From the depths of deepest darkest Peru, the world’s most famous South American ovine headed to Finsbury to shoot scenes for his new film.
The movie version of Paddington, which opened at cinemas across the country last month, features a scene-setter outside Alexandra Harper Millinery Shop, in Arlington Way, and another shot in Rosebery Avenue.
At the latter Paddington Bear, famous for his love of marmalade and his old hat and battered suitcase, is at his lowest ebb as he gets caught in the rain with an umbrella.
Alexandra Harper, who opened the hat shop at the star of the year, said: “They were in the street filming in November last year.
“It was before I had even opened so I was still painting and decorating.
“The guy from the location team came and said ‘oh my gosh this looks like the best hat shop ever’.
“We chatted away and he was really quick and straight way asked if they could film that same afternoon and the following day.
“It looks cute and it’s a period building so I guess that’s why they wanted to use it.
“We talked about it and I signed my life and said they could film inside and outside the shop.
“In the end I think the inside wasn’t suitable but they used the exterior.
“They stated really early, probably to avoid the traffic, so I didn’t see anything - I didn’t see the bear.
“I’m a huge Paddington Bear fan thought, so I’m looking forward to seeing it - I haven’t got round to it yet.
“It’s really cool to think my shop’s in the film.”
The production notes for the Rosebery Avenue scene read: “Paddington Bear feels lost in London, without a place to call his home.
“We see him travelling under the bridge. It starts to rain, everyone around him opens their umbrella and only Paddington is getting wet.
“The camera crane starts, looking down on the bridge [in Rosebery Avenue], and then travels down to street level to be on the same level as Paddington Bear.”
Paddington Bear first appeared in children’s books back in 1958.
They have since been translated into 30 languages across 70 titles and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
The film version, which stars Nicole Kidman, Peter Capaldi and Matt Lucas, opened on November 28.
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