The character page for Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2.
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Paddingon and the Brown Family
Paddington
Paddington
Voiced by: Ben Whishaw (English), Guillaume Gallienne (French dub), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukrainian dub)
A young, polite and kind-hearted brown bear from darkest Peru. After a large earthquake killed his uncle, Paddington was sent away to London by his Aunt Lucy to find a better home. He quickly manages to find one with the Browns. He tends to be incredibly clumsy and naive, but his heart is always in the right place.
- Accidental Hero: Paddington accidentally apprehends a pickpocket after mistakenly believing him to have dropped his wallet and trying to return it to him.
- All-Loving Hero: Lives by his Aunt Lucy's words "If we're kind and polite, the world will be right." This becomes meaningful in the second movie when he helps gradually transform the prison into a more pleasant place.
- Arrested for Heroism: His attempt to stop the thief of the Pop-Up book results in him getting arrested and sent to prison out of a misunderstanding.
- Bears Are Bad News: Downplayed; being also Beary Friendly, Paddington is on the whole a very polite and well-meaning sort of fellow, but tends to nevertheless cause trouble and chaos (albeit of the "social faux pas and mild catastrophes" variety) to those around him through his naivete and clumsiness.
- Beary Friendly: He is unfailingly polite, courteous and friendly.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Downplayed. Paddington is usually as nice and polite as one can be and is not violent even when angered, but he can get quite scary if you manage to annoy or anger him enough to get one of his "hard stares". Even Knuckles, a Lethal Chef considered The Dreaded, got increasingly anxious and nervous when he became the recipient of one such stare after insulting his Aunt Lucy.
- Blithe Spirit: He is a kind and polite bear from Peru who positively shakes up the Brown family and makes them a happier family altogether. He also massively shakes up the prison to be welcoming and more positive almost immediately after arriving.
- Death Glare: A downplayed version, at least; while Paddington is usually rather mild-natured and unflappable, if you do manage to annoy him (usually by forgetting your manners) then you may find yourself the recipient of one of his "hard stares".
- Frame-Up: His attempt to stop Phoenix from stealing the book leads to him becoming framed and sent to prison.
- Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: His only clothing is his hat and jacket.
- Happily Adopted:
- At least in the film continuity, it is established that Paddington was rescued by Pastuzo and Lucy when he was a cub with no explicit reference being made to his biological parents.
- While it took some time, of course, as in the books, the Brown Family eventually embraces and accepts him as being part of their family.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: Not with the people of Windsor Gardens, who all adore him (except Mr. Curry), but a slip-up at the barber shop (because his slip up was with the judge) and Buchanan's willingness to let him take the fall gets him sent to prison.
- Innocently Insensitive: He assures Mr. Brown that he's quite good looking for his age. When Mr. Brown realizes the potential Damned by Faint Praise aspect of this flattery, he asks Paddington how old Paddington thinks he is. Paddington innocently guesses that Mr. Brown is 80.
- Kindhearted Simpleton: The simpleton aspect is downplayed - Paddington is actually far from a fool. It's more his initial lack of familiarity with English (and human) customs that cause him trouble.
- The Klutz: The combination of Paddington's enthusiasm, good intentions, and poor motor control form most of the films' physical comedy, and he only avoids Lethal Klutz status because the havoc he wreaks doesn't have a body count. His first attempt at using the bathroom floods the Browns' house. His first attempt at using sticky tape nearly lights it on fire.
- Loved by All: In the second movie, he's become this to all of Windsor Gardens with the exception of Mr. Curry. His neighbors all happily greet him and look to him for advice, and they're all in shock when Paddington is accused of stealing the pop-up book.
- Nice Guy: You'd struggle to find a nicer individual than Paddington.
- Only Known By His Nickname: He does have a name prior to being sent to London, however he largely goes by the English name given to him by Mrs. Brown, Paddington. Justified as his true name can only be pronounced in bear roars.
- The Pollyanna: When recalling Aunt Lucy's words:Paddington: Aunt Lucy said, "If we're kind and polite the world will be right."
- It gets dialed up in the second film, when he transforms Windsor Gardens into a kind and loving neighborhood (except for Phoenix and Curry), and even gets the grumpy Colonel to warm up and start a relationship with the lady at the newspaper kiosk. He then takes it even further by transforming the prison into a kind and friendly place, full of flowers and colored lights, and the Warden reading the prisoners bedtime stories.
