Robin Williams Called His Mrs. Doubtfire Performance 'Demonic Possession'

Robin Williams defied easy categorization throughout his career, masterfully switching between comedic and dramatic roles with equal skill. While many actors get pigeonholed into specific genres, Williams proved time and again that he could handle whatever material came his way. His decision-making process wasn't about sticking to one type of role – it was about finding projects that challenged him and gave audiences the entertainment they deserved.

The Magic Behind the Character

When it comes to Williams' most memorable performances, his comedic work often takes center stage. Movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, Flubber, and RV highlighted his incredible talent for improvisation and his natural ability to make even the most outlandish situations feel genuine. Mrs. Doubtfire particularly showcased these skills, with much of the film's appeal coming from the spontaneous reactions of his co-stars to his unscripted moments.

Director Chris Columbus was so aware of Williams' improvisational genius that he positioned multiple cameras around the set. This setup ensured they could capture every angle when Williams went off-script, preserving both his performance and the authentic reactions of other actors. The strategy worked almost too well – Williams generated so much material through improvisation that the production eventually used up two million feet of film.

Finding the Voice

The preparation for Mrs. Doubtfire began long before cameras started rolling. Williams spent considerable time during preproduction experimenting with different vocal approaches for the character. According to Columbus, who spoke with Business Insider, the process was surprisingly quick: "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 crucial – it became the key that unlocked everything else about the character. In a 2013 interview with Parade, he described what happened once he found that perfect tone: "[It was 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."

The Evolution of Mrs. Doubtfire

The character didn't emerge fully formed right away. Williams revealed that his initial attempts sounded quite different: "Initially, she sounded like Margaret Thatcher. Scared the hell out of children. I went, no, no. Make her very soft, and very dear, and say horrible things in that soft voice." This adjustment proved essential to making the character both funny and endearing rather than frightening.

Williams also shared the deeper inspiration behind the film's concept: "The idea of that film, which literally came from a divorce counselor in my first marriage, was, 'Don't use your children as little hostages. Just treat them with love and respect and you can get through this.'" This personal connection helped ground the comedy in genuine emotion.

Columbus noted that while the voice was crucial, the final piece of the puzzle came with a simple accessory. Once Williams put on the character's glasses, everything clicked into place, and they knew they had captured the complete essence of Mrs. Doubtfire.