HUGH TAKES THE MICKEY OUT OF WASHED-UP ACTORS

PADDINGTON’S run-in with the ‘legendary actor’ Phoenix Buchanan begins when the self-important star asks him up on stage to help open a local fair. Grant was always first choice for the role. Director Paul King says: ‘We always thought Hugh would be perfect. Not because he shares any of Phoenix’s characteristics, of course. We had to write a letter saying we had a part of a vain faded actor and would he be interested? But Hugh has an amazing sense of self-deprecation, no sense of selfimportance and a good sense of how ridiculous acting is. So he relished sending it up.’