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 Christine Baranski Reveals the Hilarious Struggles of Getting                    Her Male Co-Stars to Dance in Mamma Mia 

Christine Baranski, the legendary actress known for her sophisticated roles and razor-sharp wit, gave fans an amusing behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again during her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. While the film dazzled audiences with its sun-soaked setting, iconic ABBA tunes, and joyful dance sequences, Baranski made it clear that not everyone in the cast was thrilled about busting a move on camera.

Baranski, who played the sultry and confident Tanya Chesham-Leigh in both Mamma Mia! films, confessed that getting the film’s male leads—Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård—to dance was nothing short of a miracle. “It was like rocket science,” she joked to Colbert, recalling the comical effort it took to coordinate their movements.

"They're incredible actors, of course," she began, smiling. "But when it came time to do even the most basic synchronized moves—like raising a beer glass at the same time—it was chaos." She laughed as she described the production team’s efforts to choreograph a scene where the three men were supposed to be in sync. “It’s not even dancing, really. It’s rhythmically lifting a glass. And even that had to be adjusted in post!”

Baranski revealed that among the trio, Colin Firth seemed the most self-conscious about dancing. “Colin was absolutely adorable, but he was so nervous,” she said. “He kept saying, ‘Christine, I’m British. We’re not built for this sort of thing!’” Despite his reservations, Firth gamely took part in the elaborate musical numbers, including the hilariously over-the-top rendition of “Dancing Queen,” where he and Brosnan leap into the ocean in full costume.

Director Ol Parker corroborated Baranski's recollection in other interviews, calling the trio "lovable and completely arrhythmic." According to Parker, there were moments in post-production when digital editing had to be used to tweak the timing of their movements. “We had to cheat it a little, to make it look like they were in sync,” Parker said.

Still, Baranski emphasized that the charm of Mamma Mia! came from exactly that sense of joyful imperfection. “That’s part of what makes it so lovable,” she told Colbert. “We weren’t trying to be Broadway perfect. It was about fun, about friendship, and letting go—even if you’re completely off-beat.”

When asked who hated dancing the most, Baranski didn't hesitate: “Pierce [Brosnan] tried, but I think if he could have sung and danced from behind a curtain, he would’ve!” She laughed, recalling how Brosnan’s singing in the first film had already drawn playful jabs from critics and fans. “But that’s the beauty of it. He leaned into it. We all did.”

Fans of the Mamma Mia! franchise have long appreciated the infectious energy and ensemble spirit of the cast. Behind the sunny island scenery and shimmering disco costumes was a cast full of seasoned actors simply enjoying the chance to let loose—even if some of them had to be dragged onto the dance floor.

Baranski ended the story with a wink, teasing the long-rumored Mamma Mia 3: “If we do another one, I swear we’ll have to give them choreography lessons six months in advance. Or at least get them to agree to rehearse with a metronome!”