- Sarcasm-Blind: When Knuckles tells Paddington sarcastically that he loves when people complain about his food, the latter takes this statement at face value and files a complaint with him.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Marmalade.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: His klutz tendencies tend to cause a cascade of failures that result in catastrophe.
- Vocal Dissonance: Played with. Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw, who was in his mid-30s at the time of recording both films, and Paddington is treated like a child. However, while Whishaw's voice is definitely that of an adult, he delivers every line with the kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm most people associate with children. The original pick for the role, Colin Firth, stepped out of the role specifically to prevent this, since he felt his voice sounded too old.
Mr. Henry Brown
Mr. Harry Brown
Played by: Hugh Bonneville
The father of the browns. He was initially aloof and distrustful towards Paddington due to the potential dangers he brings and is quite stuffy and overprotective of his family. However, he warms up to the bear over time. There is also more to him than meets the eye.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Although he warms up to him over the course of the film, he is initially less nice to Paddington in the first film compared to the original stories. Specifically, while in the original stories Mr. Brown is a bit stuffy and reserved, he is nevertheless kind and welcoming to Paddington; in the first film, however, he views him as an existential threat to his family and can't wait to be rid of him.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: He spends most of the movie wanting to get rid of Paddington, thinking he's a threat to the entire family. He gets his wish when Paddington runs away, but had grown to like Paddington, so he's clearly upset. What's worse, when he suggests that they don't bother looking for Paddington as he didn't fit in, his family is disgusted by behaviour and they call him out and shun him.
- British Stuffiness: Growing out of it is a key part of his Character Development.
- Defrosting Ice King: He starts off the first film by being stuffy and aloof to both his family and especially Paddington. He gradually warms up over the course of the film
- Hidden Depths: As revealed by Mrs. Bird. He used to be incredibly wild and free-spirited as a young man. However, he changed to the stuffy and overprotective parent after Judy was born. He gains back some of his free-spiritedness thanks to Character Development.
- Hollywood Mid-Life Crisis: Is going through one at the beginning of the second film. He dyes his hair, takes yoga and is seen using face masks.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Downplayed, as he isn't really an outright jerk, just stuffy, close-minded and overprotective. Nevertheless, in spite of his stuffiness, dismissive tendencies and inital coldness towards Paddington, he still cares deeply about his family and eventually comes to accept Paddington as part of the family by the end of the first film. He stops becoming this by the second film.
- Jerkass Has a Point: He isn't exactly wrong to be concerned about having a rather uncivilized and eccentric bear move into his house (or protective of his family in general); he just takes it a bit too far. Paddington himself admits that he probably didn't make the best first impression when he first arrived. He also points out that it's hard to find who the Explorer is if they don't know what his name in English is.
- Named by the Adaptation: He simply went by Mr. Brown in the books and previous adaptations. The films give him the name "Henry".
- Straw Vulcan: He has some of these tendencies in the first movie especially; notice how his various chidings of Jonathan's reckless exploits are based more on exact statistical data ("17% of childhood accidents are caused by jumping!") than the possibility that Jonathan could break his leg or something.
Mrs. Mary Brown
Mrs. Mary Brown
Played by: Sally Hawkins
The mother of the browns. Mary is an incredibly loving, but also incredibly quirky and eccentric person.
- Adaptational Personality Change: She was originally a loving, but serious minded person in the books and previous adaptations. In the films however, she is a Cloud Cuckoolander and an Eccentric Artist.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Towards Judy. For example, on learning that her daughter Judy has a crush on a boy called Tony, her first response is to happily squee about meeting him.
- Cloudcuckoolander: In the films, it is made abundantly clear that while Mrs. Brown is sweet-natured and loving, she's also easily distracted and tends to live in the clouds a bit.
- Eccentric Artist: Does illustrations for adventure stories for a living and is quite the quirky and eccentric person. She even decides to go into the sewers for the sake of research.
- My God, What Have I Done?: She’s left very distraught after reading Paddington’s goodbye letter, as she was all set to hand him over to the authorities at Henry’s suggestion.
- Named by the Adaptation: She simply went by Mrs. Brown in the books and previous adaptations. The films give her the name "Mary".
- Nice Girl: Doesn't have a mean bone in her body. It says something that she's not only the first person to acknowledge Paddington but immediately recognises that he's a young person all alone late at night and offers to help him find a safe place to stay.
- The Nicknamer: Comes up with a lot of pet names for Judy. She is also the one who gives Paddington his English name.
