, if you missed the mid-2000s era of Amy Adams, you missed a very specific kind of cinematic magic. It was that sweet spot after Junebug but before she became the "prestige drama" queen of Arrival or Sharp Objects. Somewhere in that shuffle, she did this little movie called Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
It’s 2008. The world is obsessed with The Dark Knight and Iron Man. Then, there’s this bubbly, Art Deco, champagne-soaked comedy that feels like it was unearthed from a 1930s time capsule.
Amy Adams as Delysia Lafosse is, frankly, a masterclass in playing "the ditz" with a hidden brain. Most people look at this role and see a flighty blonde juggling three boyfriends. But if you actually sit down and watch it, there’s a lot more grit under those sequins than the trailer let on.
The Chaos of Delysia Lafosse
Delysia isn’t just some socialite. She’s an American actress in London, 1939, and she is hustling.
The movie kicks off with Guinevere Pettigrew (the legendary Frances McDormand) basically conning her way into being Delysia’s "social secretary." Within five minutes, she’s helping Delysia shove one boyfriend out the door while another is coming up the stairs. It’s classic farce. Pure chaos.
But here’s the thing about Amy Adams in this role: she makes you like a character who is, on paper, kind of a mess. Delysia is juggling:
- Nick (Mark Strong): The scary nightclub owner who pays for her massive, gorgeous apartment.
- Phil (Tom Payne): The producer’s son who can get her a lead role in a West End play.
- Michael (Lee Pace): The penniless piano player who actually loves her.
You’ve probably seen this trope before. The girl has to choose between money, fame, or love. Usually, it’s written in a way that makes the girl look shallow until she "learns her lesson."
Adams doesn't play it that way.
She plays Delysia as someone who is terrified of being poor again. There's a moment in the film where we find out her real name is Sarah Grubb. She’s the daughter of a steelworker from Pittsburgh. That context changes everything. Suddenly, her "dizzy" behavior looks more like a survival tactic. She’s performing a version of herself to stay fed.
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Why the Amy Adams and Frances McDormand Duo Works
The chemistry between Adams and McDormand is the only reason this movie isn't a total fluff piece.
McDormand plays Miss Pettigrew with this dry, weary stoicism. She’s literally starving—the movie has a running gag about her never getting a chance to eat. When she meets Delysia, it’s like a collision between a grey cloud and a glitter bomb.
Delysia needs a moral compass. Miss Pettigrew needs a reason to keep going.
They bond over the fact that they are both, in their own ways, "pretending." Miss Pettigrew isn't a social secretary; she’s a homeless governess. Delysia isn't a glamorous star; she's a girl from Pennsylvania trying to outrun her past.
It’s a female friendship that feels earned, even though it all happens within a single 24-hour period. You don't see that often in rom-coms from that era. Usually, the "best friend" character is just there to give advice about the guys. Here, the two women are the actual heart of the story.
That Song With Lee Pace
We have to talk about the music.
If you haven’t seen the "If I Didn't Care" sequence with Amy Adams and Lee Pace, go find it on YouTube right now. It’s the turning point of the movie.
Before this scene, Delysia is all high-pitched squeals and frantic energy. But when she sits down to sing with Michael at the piano, Adams drops the act. Her voice is breathy, low, and genuinely vulnerable.
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Lee Pace does that thing where he looks at her with such intense devotion that you kind of forget Mark Strong is lurking in the background ready to ruin everyone's life. It’s the one moment where Delysia stops "performing" and just is.
The 1939 Backdrop: A Looming Shadow
The movie is set in London right before the start of World War II.
There are these subtle, dark touches throughout the film—air raid sirens being tested, planes flying overhead, posters about the war. It adds a layer of urgency to the "lives for a day" premise.
People are partying like there's no tomorrow because, for many of them, there might not be. This justifies the frantic pacing. Why not juggle three boyfriends? Why not spend your last shilling on a fancy dress? The world is ending anyway.
Director Bharat Nalluri uses this to make the stakes feel higher than your average romantic comedy. It’s not just about who she ends up with; it’s about finding a shred of truth before the lights go out across Europe.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of critics at the time dismissed this as "featherweight."
They saw the Art Deco sets (which are stunning, by the way—shout out to production designer Sarah Greenwood) and the gorgeous costumes and assumed it was just eye candy.
But look at the career Amy Adams has had since.
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She has this uncanny ability to play characters who are "seen" but not "understood." Whether it’s the naive princess in Enchanted or the calculating wife in The Master, she excels at showing the gap between a woman’s public face and her private reality.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was one of the first times she really got to play with that duality. Delysia is a tragic character wrapped in a pink bow.
Quick Facts: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
- Based on: The 1938 novel by Winifred Watson.
- Screenplay by: Simon Beaufoy (who wrote Slumdog Millionaire) and David Magee.
- Filming Locations: Mostly in London, including the Savoy Hotel and the Rivoli Ballroom.
- Box Office: It was a modest hit, making about $16 million against a $9 million budget.
Is It Worth a Rewatch?
Totally.
Especially if you’re tired of the hyper-cynical tone of modern streaming movies. It’s "comfort food" cinema, but it’s high-quality comfort food. It’s like a perfectly mixed gin martini—crisp, a little bit cold, but goes down smooth.
If you want to appreciate Amy Adams’ range, you have to look at these earlier roles. She wasn't just "lucky" to become a star; she was doing the work in smaller, character-driven pieces like this.
Next Steps for the Amy Adams Fan:
- Watch the performance: If you've only seen the trailer, rent the movie on Amazon or Apple TV. Focus on the scenes where Delysia is alone with Miss Pettigrew; that’s where the real acting happens.
- Compare the book: Grab Winifred Watson’s original 1938 novel. It’s a bit more cynical than the film but just as charming.
- Deep Dive the Costumes: Look up the work of Michael O’Connor for this film. The velvet gowns and period-accurate lingerie are actually used as plot points to show Delysia's shifting power dynamics.
The film is a reminder that even in the most "frivolous" genres, a great actress can find something human and real. Sarah Grubb would be proud.