Maggie Gyllenhaal Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang Interview

Q: What drew you to the role? Did you particularly want to make a family film?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: It was the script, and Emma. She’s so great.

Q: Were you a fan of the first film?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: I hadn’t seen the first film when I decided to do the movie. I then watched it of course and I thought it was great.

Q: In what ways is this one different to the first film?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: I think it’s a little darker. I think it really deals with some of the complicated tough things about being a kid. It’s a real fantasy. I think its hard being a kid and this movie acknowledges that and I love that about it.

Q: They say never work with children or animals and there are plenty of both in this film. How did you find that?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: I didn’t work much with animals in the movie, but I did work with a lot of kids and they were so adorable. The thing about kids is, if you can create an environment on set where they feel free, then they’ll act like kids. Someone who’s acting like a kid is so fun to act with because you never know what they’re going to do. At the same time this movie is very technical - with five kids, animals and CGI - so you have to break it down into little pieces. Emma and I were often on our knees just off camera, making funny faces and trying to get a reaction out of the kids which was fun and a whole other skill set than acting...

Q: How did you find working with Susanna the director?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: Susanna was lovely. Actually, I kind of based my accent on hers, I love the way she talks. Sometime you work with a director and it’s like you have to do it all by yourself, it’s like a boomerang, playing with yourself. But, with Susanna, there was a dialogue going and she had interesting ideas and I really liked it.

Q: Who would win a fight between Nanny McPhee and Mary Poppins?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: I can’t say. I’d have to see that fight. I’d like to see that fight. And I’m sure my daughter would.

Q: If you could travel through time, like Nanny McPhee, where would you like to go and why?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: There are so many times I’d like to go and see. I’d like to know what it was like in New York when my great grandparents came over and what it was like in the Ukraine and Russia, where they came from; that immigrant journey that doesn’t happen anymore. I flew to London in seven hours and I slept the whole time, so I’d like to see what that was like.

Q: In what ways could you relate to your character in the film?

Maggie Gyllenhaal: I think Mrs Green is so big hearted; I used to tell Emma I think I need to grow my heart in order to be warm enough to play her. She’s this warm hearted, lovely, loving person and also totally overwhelmed and in over her head dealing with too much - that I can definitely relate to. I think every mother can. I love that the movie says you can be overwhelmed, be beside yourself and still be a good mother, but you will be overwhelmed and beside yourself if you are a mother. It’s part of the job description and I love that.

Hello Boys and Girls,

I'm Nanny McPhee and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about my new film, Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang which will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from August 4.

On this particular adventure, I travel to a farm where a war has broken out between some very boisterous country children and their pompous city cousins. When I saw the stress this was causing their poor harried mother, well I just had to step in to help them learn how to live peacefully with one another.

With my trusty magic stick in tow and a bit of help from some very lively animals, I was able to impart five very important life lessons - all while having fun along the way, of course. If I'm [Emma Thompson] not a big enough draw card for you and my pearly pieces of wisdom are of no use to you, I'm joined on my adventure by some fairly major heavy hitters including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maggie Smith, Ewan McGregor, Bill Bailey, Rhys Ifans and Ralph Fiennes.

There are also lots of hilarious special features that I'm sure will keep the whole family thoroughly entertained for hours on end.

I do hope you do enjoy my latest film when it becomes available on Blu-ray and DVD

Sincerely,
Nanny McPhee