No compensation was received for this post. Interview facilitated by The Weinstein Company.
Sally Hawkins’ quiet yet commanding persona is exactly how I envisioned the character of Mrs. Brown, who first engages with Paddington Bear in the London station he was named after. You might recognize the Academy Award nominated actress for her work in Blue Jasmine, Persuasion, and Jane Eyre. As the benevolent and free-spirited Mrs. Brown, Hawkins’ authentic performance helps to create a world where a talking bear is completely normal. During a recent interview, the acclaimed actress shared what inspired her to take on such an endearing role, her connection with the iconic stories, and what she hopes families will glean from the film.
Hawkins stems from a line of creativity, her parents authors and illustrators of children’s books. Her first experience with Paddington was a 1970’s animation series she watched, but being that the iconic bear is decidedly British, she felt like she “was aware of Paddington” even before that time. Ironically, Hawkins knew director Paul King personally and was familiar with his direct involvement with the film. When she was offered the role of Mrs. Brown, Hawkins recalls how unexpected the opportunity was. “I was so flattered to be asked to play such a beautiful character.”
Mrs. Brown is the first person to engage with Paddington and in many respects sets the tone for the story that follows. While different than her own mother, Hawkins saw some of her mom’s “warm, loving, kind, and funny” personality reflected in the characters she plays, including Mrs. Brown. Coming from a world of creation and bringing words and stories to life was familiar, but Hawkins recalls what it took for her to create believability when it came to filming with a character she often couldn’t see or touch. “You’re in the world of make believe, and you have to call upon your imagination all the time. You’re sort of talking to things that [are] beyond the frame of the camera, [and] there’s a whole world of crew and people running around or holding up lights or flags or microphones. And you have to filter that stuff out and use your imagination.”
One of my favorite scenes in the film occurs early on when the Brown family first meet Paddington and Mrs. Brown convinces her husband and her children to bring him home. Hawkins recalls the first time she read that scene in the script…”It made me quite emotional, thinking of children I know in life and how you would feel as a mother in that situation.” Despite his bear-like persona, Paddington is timeless and relatable. “We’ve all felt like that…even on a daily basis you feel like you’re sort of unknowing and trying to work out how the world works and desperately in need of the kindness of a stranger (Hawkins).”
Watching the film with my children was one of those precious, nostalgic moments that don’t happen often enough. The filmmakers brought the story of the beloved Paddington to life with vibrant creativity. Their uniquely innovative cinematography often feels like we’ve stepped into the pages of Bond’s infamous books. The filmmakers authentically retained the heart of his stories while modernizing this cherished bear for our generation. For Hawkins, her hope is that families enjoy the film together and come away from the story recognizing that “there is nothing more important than [family].”
You can follow Paddington’s adventures online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Paddington is now in theaters nationwide.
Images: The Weinstein Company
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