November 7th 2024.
Next up, you may have heard Ben Whishaw's distinctive voice as the beloved Paddington Bear, but the actor wants to share just how much effort goes into bringing the iconic character to life. And let's be honest, it's not an easy task.
Whishaw, who won a Bafta for his role as Paddington, confesses that he struggles to talk about the character. It's a role he never anticipated taking on, as he only got the opportunity after original actor Colin Firth dropped out due to concerns about his voice being too old.
At 44 years old, Whishaw is not only known for his role as Paddington, but also as Q in the James Bond franchise and for his acclaimed performances in films like Bright Star and TV shows like Criminal Justice and This Is Going to Hurt. However, it's Paddington that has become a blockbuster phenomenon in the UK and worldwide.
Despite the success, Whishaw is still surprised to find himself back in the role for Paddington in Peru, the third installment in the series. When asked if he could have imagined this 10 years ago when the first film was released, he responds with a resounding no. He explains that the first film was a blur for him, as he was brought in so late in the process and had no idea what he was getting himself into.
"It's incredible to see how many people have fallen in love with Paddington," he says with a sense of wonder. "I never could have imagined it."
Even though Whishaw has become synonymous with Paddington, it's not always a smooth transition back into the role for each film. He admits that it takes some time to find the voice again, even though it's essentially just his own voice. He laughs as he recalls the process of making the voice fit with the animation and understanding the character's movements and placement in each scene.
But for Whishaw, it's a process that he enjoys. He modestly credits his talent as an actor, even though he's one of the youngest actors to have played Hamlet at the Old Vic. He seems almost detached from his own success, as if it happened to someone else.
Despite his aversion to the spotlight and excessive publicity, Whishaw is relaxed and cheerful as we chat over Zoom. He is currently starring in the West End production of Waiting for Godot, but he takes the time to thoughtfully answer questions about Paddington in Peru, which is set to be released soon.
As we talk about the early days of voicing Paddington, Whishaw remembers the moment when he finally unlocked the character's voice while working with original director Paul King. It was a simple question that sparked the realization.
"It's funny because I had to ask myself, how old is Paddington?" Whishaw chuckles. "In the first film, I was using a child's voice, but we quickly realized that wasn't quite right. It had to be more like my own voice, with a bit of a bear-like quality to it."
So, while there may be a subtle difference between Paddington's voice and Whishaw's own, it's a detail that makes all the difference in bringing the beloved bear to life.
For someone as low-key as Whishaw, voicing an animated character has had an unexpected benefit – he can actually enjoy the films alongside the fans. He jokes that it's nice not to have to look at his own face for once, which is always a strange experience for him.
But for now, Whishaw is grateful to be a part of the Paddington family and to continue bringing joy to audiences around the world. And who knows, maybe there will be even more adventures for Paddington in the future.
"Coming up next, you may have recognized Ben Whishaw's soothing voice as the beloved Paddington Bear, but the actor recently revealed the amount of effort that goes into bringing the character to life. In fact, the Bafta-winning star admits that he struggles to talk about this role that has captured the hearts of many. It all started when he unexpectedly inherited the role after Colin Firth dropped out due to concerns about his voice being too old.
Aside from Paddington, the 44-year-old is also well-known for his role as Q to Daniel Craig's James Bond, as well as his appearances in other highly acclaimed films and TV shows like Bright Star, Criminal Justice, and This Is Going to Hurt. However, it is Paddington that has become a British blockbuster phenomenon across the globe.
Given the unexpected way he landed the role, Whishaw still finds it surprising to be back for Paddington's third adventure in Peru. When asked if he could have imagined this a decade ago when the first film was released, he answers honestly, "No, absolutely not. The first film was a blur for me because I joined the project so late, I had no idea what I was getting into."
He adds with a sense of wonder, "I couldn't have imagined that it would be loved by so many people." As Paddington Bear continues to win hearts in Paddington in Peru, Whishaw's voice has become inseparable from the character in the minds of fans. However, he reveals that it still takes some time to get back into character with each film.
"It always takes a bit of time to find the voice again, even though it's essentially my own voice," he laughs. "It's hard to explain, but a lot of it has to do with making the voice fit with the animation and other technicalities like knowing where the character is in the room or how far away the other person is. It's a trial and error process, but eventually we get into the groove."
Throughout our conversation, Whishaw remains genuinely humble about his talent, despite being one of the youngest actors to play Hamlet at the Old Vic at the age of 23. It's almost as if his successful career has happened to someone else. Despite his aversion to the limelight, he seems relaxed and open as we chat over Zoom, in the midst of his West End run in Waiting for Godot.
He thoughtfully answers each question and takes his time, checking back to make sure he has answered them correctly. I take him back to the beginning of his journey with Paddington and how he found the character's iconic voice. He recalls the moment he unlocked it while working with the original director, Paul King, who asked a simple question.
"It's a funny question because how old is Paddington?" Whishaw chuckles. "When I first started voicing the character, I was using a child's voice, but we quickly realized that wasn't quite right. It needed to be closer to my own register, with some added bear-like qualities and a hint of growl."
So while there is a subtle difference between the voices of Paddington Whishaw and person Whishaw, it is still distinct enough to add depth to the character. As someone who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, voicing an animated character has had an unexpected perk for Whishaw - he can finally enjoy watching the films without feeling the same terror he usually does when seeing himself on screen.
"It's nice not to have to look at my own face!" he laughs. "That's always such a weird thing."
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