- Parents as People: An Unwitting Instigator of Doom example: After the fire, she finally agrees with Henry that Paddington shouldn’t stay and was set to hand him over to the authorities to protect her children. Unfortunately, Paddington overhears their plans and he runs away, ultimately getting kidnapped by Millicent as a result.
- Quirky Curls: She's an eccentric lady with brown curly hair.
Jonathan Brown
Jonathan Brown
Played by: Samuel Joslin
The brother of the Browns. Jonathan is a fun loving and reckless young boy who likes building stuff and desires to be an astronaut when he grows up. Much to the concern of his father. He is also secretly into steam trains- Closet Geek: Is into steam trains but cannot openly admit it.
- Fleeting Passionate Hobbies: He originally wanted to be an astronaut in the first film and was passionate about chemistry and science. The sequel largely ditches this aspect of his, becoming a closeted Rail Enthusiast instead.
- Meaningful Rename: Is trying to be called J-Dog in the second movie.
- Out of Focus: In the second movie compared to his screen time in the previous film. He still has some importance though, especially in the climax.
- Pretty Fly for a White Guy: He and his friends are going through this phase in the second movie.
- Rail Enthusiast: Is a closeted one.
Judy Brown
Judy Brown
Played by: Madeleine Harris
The sister of the Browns. Judy starts off as being distant from her family and is afraid of being seen as weird. She soon opens up though thanks to Paddington.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In contrast to the books and prior adaptations, Judy starts off being aloof, easily embarrassed and sullen, preferring to distance herself from her family and Paddington. She gradually warms up over time, thanks in part to the latter.
- Bratty Teenage Daughter: Downplayed in the first film, since she does not throw tantrums or act much like a spoiled brat. But as mentioned above, she has clearly reached an age where she is noticeably sullen and easily embarrassed.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Again, she ends up being this thanks to Paddington.
- Does Not Like Men: As a result of a bad break-up with Tony in the second film. Her newspaper bans boys. By the credits however, she changes her mind, saying they're now allowed to work with her.
- Easily Embarrassed Youngster: She starts out so easily-embarrassed that Paddington describes her as having a "serious condition called embarrassment"; for the first half of the movie, a muttered "So embarrassing!" is practically her Catchphrase. Later, she becomes less easily embarrassed.
- Speaks Fluent Animal: The film shows her learn at least a few phrases of Bear, which later lets her communicate with Paddington during their attempt to rescue him from the museum.
Mrs. Bird
Mrs. Bird
Played by: Julie Walters
Traditionally the Brown's live-in housekeeper, although she's established as a relative in the film, though what relation she shares to the family is never specified.- Big Damn Heroes: Gets a chance to be this in the first film, when she reaches the roof just in time to knock Millicent off the roof before she can shoot Paddington.
- Brave Scot: Has a Scottish accent in the films, and is braver than everyone else in the Brown family.
- Cool Old Lady: Sometimes.
Villains
Millicent Clyde
Millicent Clyde
Played by: Nicole Kidman
A taxidermist and the daughter of the explorer that originally discovered Paddington's aunt and uncle in Peru. She intends to capture and stuff Paddington in order to restore her father's glory.- Bad People Abuse Animals: She was planning on stuffing a live, sapient bear. Also, prior to that, she had live animals illegally imported into the taxidermy museum and had them stuffed rather than taking care of the old-stuffed animals placed inside the displays.
- Big Bad: Of the 2014 movie.
- Canon Foreigner: She is made exclusively for the film.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: Her biggest flaw is her inability to understand why her father let the Geographers' Guild kick him out. She's become completely obsessed with glory and lost the morals he considered more important.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Subverted. Part of her motivation for capturing and stuffing Paddington was to restore her dad's glory after he got kicked out of the Geographers' Guild. However, it was quite clear that her father allowed himself to be kicked out from the Guild due to his rightful refusal to submit one of the bears as a specimen, and that Millicent resented her father for this, accusing him of putting the bears' happiness over her own.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: She is unable to understand that her father amicably left the bears and that he let himself get kicked out of the Geographers' Guild to ensure the bears' safety. She also can't comprehend the fact that the Browns consider Paddington to be a member of their family; even when they full explained it to her while protecting Paddington, she doesn't care as she threatens to kill and stuff the Browns.
- Faux Affably Evil: She maintains a soothing maternal tone, even when talking about how she is going to kill and stuff Paddington, who she is conversing with and when threatening to kill and stuff the Browns when they refused to hand over Paddington to her.
