SmartLess

Snapshot · SmartLess

"Emma Thompson"

Explore episode Jun 29, 2026

Where this was said

Nanny McPhee Musical and The Sheep Detective

At 54:50 · chapter starts 53:30

Emma has written two children's films, the most notable being Nanny McPhee, and has been collaborating with Gary Clarke — the Irish composer behind Sing Street — on a stage musical for a decade. She gave Clarke two sonic touchstones: Tom Waits' 'Swordfish Trombone' and something in the vein of the Tiger Lillies — Victorian steampunk, dark circus, not too on the nose. After a billion songs written and cut, the show is finally heading to the West End. Will then brings up The Sheep Detective, a film written by Craig Mazin (who wrote Chernobyl) about a shepherd who is murdered and whose sheep solve the crime. Emma says the premise alone was enough: she would have played a broom. The film also stars Hugh Jackman. Emma was only on set for three weeks, shooting in a picture-perfect English village she eventually remembers as Hambleton.

Arts
The Sheep Detective: Sheep Solve a Murder

"Emma Thompson" · Jun 29, 2026 Arts

Craig Mazin — who wrote Chernobyl — has penned a film about a murdered shepherd whose sheep solve the crime, and Emma Thompson is in it. The premise is so good, she says, she would have played a broom.

Similar snapshots