LIN’S SECRET PREPARATION WEAPON
Taking on such a beloved classic and remaking it into a new movie is always a daring move, but actor Lin-Manuel Miranda says fans won’t be disappointed by Mary Poppins Returns.
“Seeing it as an adult is a different experience,” he tells. “The themes of family and the importance of prioritising your children completely fly over your head as a child. Who wouldn’t want to be part of this film?
The thought of such a person makes me shudder!”
Lin plays Jack, the lamplighter and apprentice to Bert (Dick Van Dyke’s character Mr Dawes, from the original film), joining Emily Blunt, who takes on the iconic role of Mary Poppins.
While he’s found a wildly successful career on the stage performing in top Broadway shows and also writing them, Lin says entering the film world was a touch intimidating – especially given the stars involved.
“I was pinching myself,” he explains. “It was amazing working with Dick. He has more energy at the age of 91 than I have ever had in my entire life. I spent our days together quizzing him about his role in Broadway’s Bye Bye Birdie.”
But the best part of being in the film was the chance to make his son Sebastian proud.
“I was inspired by him. We started making the movie right when he was turning two – he was just gaining language,” he says. “My biggest research was watching my son play in Kensington Park, watching his boundless imagination. That was my secret weapon − I had a two-year-old research assistant who kept me childlike and kept me in that mode.”