PIERCE BROSNAN
"Fear will drive you to great lengths to try and get something perfect and meaningful," laughed Pierce Brosnan, who traded in his customary designer tux for spandex in the big screen adaptation of "Mamma Mia."
Based on the $2 billion-grossing worldwide ABBA fueled musical that's touched down in 170 cities over the past seven years, "Mamma Mia" is the buoyant tale of a single mom (Meryl Streep), her altar bound daughter (Amanda Seyfried), and a trio of mom's ex-beaux, each of which might prove to be the bride's real dad.
Amused by the notion that he's done a "light entertainment musical," the handsome leading man with the finely chiseled face recalls, "When my agent called all I heard was the name Meryl Streep, and Greece. I didn't ask how much or even who I was playing. That came later. I just wanted to work with this wonderful actress."
Except for snippets of "Irish pub songs" in the 2002 indie "Evelyn" where he portrayed an unemployed single father named Desmond Doyle, Brosnan had never sang in public, much less carried the weight of a showstopper tune like ABBA's "SOS."
After the initial rush of excitement, terror set in. "At first, I just made noises. My family tried to be supportive, but it was clear that my kids were very worried when they first heard me sing. I'd sing when I drove them to school, at the ocean, anywhere."
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