- Laser-Guided Karma: After being foiled of her plan to kill and stuff Paddington, as well as her illegal importing of live animals, Millicent is arrested and ends up being sentenced to community service in her father's old petting zoo... and being buried in a pile of mulch by the same monkey that she tried to stuff earlier.
- Like Parent, Unlike Child: In contrast to her benevolent father, who spared the bears back in Peru, she is a malicious woman who has no qualms about killing Paddington or even other humans.
- Pet the Dog: A brief and downplayed moment in the ending. Although she intends to kill and stuff Paddington, she does begrudgingly allow him to have one last request, that being to "eat his one sandwich". This actually turns out to be her downfall, as Paddington was actually using the sandwich in question to summon a flock of pigeons after her, allowing Mrs. Bird to open up a roof hatch on Millicent and leave her hanging on a pole.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: Upon witnessing the Brown family reuniting with Paddington on top of the museum rooftop, Millicent demanded them to hand him to her so that she can stuff him. The Browns angrily refused, and Henry gives out a passionate speech that they consider Paddington to be a special member of their family in spite of his origins and antics, and that Millicent will have to take them on if she dare tries to nab Paddington. However, Millicent rebuffs this by proclaiming that she's willing to kill and stuff the Browns if they refused to hand over Paddington.
- Tragic Villain: As a child, she was mentally affected by her father being kicked out of the Geographers' Guild, because of his refusal to turn over the bear as specimens. Upon his father opening up a petting zoo to provide support for his family, Millicent felt bitter towards him and promise to succeed on the one thing that he himself wouldn't do.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: This attitude basically justifies her willingness to kill Paddington, as she doesn't consider the bears her father encountered to be people even though they were capable of talking. Not that she has qualms against murdering actual human beings and stuffing them to use as trophies, as seen in the climax.
- Would Hurt a Child: She's perfectly fine with killing and stuffing other humans, including children.
Phoenix Buchanan
Phoenix Buchanan
Played by: Hugh Grant
A former stage actor. He is a arrogant and flamboyant man who steals and intends to use the pop-up book in order to become rich and famous again.- Beware the Silly Ones: His hamminess and extremely camp personality don't change that he's still a very effective thief and a surprising physical threat due to years of stage combat experience.
- Big Bad: Of the second movie. He is Paddington's rival for the pop-up book, gets him into prison and almost killed via drowning.
- Contrasting Sequel Antagonist: He contrasts the first film's Big Bad, Millicent Clyde, in a couple of ways. Both are ambitious villains with desires of glory, but Millicent was a calm, collected and intimidating No-Nonsense Nemesis whose antagonism towards Paddington was personal and her plans directly revolved around him, while Phoenix is incredibly hammy, dramatic and flamboyant thief whose scheme wouldn't have involved Paddington at all had he not come into possession of the pop-up book and Phoenix didn't particularly care about the bear beyond that slight wrinkle. Furthermore, while Millicent is merely sentenced to community service and clearly detests her punishment, Phoenix gets outright sent to prison, yet eagerly accepts his punishment.
- The Dandy: Is extremely vain and flamboyant.
- Evil Is Hammy: Like you wouldn't believe. There isn't a scene with Phoenix where Hugh Grant isn't gleefully devouring the scenery.
- Graceful Loser: His prison time ends up forcing him to learn how to work with other people. It also gives him a literal captive audience who clearly love and happily participate in his musical numbers, leaving him actually pretty pleased he got caught.
- Large Ham: In spades. It's justified due to him being a conceited actor who's just as flamboyant off the stage as on. Hugh Grant is clearly having the time of his life playing this character.
- Laughably Evil: He's evil and an absolute joy every second he's on screen.
- Loners Are Freaks: His career is in the toilets because he can't work with other people.
- Man of a Thousand Voices: Can expertly disguise his voice, and switch back and forth between them easily. He disguises himself as a cockney when robbing the book, and does a Scottish accent when quoting Macbeth.
- Master Actor: He wasn't a West End star for nothing. Throughout the film, he shows himself to a very talented actor who can slip into disguises effortlessly and his final scene in prison shows him to be a skilled dancer and singer.
- Master of Disguise: Part of the difficulty in proving Paddington's innocence is Phoenix's extensive mastery of disguises. The Browns briefly believe there's a pack of criminals who have framed the bear, rather than one man.
- Mock Millionaire: His big house, expensive wardrobe and lavish lifestyle are covers for the fact that he is in serious debt and doesn't have a penny to his name according to Mary.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: His vanity and camp demeanor do not make him any less of a threat as he reveals when he proves himself to be an expert swordsman due to extensive stage combat experience and takes Henry, Judy and Mrs Bird hostage.
