Robin Williams’ Mrs Doubtfire: Channeling Chaos Into Comedy Gold

Robin Williams was never one to be boxed into a single category. While some might’ve been keen to label him as just a comic or a dramatic actor, he spent his career proving he could do both with equal flair. It wasn’t a calculated move on his part, but rather a knack for picking roles that let him show off the full range of his talents. Whether he was making punters laugh or tugging at their heartstrings, Williams always seemed right at home.

There was a tendency for folks to reckon he was drifting away from comedy whenever he took on more serious roles. But for Williams, it was never about choosing sides. He simply chased the best opportunities, the ones that let him flex his creative muscles and keep audiences on their toes. That’s probably why, when people look back on his legacy, it’s often his comedic work that stands out. Films like Mrs Doubtfire, Flubber, and RV are packed with moments that highlight his quick wit and natural presence, no matter what was thrown at him.

Improvisation at Its Finest

Mrs Doubtfire, in particular, was a showcase for Williams’ improvisational genius. The film’s charm often hinged on how those around him reacted to his antics. The director even set up multiple cameras to catch every spontaneous moment from all angles, just in case Williams struck comedic gold. There was so much off-the-cuff material that they ended up with a mountain of footage—two million feet of film, to be exact.

This approach wasn’t just something that happened on set. Williams started experimenting with the character’s voice well before filming began. As the director recalled,

“Robin started playing around with the voice, but with him, it doesn’t take a long time to get the voice. He probably had it within ten minutes, and we all agreed that’s exactly how Mrs Doubtfire should sound.”

For Williams, nailing the voice was the key to unlocking the rest of the character.

Finding the Heart of Mrs Doubtfire

Williams once described the process as

“a bit like demonic possession. Once in the right makeup and finding that voice, I was so freed up. You know, that very sweet voice.”

He joked that his first attempt sounded a bit like Margaret Thatcher, which was enough to give the kids a fright. Realising that wouldn’t do, he softened the voice, making it gentle and kind, but still able to deliver a cheeky line or two. The idea, he said, came from a divorce counsellor during his first marriage:

“Don’t use your children as little hostages. Just treat them with love and respect and you can get through this.”

Once the voice was sorted, everything else seemed to fall into place. The director noted that while some things shifted during filming, the core of the character stayed true to what they’d built in preproduction. The final touch? The glasses. As soon as Williams put them on, everyone knew they’d found the heart of Mrs Doubtfire.