ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS: 1. Synopsis Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), the owner of a prospering advertising firm that creates movie trailers, lives in Southern California. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) writes the popular wedding column for London’s Daily Telegraph and resides in a charming cottage in the English countryside. 2. The Initial Spark The Holiday, was ignited a few years ago when screenwriter/director Nancy Meyers was planning a vacation and serendipitously happened upon an internet site that arranges house swapping 3. Leaving Your Baggage Behind and Opening Your Eyes I have the classic male problem of no follow through. Absolutely never remember to call after a date -- but as this wasn’t a date, I guess I am off the hook. — Graham (Jude Law) 4. Casting The wind…it’s what makes it so warm at this time of year. Legend has it, when the Santa Anas blow, anything can happen. — Miles (Jack Black) 5. Leading Ladies and Best Friend Iris, in the movies, we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady but for some reason, you’re behaving like the best friend. — Arthur (Eli Wallach) 6. Long Distance Relationships & Locations Graham: Long distance relationships can work, you know. Amanda: Really? I can’t make one work when I live in the same house with someone. 7. That’s The ‘Meet Cute' Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in and both go to the same men’s pajama department. The man says to the salesman, ‘I just need bottoms,’ and the woman says, ‘I just need a top.’ They look at each other and that’s the ‘meet cute. — Arthur

The Initial Spark

“I need some peace and quiet… or whatever it is people go away for.” -- Amanda (Cameron Diaz)

The initial spark for her new romantic comedy, The Holiday, was ignited a few years ago when screenwriter/director Nancy Meyers was planning a vacation and serendipitously happened upon an internet site that arranges house swapping — across cities, across countries, across continents. “I had no idea this kind of thing ever existed,” she confesses. “On the website, I read about all these fantastic houses. Eventually, I realized I would have to trade mine to get one.”

But the idea of house swapping continued to intrigue her. “I thought it would be a wonderful starting point for two women who are both running away from something,” says Meyers. “Amanda and Iris are both down in the dumps and realize they must do something about it. Swapping houses becomes the first step in taking their lives back.”

Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) runs a thriving L.A. marketing business, but is less successful when it comes to romance. “Her most recent break-up has caught her totally off-guard,” says Diaz. “She decides she has to get away — and that getting some distance may help her cope better.”

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) has just learned that the man she loves is about to marry someone else. “It’s like a colossal smack in the mouth,” says the four-time Oscar® nominee. “Iris is vulnerable and naïve when it comes to love and she needs to find a way to get over this man.”

Deep down, both women realize that the problem they’re facing is larger than just their most recent disappointment. “I think Amanda and Iris are secretly hoping that the change will help them fix something about themselves, help them address issues they’ve been dealing with for a long time. Leaving their environments helps them do that,” says Winslet.