Mrs. Beauregarde

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Mrs. Beauregarde is a fictional character from the Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 2005 film adaptation.

Background

The mother of Violet Beauregarde, one of the five lucky children who wins a trip to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, Mrs. Beauregarde appears briefly and unnamed in the novel and in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the novel, Mrs. Beauregarde dislikes Violet's gum chewing habit, but in the 2005 film, she encourages it. Her role is greatly expanded in the 2005 version, and she is renamed Scarlett.

Mrs. Beauregarde in the 2005 film

Scarlett (played by Missi Pyle) holds her competitive daughter, Violet, in the highest esteem and encourages her participation in various activities, ranging from martial arts to gum chewing, of which Violet is the world record holder and junior world champion. Mrs. Beauregarde is a former baton twirling champion herself, which she proudly announces during a press conference after Violet wins a Golden Ticket. In addition to sharing the same hairstyle, they regularly match each other's dress, as they are seen wearing matching pink sweatsuits during the press conference, and blue sweatsuits on the day of the factory tour.^[1] She sarcastically comments on Augustus Gloop's girth after he is sucked up through the chocolate pipe: "It's a wonder how that pipe is big enough."

After Violet later chews a piece of Wonka's prototype three-course dinner gum, Scarlett is excited that her daughter will be the first person in the world to accomplish this feat, ignoring the fact that Violet had done so against Wonka's orders, as the product was unsafe for consumption due to problems with the blueberry pie flavor. Scarlett's excitement quickly turns to worry after Violet inflates into a giant blueberry, therefore damaging any chance of her daughter participating in any future competitions. She then joins the Oompa Loompas as they roll Violet to the juicing room.

When leaving the factory, Violet is excited about her new form and flexibility (she now regularly backflips and cartwheels instead of walking) after being shrunk back to normal size. Scarlett does not share her enthusiasm in the slightest, though, because Violet is also a permanent shade of blue and that she's sick of her daughter's cockiness. It's also hinted that she may have had a crush on Mr. Salt at the start (despite him already being married), and it is hinted that she also has a crush on Willy Wonka.

References