'Madame Doubtfire': Book/Film Differences Quiz

Answer: Yes

There are mentions of court hearings that have taken place in the past, but the Hilliards divorced before the start of the book. The book begins with Natalie, Christopher and Lydia visiting Daniel in his dilapidated house. Miranda owns the family home, and the children visit Daniel every other weekend.

However, Miranda often arrives late or finds excuses for the children to leave early, or reschedule their weekends with Daniel.

Answer: Out-of-work actor

Daniel is unemployed in the book, but is an actor by trade. He even points out to the children that instead of moving to London, where it would be easier for him to find work, he stayed in their home town so he could be near them. He also does the occasional bit of life modelling.

Answer: Quail

Hetty is a quail, who lives in a cage in Daniel's house. However, when Miranda comes to collect the children, she insists on taking Hetty to her house, since the cat killed Christopher's hamsters. Hetty dies at the end of the book, and Miranda asks Daniel to break the news to Christopher, as she knows he's better at doing this sort of thing than she is.

Answer: True

Although the children in the film do not know initially who the nanny is, Lydia and Christopher quickly figure it out in the book, though Natalie has some trouble coming to terms with it and often comments, "That's what Daddy says," when Madame Doubtfire makes a remark that Daniel would have made. They all go along with the charade without Miranda knowing.

Answer: He doesn't wear one

Daniel does not wear a prosthetic face mask, just heavy make-up and perfume, and a heavy turban to disguise his hair. (The prosthetic face mask is a plot point in the film when Daniel loses it and has to have another one made.) Miranda is a little surprised by Madame Doubtfire's height, but brushes it off.

Answer: The theatre

Daniel takes the children to the theatre. Miranda is annoyed as it's supposed to be her weekend, but the children insist, and Madame Doubtfire backs them up. The play turns out to be inappropriate for children, but Natalie sleeps through it. Afterwards, Christopher and Daniel have an argument when Christopher asks why Daniel can't act the part of a happy husband, and Daniel angrily tells him that there is a difference between a job and real life.

Answer: False

Miranda does go on dates during the book; one is with a man called Sam, and the children also mention a Mr Lennox, who brings her chocolates. However, she does not have a steady boyfriend. Stuart, the character played by Pierce Brosnan, only appears in the film.

Answer: The teachers are on strike

Daniel has no idea that the teachers are on strike; the school did send letters, but Natalie mistakes it for old scrap and writes an essay about hedgehogs on the other side of the letter, and Daniel never reads the letter as a result. Christopher and Lydia don't give Daniel their letters as they assume he saw Natalie's letter. Daniel begs the children to get out of the house, as he doesn't want them to see him posing naked, but they watch him through the window until Miranda comes home.

Answer: She notices he is wearing the same foundation and perfume as Madame Doubtfire

In a hurry to get changed, Daniel leaves his 'Madame Doubtfire' outfit in Miranda's bedroom. Daniel runs out of the art class in a panic after seeing that Miranda is home, only to bump into Miranda carrying Madame Doubtfire's turban. She smells the lavender water Madame Doubtfire uses, notices Daniel still has some foundation on, and puts two and two together. Miranda and Daniel have a furious argument in front of the children. Both try to get their children on their sides, but the children are upset and run away, although not before both Lydia and Christopher tell their parents they hate them. Miranda kicks Daniel out.

Lydia later goes to visit Daniel, as it's the children's day to see him, and falls asleep on the sofa while Daniel cleans his house. Miranda, Natalie and Christopher then turn up, and Miranda and Daniel apologise to each other.

Answer: Gardening for Miranda

While working for Miranda as Madame Doubtfire, Daniel takes care of Miranda's plants, and Miranda is impressed at how well the plants are doing. A keen gardener, he also gives the next-door neighbour gardening advice and despairs at the state of her garden.

Although Miranda does not want Madame Doubtfire coming back, she offers to pay Daniel to do her gardening and look after the plants in the house. Daniel happily accepts, as it means he gets to see the children if he works in late afternoons.