AMERICAN GIRL’S SAMANTHA™ CHARACTER COMES TO LIFE IN A LIVE-ACTION TELEVISION MOVIE ON THE WB

American Girl Fans Will Also Meet Samantha’s Best Friend, Nellie™, This July

Middleton, WI – August 17, 2004 – Lights, camera,…Samantha! Samantha Parkington®—American Girl’s beloved Victorian-era heroine—is going to the movies! This November, Samantha’s timeless stories will come to life in Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, a live-action television movie airing on The WB Network on Tuesday, November 23. To celebrate Samantha’s movie debut, American Girl® is introducing an exciting array of new products, including a new 18-inch Nellie doll, Samantha’s best friend and the first-ever “friend” doll to join The American Girls Collection® of historical books, dolls, and accessories.

As one of the three original characters in The American Girls Collection, Samantha, an orphan girl raised by her wealthy grandmother in 1904, has captured girls’ imaginations since she was introduced in 1986. Now, with Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, American Girl brings Samantha’s compelling series to the small screen. This heartwarming family drama follows nine-year-old Samantha’s life with her grandmother in Mount Bedford, New York, and her growing friendship with Nellie O’Malley™, a servant at the house next door. The movie explores the girls’ different worlds and the changes and challenges they face together—including Nellie’s dramatic escape from a New York City orphanage. In the end, Samantha and Nellie both find a home and a family they can call their own.

Produced by Revolution Studios, Red Om Films, and American Girl in association with Warner Bros. Television, Samantha: An American Girl Holiday is the first foray into the television-movie industry for both American Girl and The WB. The movie’s executive producers enlisted Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and novelist, to write the teleplay and respected Australian filmmaker Nadia Tass to direct.

Nine-year-old AnnaSophia Robb has been cast in the coveted role of Samantha, and Kelsey Lewis will play Samantha’s best friend, Nellie. Celebrated film actress Mia Farrow stars as Grandmary, Samantha’s wealthy grandmother, and Jordan Bridges and Rebecca Mader round out the cast as Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia.

Starting July 26, American Girl fans can learn more about Samantha: An American Girl Holiday by visiting the Samantha movie headquarters at americangirl.com/movie. The site includes cast and crew bios, a photo gallery, the movie synopsis, excerpts from the Samantha books, games and activities, and more.

Also in July, to further enhance Samantha’s world for girls, American Girl is introducing the popular Nellie O’Malley character with her own special story to tell. Written by Valerie Tripp, author of three of the books in the Samantha series, Nellie’s Promise takes place in the spring of 1906 and explores Nellie’s new life in New York City with Samantha’s family and her struggle to find her place in the world. A beautiful 18-inch Nellie doll, featuring bobbed strawberry-blond hair, freckles, and blue eyes, along with an array of historically accurate clothing and accessories, brings the new character to life for girls. In September, American Girl will also launch an assortment of movie-related products, including new outfits for Samantha and Nellie, Samantha’s playful dog, Jip, and an elegant horse-drawn sleigh.

The Nellie doll, book, and accessories will be available this July at American Girl Place® Chicago and New York and at americangirl.com, and this September in American Girl’s consumer catalogue. The additional Samantha movie-related products will be available in September through American Girl’s consumer catalogue, at both American Girl Place locations, and at americangirl.com. To request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005.

ABOUT AMERICAN GIRL
American Girl, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com), was acquired by the world’s leading toy company in 1998. For nearly 20 years, American Girl has provided beautifully made products for each stage of a girl’s development, from her preschool days of fantasy play through her tween years of self-expression and individuality. Deeply committed to its mission to celebrate girls, the American Girl brand has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.

ABOUT THE WB
The WB is a sharply focused broadcast network targeted to 12- to 34-year olds, a highly desired demographic for advertisers. The network has achieved great success reaching this group through the consistent development and marketing of quality scripted series currently on its schedule including 7th Heaven, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, Everwood, One Tree Hill, Reba, and Steve Harvey’s Big Time. Launched in January 1995, The WB Television Network broadcasts 29 weekly hours of programming on over 200 affiliated stations covering more than 92% of the country.