Peg is based on Thompson’s mother

The mother figure Peg Boggs who gives Edward a home was played by Dianne Wiest.

Peg was based on screenwriter Caroline Thompson's own mother and the pair shared a lot of characteristics.

Thompson said: “I don't think the story would have had the shape it did if my mother hadn't been prone to bringing strangers home to live with us. It didn't seem unusual to me that [Peg] would say, 'I'm taking you home!' That's exactly what my mother would have done."