Why Olivia Colman found Paddington 3’s musical sequence “really hard”

As a gamer with a keen eye for movies and a heart full of nostalgia, I must say that the anticipation for “Paddington in Peru” has been nothing short of exhilarating. The prospect of Olivia Colman belting out a number reminiscent of Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music” had me counting down the days.


Since the initial sneak peek of “Paddington in Peru“, our anticipation has grown as we eagerly await Olivia Colman’s captivating, Sound of Music-like musical scene.

As a die-hard fan myself, I was thrilled at the possibility of becoming part of one of the most cherished franchises out there. In a chat with Digital Spy, I even joked that I’d have gladly joined for free! However, my agent tends to get a bit anxious when I make such statements.

However, filming the memorable musical scene from Paddington 3 proved to be a challenge beyond what was initially anticipated.

“It turns out people who can sing and play the instrument and move, it’s really hard. I had to do one song, but it just makes suddenly you think of going to see anyone performing on stage, like Beyoncé with dance routines and singing,” Colman reflected.

Why Olivia Colman found Paddington 3's musical sequence "really hard"

I was wearing a long skirt and Jen White, the choreographer, remarked, ‘Fortunately, the skirt conceals your feet.’ This was helpful as I found myself struggling to perform all my moves simultaneously. Consequently, I was feigning movements at both the upper and lower parts of my body, which proved quite challenging.

Absolutely, Colman successfully executed the musical scene where she, as the Reverend Mother, organized the Retired Bears’ home in anticipation of Paddington and the Brown family’s visit.

Watching the movie brought about a get-together for Colman and Hugh Bonneville, as they had previously acted alongside each other in the BBC sitcoms “Twenty Twelve” and its follow-up series “W1A.

Previously collaborating with her, I am well aware of her exceptional abilities. It was delightful since I could casually request, “Hurry up, quiz me on my lines” as that’s what we often did during our time in the series “Twenty Twelve“, Bonneville shared with Digital Spy.

However, she completely immersed herself in this role and appears to be thoroughly enjoying every moment of it, just like Antonio [Banderas] who is a true team player, fitting seamlessly into the group and taking charge. I believe he enjoyed himself greatly while paying homage to Fitzcarraldo.

Why Olivia Colman found Paddington 3's musical sequence "really hard"

Almost, but not quite, Banderas secured a musical scene for the credits, which unfortunately didn’t make it past the editing room floor and was never filmed. The newcomers, on the other hand, have shown themselves to be fitting replacements for Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in their roles as guest stars in Paddington.

It appears that casting Colman in a “Paddington” film seemed incredibly suitable, yet even director Dougal Wilson was taken aback by the exceptional performance she gave.

He found himself pleasantly surprised that his creativity matched theirs regarding the upcoming performance. When discussing potential actors for the roles, at the mention of certain names, he instantly responded with a thought of obviousness: “Who else but them?

However, it’s only when Olivia is on set, dressed in her character’s outfit and engaging with Paddington, that the true magic unfolds. This is because it’s the small creative ideas that they both bring to the table.

Prior to the premiere, Hugh Bonneville shared thoughts with Digital Spy on the long-awaited arrival of Paddington 3, along with the unique aspects Emily Mortimer brings to her portrayal of Mrs Brown.

Paddington in Peru is released in UK cinemas on November 8 and in US cinemas on January 17, 2025.

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2024-11-07 11:18

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