In the 2014 film Paddington, Mrs Brown’s first name is Mary. She is the warm-hearted mother of the Brown family and one of the first people in London to welcome the lost bear into her home.
Mary Brown is played by Sally Hawkins. Her character works as a children’s book illustrator, while her husband Henry is initially much more cautious about bringing Paddington home. Their different reactions create an important part of the film’s family story.
The name can be confused with other members of the Brown household. Henry is Mary’s husband, Judy and Jonathan are their children, and Mrs Bird is the family’s housekeeper. Mary is therefore the correct first name for the adoptive mother, not the daughter or housekeeper.
The film presents the Browns as a modern London family, while retaining the welcoming spirit of Michael Bond’s books. Their decision to help Paddington begins the central adventure of the film.