Put Rachel McAdams in a film, and we’re tuning in. Mean Girls. The Notebook. Spotlight. Red Eye. She has impeccable taste when choosing her projects. The same can be said for her latest film, Netflix original Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. It’s a light, earnest and entertaining exploration of the annual music sensation, and we’re already adding it to our guilty pleasure watch list. But you might be disappointed to discover that the beautiful singing voice featured in the film is not actually Rachel’s.
The actress plays Sigrit, an Icelandic singer who’s part of a duo completed by Will Ferrell’s hapless character. They dream of Eurovision success, and they sing several songs on their journey to the competition. But while Will sings his own vocals, Rachel is dubbed for her performances, including the film’s opener, Volcano Man, and Double Trouble.
Her voice is replaced by that of Molly “My Marianne” Sanden, a Swedish singer. She has, funnily enough, participated in the Eurovision Song Contest several times. In 2006, she came third in the Junior contest, and then represented Sweden at the main event an impressive three times, in 2009, 2012, and 2016. You can watch her sing Husavik, one of the film's many bangers, here:
Dubbing vocals in film is more common than you might realise. The Greatest Showman, the 2017 musical about circus magnate P T Barnum, cast Rebecca Ferguson as renowned opera singer Jenny Lind. Her vocals, however – for absolute banger Never Enough – were provided by Loren Allred. And our favourite example is undoubtedly from Sister Act, the 1992 comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg. If you were surprised to hear the almost impossibly powerful, belting voice emerge from mousey redhead Sister Mary Robert, then that’s because she’s not actually singing. A woman named Andrea Robinson is.
Nor is Rachel the only star of the film to have had a little help. Dan Stevens, the Downton Abbey actor who plays a Russian contestant, is also dubbed. The film also stars Demi Lovato - who naturally sings for herself - and Pierce Brosnan, who doesn't get round to singing at all. Anyone who heard his efforts in Mamma Mia may be a little bit relieved. We still love you though, Pierce.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is available to stream on Netflix now.
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