No compensation was received for this post. Interview facilitated by The Weinstein Company.
As simple and charming as he seems, there is something uniquely iconic about Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear. Sent from his home in Darkest Peru, this unusually well-mannered bear has warmed the hearts of families across the globe for over 57 years. Bond’s stories have been translated into 30 languages, and yet, The Weinstein Company’s latest cinematic release marks the first time audiences will see Paddington Bear on-screen.
Seven years in the making, audiences will finally see the beloved Paddington Bear in an exciting, heartwarming film, slated to be released on January 16th, 2015. This live-action film details the story of Paddington as he travels from his home in Darkest Peru after an earthquake forces his family underground for shelter. Donning his uncle’s hat, a duffle coat, and a suitcase, this marmalade-loving bear stows away on a boat headed to London in search of a new home. Despite his aunt and uncle’s optimistic perspective on life in London, Paddington finds himself alone until the Brown family offer him a temporary haven. His “adoption” into the brown family is comical and complicated by a ruthless museum taxidermist (Nicole Kidman), who would like nothing more than to see Paddington Bear stuffed.
During a recent interview with Kidman, she spoke about her exciting role as the ultra-chic villain in the first film adaptation of the Paddington series, how she created believability while shooting opposite “Paddington,” and why the film will resonate with a broad audience.
While much of film follows Bond’s early stories of Paddington Bear, the addition of a villain helps to create suspense and excitement while reinforcing the film’s subtle messages that emphasize the value of family and the fluidity of how a family is defined, and the important responsibility of taking care of those in need. Almost as striking as Kidman’s menacing character is the ultra-chic fashion sense she brings to her character. From her trendy blonde wig to her seemingly endless stilettos, Kidman’s character commands each suspense-filled scene. When Kidman’s children first learned she would not be playing Paddington’s “mother,” they were “mortified.” It wasn’t until they were on-set, behind the scenes that they embraced her character. Despite the thrill and suspense created by the character of Millicent, “there is nothing really terrifying in the movie.” The humor is tasteful and “tongue-in-cheek,” Kidman’s character “sweetly menacing,” but what she found was that children want to laugh and have fun but “don’t want to be actually scared.”
Kidman was largely familiar with Bond’s stories of Paddington Bear and recalled that she “wanted to have a little bear like that.” She was compelled to take the role because she recognized the appeal of a film that showcases a talking bear in need of care, and more globally the fact that the film “works for grandparents, parents, and kids.” Paddington is a film “parents and kids can relate to differently but still really enjoy it.” The excitement of shooting in London, specifically in the iconic Natural History Museum, was compelling, but the draw for Kidman was the fact that she could walk out of an intense, all-night shoot and feel good about the film.
One of the challenges of working on a live-action, CGI film is acting against a character that isn’t physically present. Kidman often had nothing but a stick with a hat on it to act against, but the believability she brings to her character is authentic. “As actors, we get taught early on that we’ve got to use our imaginations, because so often everything we’re trying to believe is not there…you’ve got to have this ability to create an imaginary world.” Kidman noted that children are actually quite brilliant at this skill and over time, adults lose this ability. As an actor she has strived “to keep that childlike kind of imagination alive,” as she approaches projects like Paddington.
You can follow Paddington’s adventures online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
See Nicole Kidman in Paddington Friday, January 16th, 2015.
Images: The Weinstein Company
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