Mia Wallace
| Mia Wallace | |
|---|---|
| Pulp Fiction character | |
| First appearance | Pulp Fiction |
| Created by |
Quentin Tarantino Roger Avary |
| Portrayed by | Uma Thurman |
| Information | |
| Aliases | Mrs. Wallace |
| Occupation | Mafia boss (with her husband) |
| Spouse(s) | Marsellus Wallace |
| Nationality | American |
Mia Wallace is a fictional character in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction. Uma Thurman's performance as Wallace earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The character is considered one of the most iconic female film roles from the 1990s.[1][2][3]
Casting
Miramax, the film studio, wanted a famous actress for the role of Mia. At the beginning, Miramax favored Holly Hunter and Meg Ryan for the part. Then Julia Roberts was considered for the part by Tarantino, but she required too high a salary. Tarantino also wanted Meg Tilly, Kim Basinger or Alfre Woodard.[4] When Tarantino met Uma Thurman, he hired her for the role. This character was the protagonist of the film's promotional material, appearing on a bed with cigarette in hand.
Fictional biography
In Vincent Vega and Marsellus Wallace's wife
Mia is in "love" with Amsterdam, which she goes to every year. Mia is the wife of Marsellus Wallace, one of the few mafia bosses. Mia, before meeting Marsellus, was an aspiring actress who participated in a television pilot called Fox Force Five, which failed.
Marsellus goes on a trip one night to negotiate and decided that Mia should spend the night with Vincent Vega, an employee and hitman of Marsellus. Vincent agrees, although is worried by the story of his friend and partner Jules Winnfield and the advice of Paul. The day before, Jules had told an anecdote of Antoine Rockamora, nicknamed Tony "Rockyhorror", A samoan who apparently gave Mia a foot massage, which caused Marsellus to throw him out of a four story window.
When Vincent goes to pick Mia up at Marcellus's house, she speaks to him over the intercom and snorts some cocaine. The two head to Jack Rabbit Slim's, a 50s themed restaurant to eat dinner.
While at Jack Rabbit Slim's Mia acts flirtatious and playful towards Vincent, and the two talk about subjects such as awkward silences, 50's pop culture and gossip. Later, Mia and Vincent do the Twist in a dance contest and get a trophy. When Mia and Vincent return to the house, Vincent goes to the bathroom while Mia dances to some music. She finds a small bag of heroin left by Vincent in his coat pocket, and snorts it thinking that it's cocaine. When Vincent returns from the bathroom he finds Mia overdosing on the couch, and drives her frantically to the house of Lance, his drug dealer, in an effort to save her. Lance finds an adrenaline shot and has Vincent administer it to her directly into her heart which snaps her out of it and saves her life.
When they return to the house once more, Mia and Vincent promise not to tell Marsellus about the overdose as it would mean big trouble for both of them.
In The Gold Watch
When the boxer Butch Coolidge, a Marsellus' man, does not meet the rules set by their boss, Marsellus sends Vincent to go and kill him. Called by Marsellus, Vincent meets Mia, which however, being the presence of Marsellus, is limited to thank Vincent about dinner the day before, without showing great emotional involvement.
Reception
Uma Thurman was nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.[5] Film critics praised her take on the role, and Mia Wallace has since become an iconic character in popular culture. Nine years later, Thurman worked with Tarantino in the Kill Bill series, playing Beatrix Kiddo, the main character.
References
- ↑ Mia Wallace iconic fashion accessed 1-4-2016
- ↑ 50 Greatest Female Characters #19 accessed 1-4-2016
- ↑ Mia Wallace iconic looks Elle Magazine accessed 1-4-2016
- ↑ Biskind (2004), p. 170.
- ↑ "The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2013-08-30.