We can’t stop thinking about Elf’s Charlotte Dennon
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Elf, we talked to actress Claire Lautier about why her plucky NY1 reporter still resonates with fans
Film Features Elf
In our house, as in many others, it’s become a Christmas tradition to watch Elf at some point during the holiday season. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 20 years now. Since its release on November 7, 2003, the film has grown in popularity and earned its place among standards like A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, from which it takes a lot of inspiration.
Whether or not Christmas movies are your thing, there are many reasons to love Elf. For one thing, it’s highly quotable. Put-downs like “cotton-headed ninny-muggins” and “you sit on a throne of lies” are handy to keep in your pocket all year round. There’s also the joy of watching Will Ferrell, all 6-f00t-3 of him, prance around in yellow tights and a costume straight out of a Rankin/Bass production with boundless energy and without a shred of inhibition. Then there’s the spectacular supporting cast, including Bob Newhart as Papa Elf, Ed Asner as Santa, James Caan as Buddy’s biological father, Zooey Deschanel as his love interest, and Peter Dinklage as successful children’s book author Miles Finch.
I enjoy all of those things, of course, but every time I watch Elf I find myself drawn to a minor third-act character who barely has any impact on the story. There’s something about news reporter Charlotte Dennon (played by Claire Lautier) that makes me lean in whenever she’s on screen. And I know I’m not alone.
“She has grown a little bit of a following,” Lautier told me in a recent phone interview. I reached out to her in advance of the film’s anniversary to see if she’d be willing to talk about her experience working on Elf and why the film has become such an inescapable part of the holiday season. Lautier lives in France now, where she works as a spiritual consultant and life coach. Although she’s left her acting career behind, the character of Charlotte remains with her, even two decades after the film’s release. “There’s an appreciation for Charlotte. And who knew? It’s just fun. It’s funny the way life turns out sometimes.”
Who is Charlotte Dennon?
Charlotte appears near the end of the film, reporting in front of the entrance to Central Park on Christmas Eve about a wave of Santa sightings in and around the park. What we in the audience know that she doesn’t yet is that Santa and his sleigh have been grounded in the park due to a lack of Christmas spirit. In her few scenes, we learn that Dennon is originally from Buffalo, where she worked as a reporter for a smaller news station until making the move to New York City, and that this is her first major on-the-scene report for NY1, a real news station that covers New York City.
Most of this backstory is revealed through dialogue delivered by the station’s male news anchor. “Sorry to interrupt your first big news story Charlotte,” he says, breaking into her interview with a little girl who spotted Santa’s sleigh to show an image of Buddy in Central Park inspired by the famous Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage. Not only does the anchor not seem sorry at all, but he continues to belittle her on the air. “I don’t know if this is the hard-hitting news you’re used to covering in Buffalo, Charlotte, but here at New York 1, news is top priority,” he says.
There’s a lot to unpack in those few short lines. The anchor’s condescending tone, the way he has no problem cutting away from what he acknowledges is her big break to add some inconsequential color to the story, calling her out as a novice live on air—it’s at once a parody of news station culture and a pretty good example of what a lot of women have to deal with in the world of TV journalism (concepts Ferrell would expand upon significantly the following year in Anchorman). Charlotte nails the story, but is undermined one final time by the anchor who follows up her report with a disclaimer that we may never know what happened that Christmas Eve in Central Park.
“I think that’s just an example of really good writing,” Lautier says. “In just a few sentences, you learn a lot about the character and you can connect with her. And so I give [the screenwriters] total kudos for their skillful writing. I think that that’s one of the reasons that the movie has stood the test of time and become such a classic.”
“Your eyes tell the story”
There’s another thing we learn about Charlotte, without her consent. While Buddy is busy trying to fix Santa’s sleigh in the park, his New York family comes together to encourage everyone to spread Christmas cheer by singing. Their efforts get a boost from Charlotte and the NY1 camera crew, who film Buddy’s half-brother Michael (Daniel Tay) reading aloud from Santa’s list to prove that Santa is real. Even Charlotte’s wish is in there: “Charlotte Dennon wants a Tiffany engagement ring and for her boyfriend to stop dragging his feet and commit already.”
The line is played for a laugh, but it’s part of the pattern of disrespect Charlotte is forced to endure throughout her brief appearances. I think that might be what lies at the heart of my fascination with her. Despite her limited screen time, Charlotte gets more characterization than any of the other female characters in the film (to be fair, there aren’t a lot of them). She’s just doing her job and trying to remain professional while everyone else around her keeps taking cheap shots. She’s stuck working outside in the cold on Christmas Eve, on what the station believes to be a remote puff piece. That’s not the kind of assignment you get if you have any clout in the newsroom at all. Anyone who’s faced resistance working their way up the professional ladder can relate, but Charlotte’s struggle should feel especially familiar to women.
