EXCLUSIVE | Nicola Coughlan reveals wild moments from ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ set
There was plenty of magic on the sets of ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ but Nicola Coughlan's wildest behind-the-scenes memories involved everything from being strapped to a makeshift flying rig to watching a crew member injure his ear on a boat trip.
For the unversed, the 2026 live-action fantasy adventure The Magic Faraway Tree, based on Enid Blyton's classic series, is about a family who move to the countryside for a fresh start, only to discover a world hidden in the woods nearby. What follows is a whimsical journey filled with plenty of magic and a little chaos.
The ‘Bridgerton’ actress plays Silky, a terrifically upbeat yet warm-hearted woodland fairy who lives in the magic world of the Faraway Tree. Speaking to MTN, Coughlan opened up about her experience making the film and being "the only girl in a group of boys."
While much of the film was created practically, including the sets and the real candy used in the Land of Goodies, Coughlan had to rely on a rather unusual setup for some of the scenes. Since she had to appear as a tiny fairy, one flying sequence required her to sit on a bicycle seat attached to a seesaw rig while two men lifted her up and down. Yes, that really happened!
"You're just sat on a bicycle seat doing this, but you're doing your arms like that to make it look like you're flying." Coughlan cheekily admitted that it was probably the "non-magical part" of the experience, but the finished scene made it worthwhile. "In the movie, it looks epic. So, it's worth it," she said.
The actress also had plenty of fun with her co-stars. Coughlan said this was the first time she had worked in a group of boys, with Nonso Anozie, Dustin Demri-Burns and Oliver Chris becoming like older brothers to her. That dynamic also meant there were plenty of moments where the cast struggled to keep things serious, with Coughlan recalling how her co-stars would make her laugh when they needed to "lock it in."
When asked about her most memorable behind-the-scenes story, Coughlan recalled a "weird but very defining" incident that happened while the cast and crew were filming in Malta. The group went on a boat trip, which ended with a rather unexpected mishap. Nick, one of the sound crew members, jumped off the boat and burst his eardrum. He couldn't fly home from Malta and had to take a train instead. In a surprising turn of events, she is now working with him on 'Only Murders in the Building'.
As they say, sometimes it's the completely unexpected moment that stays with you after filming wraps and for Coughlan, there were plenty of them. Though hopefully, the next boat trip comes with a little less drama for Nick. And if you're still wondering where to watch ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, rush to your nearest cinemas now!
