Hortensia is a secondary character in the 1996 film Matilda.
Biography[]
In the novel, Hortensia mentions that she got put into the Chokey six times — twice for a whole day (with first for golden syrup on the chair Miss Trunchbull was going to sit on, and then for putting itching powder in Miss Trunchbull’s knickers), and the other times for two hours each.
At the beginning of fifth grade, she told Matilda Wormwood and Lavender about the Chokey. Despite calling Matilda and Lavender “scum”, she makes friends with them.
Personality and Traits[]
In the novel, while Hortensia is friendly and brave, she also possesses a few flaws. She sometimes attempted to scare new kids, lying and calling them “scum”, and also seems to have a liking for potato crisps and has sprayed them on Matilda and Lavender. She mentions to Matilda and Lavender that she was put in the Chokey six times (twice for a whole day, and the other times for two hours each).
In the film, Hortensia is shown to be nice to Matilda and Lavender, and is never shown eating potato crisps. When Matilda asks her if she had been in the Chokey, she simply says that she had been in there twice (and leaves out the pranks with the golden syrup and itching powder).
Gallery[]