To really drive that point home, there’s a scene in which a bystander, played by Matt Walsh (listed in the credits as “self”), takes the opportunity to hit on her when she asks him for an eyewitness account, paying her compliments like, “You’re a great news lady,” and “Your eyes tell the story,” and “You’ve got a great mouth.” Ugh.
According to Lautier, that scene was completely improvised by Walsh, who is not, in fact, a creep in real life. “There was a good degree of improvisation, actually,” she says. “In that scene and other little scenes. Like the cop I interviewed, that was a real New York City police officer. So we just kind of played around. There were different takes and the director might give you a suggestion or something. I mean, when you see me laughing in those scenes, I really was laughing. We tried to follow the script that was there, and it was a really good script. It was well structured and everything. But, yeah, we had some fun, too.”
One of Lautier’s fondest memories of filming was a conversation she had with Ferrell on the set. They didn’t share any scenes together, but he made a point to introduce himself and thank her for being in the movie. “He was so humble and so sweet. He said, ‘Oh, hi. I’m Will,’ as if I didn’t know who he was. And I said, ‘Hi, it’s great to meet you, I’m Claire.’ And he said, ‘Oh, man, thanks so much for doing this.’ I was just so impressed with his humility and his good humor. He wasn’t even as mega-famous then as he later became. That moment really touched my heart.”
Beyond “the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops”
For Lautier, her work on Elf was just a short-term acting job, a small role in a Christmas movie that could have been forgotten by January. She never expected to still be talking about it 20 years later.
“It was just another gig,” she recalls. “I mean, I was there for three days, or three nights, rather. They were night shoots and it was New York. It was cold. It was winter, you know? I remember my little trailer on 57th Street. We were filming right there in the park, at that entrance to the park there, Central Park South. I remember the first night of shooting, there was a crowd, because on a movie set, you’re never alone. Just lots of people. But we had no idea how big it would be.”
And yet, each Christmas season she still hears from family, friends, and fans who want to talk about the film and her role in it. “I get messages every year around Christmas time when I’m showing up in people’s living rooms,” she says, as if she can’t quite believe it herself. “Somebody last year sent me an article that was like a feminist treatise based on Charlotte Dennon. And then someone else sent me a thing from one of those gossipy Hollywood news shows. I can’t remember which one. Like, ‘Where are they now?’ Before and after, you know? They made it sound like they had interviewed me and everything. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’”
Last year, she was contacted by the father of a high school student who had been cast as Charlotte in a production of Elf The Musical. He asked if she would mind recording a message of encouragement for her. Lautier graciously agreed. “I was that kid in high school doing musicals, you know? I totally connect with that. So I made a little video and I wished her a happy opening and said break a leg to her cast and everything. And, you know, it’s little things like that that mean so much to me, that you can bring some joy into someone’s day and make a connection.”
Although Lautier has now moved on with her life, built a successful business far away from the entertainment industry, and doesn’t look like she did 20 years ago, she still occasionally gets recognized on the street. You have to wonder if she ever gets tired of being associated with Elf after all this time.
“No, I don’t ever feel that way,” she insists. “It was a joy to do it. It’s a joy to be part of something that has become important, I guess, to people. And it’s a joy to be part of a film that’s become a classic. So no, I never get tired of it. It’s been quite touching to me to realize how much people love that film. But also to hear from people like yourself, that they connect with that character. It’s just funny and it’s delightful.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that NY1 broadcasts out of Staten Island. In fact, it’s based in Manhattan. We apologize for the error.
50 Comments
I mean this genuinely and sincerely: these are the kinds of articles that I have missed on the A.V. Club. More of this, thanks.I hope Charlotte got that ring.
Yes please. More of this.
Such a lovely piece about a lovely, gracious women.
When I worked at a mid-level magazine in New York 20 years ago, these were always the kind of articles I would pitch. Love the “where are they now?” stories of minor characters from beloved movies. I got to interview a number of the non-Zabka Cobra Kais (and figured no one would ever think of Cobra Kais again… go figure. Maybe we’ll see Charlotte in a sequel in 10 years!).
Also: The only Cobra Kai who refused to be interviewed? Dutch!
Lovely article! And yep, I was trying to remember what it reminded me of, and I eventually realised it was how the AV Club used to be back in the day. I really miss that.
a real news station that broadcasts out of Staten Island.Uh, NY1 HQ is in Manhattan and has covered all of the boroughs since 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NY1BUT love the write up on an obscure character – I totally remember the actress from a random Law & Order episode. Always interesting to find out where some of these people who dipped their toe into acting ended up.
This kind of piece is particularly significant during the SAG-AFTRA strike. So many actors have their whole career consist of small roles, with just a few scenes and lines, that are significant in the works that we cherish. Imagine if she had been scanned by Dick Wolf’s production company when she did L&O, only to be CGI’d for Elf.
