Interview with Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer for Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins Returns opens NEXT WEEK and I can’t wait! We had such a fun time interviewing the cast and the people behind making Mary Poppins Returns come to the big screen. Today, I’m sharing my interview with Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer who play the adult Michael and Jane Banks!

Photo Credit: Jana Seitzer

Working with Rob Marshall

Rob Marshall has shared several times that he got his first choice of actors when it came to casting Mary Poppins Returns. We asked Ben and Emily how they felt about that high praise. Ben shared, “He doesn’t hold back. You feel his love. You feel his excitement about what you might bring to the table. really, really value that. In a way that’s everything…”

Emily also told us, “My dad always said that if you tell people they’re beautiful or wonderful and clever and talented and special and amazing, they are. That’s his strategy. You do believe him.”

Challenging Scenes

We asked Ben what the most challenging scene of Mary Poppins Returns was to film and Ben told us, “I think that the final scene when we’re on the balloons was quite… challenging. I mean, everything was. Because that had to be the climactic moment, you know? It’s weirdly much easier sometimes to play misery, and kind of grief or whatever. But being open-hearted and happy can be quite hard…”

Photo Credit: Jana Seitzer

Working Together

When you see Mary Poppins Returns, you’ll be able to instantly see the amazing sibling chemistry between Ben and Emily. We asked if they spent a lot of time before filming bonding and Ben shared, “We were really lucky. We just immediately got on, and enjoyed each other’s company, and giggled about things, and gossiped.”

Emily chimed in that they became close because, “Waiting to go on for rehearsals, and there were weeks and weeks of rehearsals. And then acting together. And then sitting around on the set for months, months, months together.”

Favorite Scene

One of the most amazing scenes in Mary Poppins Returns is the big dance number, Trip a Little Light Fantastic. Both Ben and Emily agreed that it was their favorite scene with Ben sharing, “I’m just knocked out by it. Because tremendous.”

Emily told us, “I think it’s amazing. You can’t catch your breath almost. Like I keep saying, it’s like intravenous entertainment the film.”

It was so fun talking to Ben and Emily! One of my favorite songs and scenes is when Ben is singing A Conversation. I can’t wait for you to see the movie!

Make sure to read about my experience at the Mary Poppins Returns premiere!

Mary Poppins Returns in Theaters December 19th

In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.