- Sissy Villain: Is vain and obsessed with his appearance.Mr Brown: Geeze, that man spends a lot on face cream!
- Small Name, Big Ego: His opinion of himself far outweighs his much reduced circumstances. Deconstructed, since it’s repeatedly shown that Phoenix actually is legitimately very talented, but let his ego become so out of control that people just ended up refusing to work with him, thus wrecking his career. Essentially, the big ego directly led to the small name.
- Sword Cane: Pulls one out when suspecting intruders in his home (who turn out to be Mary and Henry).
- Talking to Themself: Does this acting out his many different personas whilst providing some exposition.
- Villain with Good Publicity: He is a distinguished member of the community, and even Mr. Brown refuses to believe that he's the thief until he discovers the book in his attic.
- White-Dwarf Starlet: Makes a few playful mock-pompous jokes about his status as a "West End Legend" at the start of the fair, but his irritation at Paddington pointing out his dog food commercials and subsequent scenes make it clear that it's not really an act; he is a fallen star, he has an ego so enormous it ruined him completely, and he finds his current low status humiliating. Unlike most examples of this trope, however, he's shown to be extremely talented all the same.
Other characters
Mr. Samuel Gruber
Mr. Samuel Gruber
Played by: Jim Broadbent
An elderly Hungarian immigrant who owns an antique store in Portobello Row. Paddington's closest human friend outside the Brown family.
- Cool Old Guy: In his late sixties but a very kind and intelligent man who Paddington has great respect for. He's also played by Jim Broadbent which makes him this by default.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Immigrated to England from Hungary as a child. Yeah, he escaped the Nazis.
- Eccentric Mentor: When Paddington has a question about anything, he asks him.
- Friendly Shopkeeper: He is an eccentric, but incredibly friendly shopkeeper who is one of Paddington's closest human friends.
- Large Ham: Not as much a Phoenix or Knuckles but he's still this. He is played by Jim Broadbent after all.
- The Malaproper: His bad English is played for laughs, he keeps using the wrong word. Like "popping book".
- Odd Friendship: With Paddington, but the two seem to relate since they are both immigrants to England.
Mr. Reginald Curry
Mr. Reginald Curry
Played by: Peter Capaldi
The Browns' next door neighbor, who doesn't really like Paddington- Control Freak: He's obsessed with having control over the neighborhood and forcing everyone to act as he wants.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Even though he doesn’t like Paddington, Mr. Curry was shocked and horrified that Millicent wanted to kill and stuff Paddington. He honestly thought that she was just taking him back to Darkest Peru and quickly calls the Browns to rescue Paddington (albeit attempting to use an assumed name).
- Grumpy Old Man: He's well into middle age and a cantankerous busybody who no one can stand.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's a jerk who despises Paddington, but he has his nicer moments. Most notably him calling the Browns to let him know that Paddington is kidnapped.
- Meddlesome Patrolman: As head of the "Community Defense Force" he wanders over to the Colonel's home trying to turn his opinion against Paddington in the second film. As the Colonel bluntly points out, his position has absolutely no power and all he's done is bought a yellow vest for himself. Later, he's seen enjoying himself by patrolling the now much gloomier, Paddington-free street, writing up others for minor infractions and discouraging Miss Kitts from spreading the "propaganda" the Browns are printing.
- Nosy Neighbor: A couple of times, especially in in the first movie.
- Small Name, Big Ego: He's nothing more than a community volunteer who is regarded as an unpleasant crank by everyone in the neighborhood yet he carries himself like an absolute authority and expects to be treated as such by everyone he encounters.
Aunt Lucy
Aunt Lucy
Voiced by: Imelda Staunton
Paddington's original maternal figure prior to setting off to London. After raising him since he's a cub, Aunt Lucy sends Paddington off to London in hopes of him finding a better home due to being too old. Paddington frequently sends letters to her at the Home for Retired Bears- Good Parents: While not technically Paddington's parent, she raised him and instilled his values in him.
- Mama Bear: A literal example at the start of the second movie, when she rescues young Paddington from the rapid river, and raises him with Uncle Pastuzo.
- Nice Girl: She is one and is the main reason Paddington is so kind and lovable.
- Parental Substitute: She isn't biologically related to Paddington, whose parents died when he was a cub, however she is pretty much the closest thing Paddington has to a mother figure prior to the Browns and Paddington certainly treats her as such.
