Hortensia is a secondary character in the "Matilda" book, 1996 film and 2022 "Matilda: The Musical".
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. She's a bit rude to them, calling them "scum" and saying they're too "stupid to read the Just So Stories", but she is nonetheless friendly.
Physical Description[]
In the book, Hortensia is ten years old and has a boil on her nose (although she doesn’t have the boil in the movie). She wears a red beret and a school uniform like everyone else in the musical; she also calls out to Matilda and Lavender, calling them new kids, and also had a raspberry flavored lollipop.
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. 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 with a boil on her nose or eating potato crisps. When Matilda asks her if she had been in the Chokey, she simply says she had been in there twice (and leaves out the pranks with the golden syrup and itching powder).
Gallery[]
Matilda the Musical[]
