Colm Wilkinson Interview On 'Les Miserables,' Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway

Colm Wilkinson originated the role of Jean Valjean, the hero of the wildly popular musical based on the novel Les Miserables. In Tom Hooper's film version of Les Mis, Wilkinson found himself stepping out of the Valjean role to play the Bishop. "The Bishop’s character in the musical was never fully explored because of the time element we had on stage — it’s the first 200 pages of the book, about the bishop and Valjean and their relationship," Wilkinson told Uinterview exclusively, while answering fan questions. "I thought he was really just a great character. Mostly, I was excited about getting to work with [Hugh] Jackman and [Anne] Hathaway, there were certainly great people in there."

Watching Jackman take the familiar role of Valjean, Wilkinson had a few sage words for his successor. “I just said, ‘Look, my advice to you is just do it your way,” he told Uinterview. “Don’t emulate me or copy me.”

The Les Miserable Blu-Ray and DVD is on sale now.