Ellie Andrews

Living... on the run. After her father threatens to annul her marriage to her new husband, aviator “King” Westley, Ellie literally jumps ship and escapes to New York City in order to reunite with her beau. Unaccustomed to the street life – although her father's telegram, which reads “Daughter escapes again,” suggests that she's made a habit of trying to flee – he quickly finds herself relying on the aid of a recently fired reporter, Peter Warne.

Profession... heiress. The only daughter of a very wealthy banker, Ellie has a reputation for being difficult. Upon first meeting her, Peter sums her up: “I had you pegged right from the jump. Just the spoiled brat of a rich father. The only way you get anything is to buy it.” On the lam, however, without her money or her status, she is forced to use her wits to survive.

Interests... slumming it. For someone who has always been chaperoned and “told what to do and how to do it and when and with whom,” Ellie actually gets a thrill from being on her own, even if that means that she is living well below her usual standards. After sharing a communal shower and singing with vagabonds on the bus, Ellie discovers that there's much more to world than she expected, and she's loving every second of it.  

Relationship Status... newlywed, to her father's disapproval and continued effort to separate the two. On her way back to Westley, Ellie spends plenty of time with Peter, who insists, “If you're nursing any silly notion that I'm interested in you, forget it. You're just a headline to me.” And for a while, she believes that he's just her ticket back to her true love. However, when the tension between them becomes undeniable, both Ellie and Peter must choose between the lives they thought they wanted and the desires they have when they are together.

Challenge... getting to New York undetected. Racing against time, her father, the media, and Peter threatening to “spill the beans to Papa,” Ellie makes the trek to the city, choosing to trust Peter anyway. (That is, despite his inconsolable habit of “mansplaining” and calling her a brat).

Personality... stubborn, playful, and surprisingly sensitive. Although she certainly can be a spoiled brat, there's much more to Ellie than that, as she discovers while on the road. Her father tells her, “You've always been a stubborn idiot,” but on the run, this translates to perseverance and more than enough wit to keep up with Peter. Forced to confront the realities of the world around her, Ellie turns out to be kindhearted and much more humble than even she imagined.