An unapologetic romantic has decided the set from the film The Holiday was sweet enough to eat… and has baked a cake resembling it.
Essex baker Bridie West, 30, has made an entirely edible creation of the English cottage that Cameron Diaz’s character Amanda stays at in the 2006 Christmassy rom-com.
In Nancy Meyers’ film Amanda and Kate Winslet’s Iris swap homes either side of the Atlantic and find love interests nearby their holiday abodes in characters played by Jude Law and Jack Black. Meyers has recently denied rumours of a sequel while Black has forgotten he starred in it.
While The Holiday was critically panned at the time it has developed a cult following and Ms West has seen her cake become a TikTok sensation.
“As soon as I put it on Instagram, someone messaged me asking if they could buy it,” said Ms West of the popularity of her iced vanilla sponge cake.
“She said ‘if I have it out over Christmas and then put it in a box and store it somewhere cool, can I keep it for however many years?’ – it’s so lovely.”
Her video on TikTok, which shows the Rosehill Cottage cake before and after the decoration process, has received more than 135,000 likes and over 8,000 saves.
The English parts of the movie were filmed in Surrey villages Godalming and Shere. However, in a twist of fate the US scenes were shot in Brentwood - an LA neighbourhood that shares its name with the town that Ms West calls home in Essex.
@bridiescakes The cottage from The Holiday 🎄 #theholiday #theholidaymovie #theholidayclassics #buttercream #buttercreamcake #christmasbaking #cakedecorating
♬ original sound - bridiescakes
She told PA: “The entire cake is edible, even the little fence with Rosehill Cottage written on – they are the most fiddly aspects.
“There’s so much you can do with cake, there are literally no limits.”
Indeed, Ms West has also made cakes themed around Gilmore Girls and 13 Going on 30.
“I’ve not had that happen to that degree before,” she added.
“I’m not the best posting on TikTok so it’s definitely shown me the reach you can have.
“It’s actually really lovely – it’s quite nice to see people from all over saying that they like it.”
