The Muppet Christmas Carol has a surprising cameo from a 00s star (Picture: W.Disney/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Before Robin Weaver was known as Simon’s mum on The Inbetweeners she appeared in the ‘best Christmas film ever made’ aka The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The 1992 Charles Dickens retelling stars Michael Caine as festive grouch Ebenezer Scrooge surrounded by the cast of the Muppets as they faithfully bring to life this classic winter tale.
Over thirty years later, fans are in shock after discovering Robin, 54, played Fred’s (Steven Mackintosh) wife Clara.
The British actor is best known for her role in The Inbetweeners, which ran from 2008 to 2010 and released two movie sequels. Robin played Pamela Cooper, Simon’s (Joe Thomas) quiet mum in the E4 sitcom.
A new post on Reddit, however, has shone a new light as the user posted their Eureka moment realising the two characters were portrayed by the same actor.
‘Approaching my 35th Christmas, and I’ve only just realised that Clara (Fred’s wife) in Muppet Christmas Carol is Simon’s mum in the Inbetweeners,’ @norman_debris wrote on the Reddit thread.
Fans of the movie couldn’t quite put their finger on where they knew Clara from (Picture: Walt Disney Pictures)
But she later became known for starring in the Inbetweeners (Picture: Channel 4)
‘How the f**k have I never noticed this before. The truth was staring me in the face for YEARS,’ an equally shocked @mixtrack commented.
‘Thank you! I watched it this week and was desperately trying to work out what I knew her from!’ @xp3ayk added.
‘Omg I was watching this today and was trying to rack my brain to think where I recognised her from! What a CV,’ @successful_fill_5741 echoed.
The thread even dropped another tidbit that the actor who plays Fred also appeared in the 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Since leaving Inbetweeners Robin has gone on to star in Sky sitcom Trollied, Inside No. 9, and Nicola Coughlan’s series Big Mood.
As for The Muppet Christmas Carol, it maintains a devoted fanbase that annually showers praise on the movie – even 22 years later.
‘Essentially a perfect all-age Christmas film, that of course benefits from a timeless story and the irresistible muppets.
‘Michael Caine’s decision to play Scrooge as seriously as if he was in Hamlet is inspired, the result being a performance for the ages,’ user David M wrote on Rotten Tomatoes.
Michael Caine is widely loved for his epic performance (Picture: Jim Henson Productions/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Michael Caine as Scrooge is fantastic, and the Christmas blend of the muppets and charles dickens’ A Christmas Carol, is hilariously addictively epic,’ Cody H echoed.
In 2015, director Brian Henson reflected on one of the most adored aspects of the Muppet special, Michael’s straight acting in the face of the ridiculous.
He told The Guardian: ‘When I met Michael Caine to talk about playing Scrooge, one of the first things he said was: “I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role and there are no puppets around me.”
‘I said: “Yes, bang on!” He was intimidating to start with, but he’s a delight.’
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