I’m sad Sally Hawkins had to miss Paddington in Peru, but her latest movie might freak me out so much I have to avoid it, even if she is playing another mom. In the first two highly-regarded Paddington movies, the actor brought an earnest, maternal warmth to the role of Mrs. Brown, the kindly matriarch who agrees to take in the тιтular bear when he’s stuck without a home. Alongside Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, and Ben Whishaw as Paddington, Hawkins became a key part of the franchise’s ensemble, but her tenure has come to an end.

Outside of Paddington, Hawkins has proven herself to be a diverse performer, taking on a number of well-regarded roles across a variety of genres. She has been nominated for two Oscars for her performances in the drama Blue Jasmine and the fantasy romance The Shape of Water, and she earned a recurring spot within the Monsterverse as Dr. Vivienne Graham. This year, she’ll step into the horror genre with a buzzy new project from the directors of Talk to Me, and it’s a startlingly different shift from the world she left behind.

Sally Hawkins Didn’t Return For Paddington In Peru

Emily Mortimer Is Great, But Hawkins Embodied Mrs. Brown

Released in the UK late last year and in the United States this past February, Paddington in Peru followed the Brown family on a new adventure when Paddington receives word that his dear Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) has gone missing. Though it perhaps didn’t earn the same kind of universal acclaim as its predecessors, the Dougal Wilson-directed movie still earned plenty of praise and was happily welcomed by audiences; Paddington in Peru received enough positive reviews to score a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics.

However, it did switch things up in a major way by introducing a new Mrs. Brown. Emily Mortimer stepped into the role when Hawkins shifted away from the franchise, and she fit into the Paddington ensemble very well. There’s no question that, in replacing a beloved actor, Mortimer was put in a difficult position, and this is hardly a knock on her performance. At the same time, it’s hard to deny that Hawkins’ presence was missed.

From the moment Mrs. Brown meets Paddington in the original movie, we’re instantly charmed and eager to join her family. She’s a sweet soul who doesn’t hesitate to extend compᴀssion and love to the lost bear, and throughout the first two movies, she is the glue who holds the family together. So much of this comes from Hawkins’ twinkle-eyed performance. She’s the Mrs. Brown we’ve come to know, even if Mortimer did an admirable job taking over.

Bring Her Back Is A Very Different Kind Of Sally Hawkins Role

It’s Brilliant And Traumatizing All At Once

Now, mere months after Paddington in Peru debuted, Hawkins is heading back to the big screen, and her new role is such a reversal that I am, quite simply, terrified. Set for release on May 30, she stars in A24’s new horror movie, Bring Her Back. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, the overall plot has been kept intentionally secretive, but it is said to follow two siblings who encounter a disturbing ritual upon meeting their new foster mother. The Philippous earned acclaim in 2023 for their feature Talk to Me, which ScreenRant described as “chilling” and “unnerving.”

Now, I don’t consider myself to be a complete scaredy-cat. I’ve found myself drawn to horror more and more in recent years. I’ve become a fan of the Scream franchise, and I’ll eagerly line up to see any disturbing scenario Jordan Peele cooks up. But after watching the newest trailer for Bring Her Back, I may have found my line, and it does partially involve Hawkins.

To be sure, I have no doubt Hawkins will be excellent in Bring Her Back. An actor of her caliber taking on a horror role is enticing, even boundary-pushing. Her role as a grieving foster mother seemingly pushed to madness and violence is almost delightfully subversive; between Paddington and even Wonka, Hawkins has more than demonstrated how great she can be as a good mom. It’s now time to flip the script in the most extreme way possible. This is an exciting turning point for Hawkins, but as someone who draws so much comfort from her Mrs. Brown, I might have to watch from behind my hands.