Thank you for the correction! I’ll update the reference.
I think one thing to point out is that she does immediately get her payback by being the on-camera reporter when they film Santa flying out of Central Park. That would be about the biggest break there is. Stick it, anchor guy.
I am not really a fan of the movie Elf (though my mom loved it and wanted to watch it every year). But I love this article & her scenes in the movie were terrific
It’s a weird scene because they just invent all these rules in the last 15 minutes of the movie, these park ranger villains we’ve never heard of and the Santa’s sleigh motor, yet it totally works.Actually that kind of goes for the whole movie. It’s kind of a shaggy mess with a lot of good scenes that don’t really fit together, almost like a collection of sketches. But that’s part of the charm.
Apparently the Central Park Rangers are inspired by the Ring Wraiths from Lord of the Rings – so, very plausible that it feels tacked on, but it’s kind of a solid cinematic reference in that you don’t need to get it, and it’s not trying to draw attention it itself.
“Matt Walsh is not a creep in real life.” There’s something you don’t get to say very often.
Poor “Good Actor/Comedian” Matt Walsh, having to share his name with “Gigantic Turd” Matt Walsh.
I’ve been a UCB fan since their Comedy Central show, and it has been super weird seeing them mix with the comedy scene, and the world at large. Amy Poehler getting dragged here in LA for using way too much water for her mansion during a drought, Matt Walsh v Matt Walsh, and Ian and Matt B getting slept on for the most part…just seeing Poehler in Deuce Bigalow and SNL was something…
The Matts Walsh.
Wasn’t sure who he was, unfortunately the top Google searches show me the turd, almost as if they’re advertising him…
‘spiritual advisor and life coach’. Yeah, that’s what I do, too. Just no one pays me.
I’m self-employed, but I’m also my only client.
You’ll go blind.
She moved to FRANCE to do that too. That’s gotta be the whitest thing I’ve heard of in a long while.
If your market is almost entirely affluent, disaffected white people, you go where your client base is.
It seems like a lot of actors end up becoming life coaches.
All they have to do is play the role of a coach for an hour or two at a time I suppose.
I like to watch crappy TV at the gym, so I watched all of SVU and now making my way through Law & Order and I think I’ve seen her more than once. Took me a sec to place her but she is really memorable for a small film role. This interview was really fun, thanks
‘I don’t know if this is the hard-hitting news you’re used to covering in Buffalo, Charlotte, but here at New York 1, news is top priority,” he says.’Dang I forgot my hometown got casually dunked on by this shitty reporter. Give him ranch instead of bleu cheese for his wings.
Weirdly I have also lived in Buffalo and Charlotte. Which one is yours?
Charlotte is the character’s name
Oh right lol
Ranch instead of bleu cheese??? Why would you want to reward him for being a jerk???
Get out.
Odd use of the royal “we.”
You want to point to a movie that is an absolute gem and is just filled with heart, that would be Elf. And here it was directed by someone known for being the comedy relief actor in movies, Jon Favreau, “Foggy” Nelson from that meh Daredevil movie. And yet he helmed Elf and hit a grand slam home run—kudos to him. And Favreau capped that stellar effort with Iron Man—still one of the best flicks out of the MCEU.So does it take an actor to get great performances out of actors? Apparently so.
He’s also responsible for The Mandalorian.
He got his start in Swingers. Talk about a guy I did NOT expect to be helming blockbuster movies and major TV shows.
Before Swingers there was PCU
“all 6-f00t-3 of him”What happened here? Almost looks like a bad text scanner / interpreter. Either that or the K3wL k1Dz have taken over the AV Club.(I did enjoy the article, but I’ve never really been able to leave copywriting and editing behind.)
I don’t really remember the movie and her, but I want to say she’s very good-looking. She “doesn’t look like she did 20 years ago”—no, she looks better.
I was going to say the same thing – she is entirely recognizable and does NOT look like she’s aged 20 years.
Hey, Cindy! Just wanted to say this article brightened up my day. Thank you.
Thank you! Your comment brightened up mine.
You’re a great article-writing lady! Your story tells the story. And you have a great mouth.(that line is great, it’s such a capture of what you know field reporters deal with from weirdos / fans all the time)
Well THIS certainly makes me feel old.
Twenty. Years.
I love that character! That whole Central Park sequence is so much fun.
I don’t know if this is the hard-hitting news you’re used to covering on the SyFy Channel, Cindy, but here at the AV Club, news is top priority.
Great job, Cindy. Oftentimes, a break-down like this just comes across as completely over-wrought but this was just so well-written. Your article gave me all “the feels” about the movie and Ms. Lautier. Thanks!
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