How did Felix approach Anne-Marie about playing Miranda?

In the video, Anne-Marie is dancing with one man and then another, freeing them from each of them, as they try to claim her and subdue her. The men make comments like “what the pied ninny is this,” and “she could tear a whoreson strip off you” (102) before WonderBoy says “I bet she can kill with her scurvy thumbs” (103).