Pierce Brosnan opens up about the serendipity surrounding his Mamma Mia casting
Pierce Brosnan has opened up about the serendipity that surrounded his casting in the Mamma Mia franchise.
Chatting in a new interview, the Irish native discussed the events that lead up to him landing the role of beloved architect, Sam Carmichael.
In a tragic turn of events, Brosnan learned he'd landed the now iconic production directly following the death of his stepfather. Pierce Brosnan has opened up about the serendipity that surrounded his casting in the Mamma Mia franchise. Pic: Robin L Marshall/WireImage
Chatting to Vanity Fair, Pierce began: 'My stepfather had just passed away and I was over at my mum's house and it was just her and I and the undertaker.
'My stepfather's name was Carmichael, Bill Carmichael, William Carmichael. Lovely man, a really kind man to me,' the star reflected.
'He was a Scotsman too and I said to my mum, I said 'oh we have to have the bagpipes, we should get a piper to take him and send him off on his way' and I was sitting there and it was just the three of us and I said 'I'm gonna go outside for a cigarette.'' Chatting in a new interview, the Irish native discussed the events that lead up to him landing the role of beloved architect, Sam Carmichael. Pic: Rex
In that moment his agent called and told Pierce he'd landed a role in a movie alongside Meryl Streep.
'He said 'yeah, it's Mamma Mia' and I said 'What? Mamma Mia the musical?''
Pierce then stayed in London to watch the stage production, unsure of who he'd even agreed to play. In a tragic turn of events, Brosnan learned he'd landed the now iconic production directly following the death of his stepfather. Pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
'Two days later I went to see the show, Mamma Mia, and I sat there with my late stepdaughter Charlotte and my son Christopher,' he continued.
'Then in came Sam Carmichael, the handsome one. I said 'that looks like it's got my name on it' and I was, I was Sam Carmichael.
'Here we are watching the play and my stepdad had just been buried, Carmichael, and then in the play the character Sam Carmichael says to Donna, 'Oh you've still got my bagpipes' and so someone was looking after me up there.'
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