Fontaine was also nominated for her delicate portrayal of a shy, mousey woman terrorized by the overbearing spectre of her husband’s first wife. Dressed plainly for most of the film, Fontaine is made to look diminutive by oversized doorways, hovering house staff, and unwelcome guests. Fontaine embraced the pressure of working with Hitchcock in a leading role, and imbued it into her character. As the new Mrs. de Winter, beaten down but never defeated, she persistently chips away at the overconfidence of others and finds the truth.