In film and literature, a female character, depicted as a cute, quirky free spirit, who is used solely to be the love interest of and further the personal growth of the (often disillusioned or depressed) male protagonist, rather than being a fully realized character. Film critic Nathan Rabin first used the term in 2007 to describe Kirsten Dunst's character in the film Elizabethtown. It is sometimes abbreviated as MPDG. Natalie Portman's character in Garden State is often considered a manic pixie dream girl.