Brendan Gleeson reveals his only perfect film: the unexpected success of "Paddington 2" (2017)

Brendan Gleeson, a renowned actor with a career spanning three decades, is known for lending a seal of quality to any film in which he appears. Whether through the careful choice of scripts and directors or the impeccable delivery of his performances, Gleeson stands out in any genre, elevating the production around him. Currently, he also shines on television, with works such as the superhero series "Spider-Noir", starring Nicolas Cage, and the adaptation of the Stephen King thriller, "Mr Mercedes", in which he starred for three seasons. Despite his recent visibility, Gleeson's career began relatively late. He began his professional career at the age of 34, and in just six years he was in a blockbuster directed by Mel Gibson, "Braveheart" (1995). Over the years, he has worked with some of cinema's greatest filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese on "Gangs of New York", Danny Boyle on "28 Days Later" and Steven Spielberg on "A.I. Artificial Intelligence". However, it was his collaboration with director Martin McDonagh that consolidated his best work. From the Oscar-winning short film "Six Shooter" (2004) to the acclaimed "In Bruges" (2008), Gleeson has stood out. In 2022, his performance in "The Banshees of Inisherin" earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, marking one of the high points of his career. Despite all this recognition, the film Gleeson considers his only "perfect" work is 2017's unexpected hit "Paddington 2." Although many consider the feature film a masterpiece worshiped by a more alternative audience, Gleeson agrees with this view and proudly states: "They are absolutely right. This is a perfect film! Honestly, I am as proud of it as I am of any other work I have done." "Paddington 2" is the sequel to the film that features the anthropomorphic teddy bear Paddington, and features Hugh Grant as a master of disguise. The film was a huge commercial success, grossing $290 million on a modest budget of $40 million. Gleeson plays Knuckles McGinty, the chef at Portobello prison, where Paddington is wrongly accused of robbery and ends up in prison. The plot follows the escape attempt engineered by McGinty with the help of Paddington himself, in a narrative that won over audiences of all ages. In addition to "Paddington 2", Gleeson is preparing his return to television in November this year with the series "The Good Daughter", alongside Rose Byrne. The production is based on the best-selling book by Karin Slaughter and tells the story of two estranged sisters who face a new trauma years after a violent robbery in their childhood. Interestingly, Rose Byrne has already starred with Gleeson in "Troy" (2004) and also acted alongside Gleeson's son, Domhnall, in two films in the "Peter Rabbit" franchise, where they try to prevent the "death" of the titular character, voiced by James Corden. Brendan Gleeson continues to consolidate his career with striking roles and choices that reflect his talent and versatility. And, even with so many notable works, it is in "Paddington 2" that he finds his personal masterpiece, a film that transcends generations and that he considers a proud milestone in his artistic career.