I've just watched it on TV and could ascertain no reason for the character of Amy to be American apart from a quip about diapers/nappies and a huge phone bill.
Samantha Mathis wasn't such a huge star that they needed her as pulling-power to be in the film so can anyone hazard a guess as to why the love interest is American?
Tourists often don't have a visa that allows them to work in countries that they are visiting. An American tourist in London might be able to work in the hospitality industry for tips, off the books. She might also stumble onto a job as a babysitter/nanny!
shareHaving her be American (or indeed, any other nationality abroad) gave her a reason to worry about her lost job, have nowhere else to go and be so ready to move in to Jack's house as a live-in nanny.
shareI think they made her American because of the successful pairing of Hugh Grant and Andy McDowell in "4 weddings & a funeral", and they believed they could attract a wide American audience if they put in an American lead actress.
I agree, she should have been British. The film flopped just the same and there was no chemistry between him and her.
DEAR TINA: EVERYBODY HATES YOU.
Sam Mathis took the role as her boyfriend had just died and she wanted to escape the press attention
made you look