"I was mildly terrified" - Pierce Brosnan recalls singing in Mama Mia!, says Colin Firth looked 'equally freaked out'

"I was mildly terrified."

That’s how Pierce Brosnan described his experience singing in the 2008 musical Mamma Mia! — and this is the admission he made while promoting his new series Mobland during an interview with Vanity Fair. Brosnan shared that while recording the ABBA classic 'SOS,' the terror was palpable, but it did help that Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård 'looked equally freaked out’ in the studio with him.

“It’s not an easy song to sing,” Brosnan said. “The only thing that kind of gave me some solace and some peace was to see Colin and Stellan look as equally freaked out as I was.”

Even after years of portraying Bond, Pierce Brosnan admitted to feeling immense pressure when it came to actually singing. He explained that aside from the studio recordings, the cast was also required to perform their songs during filming, which meant singing had to be genuine.

“You have to act the song out. You can’t fake the effort in your throat or your eyes,” he elaborated.

Pierce Brosnan on on-set difficulties, reluctant vocals — and a potential third movie

The actor, at age 72, said the hardest part for him was staying in step during his musical numbers; he needed the musical director to count him in just off-camera.

“I could never really count in. I was no good,” he said. “I think you can actually see me look to the side of the camera at some point.”

Pierce Brosnan made it clear that he still cringes at the acting. However, he unapologetically referenced the award-winning platinum and gold albums he received for his vocal contributions to Mamma Mia! and its 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

He starred in the movie as Sam Carmichael, one of Amanda Seyfried’s three potential fathers, alongside A-list actors Meryl Streep, Cher, and Christine Baranski.

Seven years after the sequel's release, Brosnan now claims he is eager to return for a third film.

"I think everyone is ready for Mamma Mia 3," he said. "It would be wonderful to do it. Yeah, why not? We've come this far."

A lasting note of harmony

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Pierce Brosnan’s story of overcoming his musical anxiety to achieve success with ABBA is a testament that even seasoned Hollywood stars feel misplaced at times and still manage to shine.

While everyone eagerly anticipates the official announcement for Mamma Mia 3, one thing is evident: Brosnan, regardless of his apprehensions, has indelibly marked the franchise’s legacy.

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