- Really 700 Years Old: She's approximately 100 years old by the events of the sequel, which is quite impressive for a brown bear (who traditionally only have a lifespan of 20-30 years in reality).
The Explorer SPOILERS UNMARKED
Montgomery Clyde
Played by: Tim Downie
The explorer who initially discovered Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo in Peru. Originally intending to hunt them, after seeing how intelligent they are, he changed his mind and befriended the bears, before leaving them amicably.
- Dead All Along: As Paddington sadly finds out through his daughter, he is already dead by the events of the film.
- Minor Major Character: He is ultimately a minor character in the first film and only properly appears a couple of times in the film (and largely through flashbacks and old film footage), however it was his visit to Peru and encounter with the bears that lived there that ultimately kickstarts the main plot of the first film, on top of forming the motivations for both Paddington (to find him under the idea that he'll provide a good home for him) and Millicent (to restore his former glory after his actions get him banished from the Geographers' Guild) in the first film.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: His act of kindness in sparing the bears results in him getting banished from the Geographers' Guild and his records destroyed.
- Posthumous Character: He is dead by the events of the film and is only shown through flashbacks and old film footage.
- Unperson: He essentially becomes this under the Geographers' Guild after they fire him and have his records destroyed.
Knuckles McGinty
Played by: Brendan Gleeson
The head chef of the prison. He is heavily feared by the inmates and tends to not take criticism well. He is also incredibly rough around the edges.
- Abusive Parents: He claims his father used to tell him he'd "never amount to anything".
- Berserk Button: Don't criticize his food. Or bop him on the head with a baguette. Or smear condiments on his clothes.
- Big Damn Heroes: After initially leaving him behind, he (alongside two other prisoners who escaped with him) comes back to save Paddington from drowning in the climax.
- Cool Old Guy: Once he becomes a nicer person, Knuckles learns how to open up and use his cooking and combat skills for good, saving Paddington from drowning and eventually opening up a sandwich shop after he's pardoned from prison.
- Deadpan Snarker: He has his moments, most noteably pointing out to Henry, who has just insulted him during a prison visit, that the switch he flicked was for the light, not the microphone, and he heard every word. Being played by Brendan Gleeson guarantees this trope.
- The Dreaded: Feared by even the most hard-boiled inmates and when Paddington goes to confront Knuckles about the Poverty Food he serves, the warden preemptively calls for the medics, which he then switches to a request for a priest instead as Paddington keeps unintentionally pissing him off even more.
- Embarrassing Tattoo: Has "NUCKEL'S" tattooed onto his knuckles, and as a bonus, each set of letters is tattooed on the wrong set of knuckles, forcing him to cross his arms to properly show it off.
- Fiery Redhead: He has red hair that's going grey and is very quick to anger.
- Fighting Irish: He has Brendan Gleeson's trademark Dublin accent and is definitely not someone to get on the wrong side of.
- Grumpy Old Man: He starts off as one, having been hardened by years of living in prison, but spending time with Paddington makes him warm up over the course of the film.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: It takes very little to set him off.
- Heel–Face Turn: Although a hardened criminal at the start, he ultimately has a change of heart by the climax, as he comes in to save Paddington at the end of the film. As a result of this and according to the credits, he becomes pardoned for his crimes as a result of his heroic deed and is shown to open up a successful sandwich restaurant afterwards.
- Hidden Depths: He comes across as little more than an ill-tempered brawler at first but Paddington's influence brings out his other side, revealing himself as far more sensitive than he'd like to admit and a genuinely talented and passionate chef as well as being a loyal friend.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Angry, anti-social and generally gruff he may be, Knuckles also undeniably has a soft side and gradually warms up to Paddington and seeing him as a friend.
- Knuckle Tattoos: Has "NUCK" tattooed on one knuckle and "EL'S" on the other.
- Large Ham: You can tell Brendan Gleeson was having a wonderful time.
- Lethal Chef: Until Paddington showed up and taught him how to make food that everyone could enjoy.
- Real Men Wear Pink: He's a fearsome and tough as nails prison inmate who also loves baking and eventually opens his own successful cafe. Ironically, he seems to be the only prisoner whose uniform wasn't turned pink when Paddington put a red sock in the laundry.
- Spell My Name With An S: Knuckles insists his name be spelled with a capital N thanks to his horribly misspelled Knuckle Tattoos.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Once he and Paddington work together in the kitchen to make marmalade sandwiches, McGinty warms up to the bear and becomes his friend. He even makes a full blown Heel–Face Turn by the ending.
