It was 2007 when a shy, slightly awkward mobile phone salesman stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage. Paul Potts didn’t look like a star. Then he sang "Nessun Dorma," and the world basically melted. When Hollywood decided to turn that viral moment into a movie, the pressure was on to find the right people. Getting the cast of One Chance right was the only way to make sure the film didn't just feel like a long, glorified YouTube clip.
Honestly, biopics are risky. If you lean too hard into the "underdog" trope, it feels cheesy. If you ignore the grit of industrial Port Talbot, it feels fake. David Frankel, the director who gave us The Devil Wears Prada, had to thread a needle here. He needed actors who could handle the heavy emotional lifting of a man who suffered from chronic self-doubt and physical mishaps, while keeping the British "keep calm and carry on" humor intact.
James Corden as the Man Who Just Wanted to Sing
Corden wasn't always the late-night karaoke guy we know now. When he joined the cast of One Chance, he was coming off the massive success of Gavin & Stacey and One Man, Two Guvnors. He had this specific vulnerability. He plays Paul Potts not as a saint, but as a guy who is genuinely terrified of his own potential.
People forget that Paul Potts went through a lot of literal pain before he became famous. He had a ruptured appendix. He had a tumor in his adrenal gland. He broke his collarbone in a bicycle accident. Corden plays those moments with a sort of slumped-shoulder resignation that feels incredibly human. It’s not just about the singing; it’s about the "oh, of course this happened to me" look on his face.
One thing that surprises people? Corden didn't actually sing the opera parts. While James is a decent singer (as we've seen in Into the Woods), the filmmakers decided to use the real Paul Potts' voice for the performances. It makes sense. If you’re making a movie about a once-in-a-generation voice, you use the voice. Corden lip-synced to Potts, which is harder than it looks. You have to get the breathing right. The diaphragm movement. The neck tension. He nailed it.
The Supporting Cast of One Chance: Building the World of Port Talbot
The movie lives or dies on Paul's relationships. Alexandra Roach plays Julie-Ann (Julz) Cooper, Paul's wife. She’s the anchor. Without Julz, Paul probably stays in that phone shop forever. Roach brings a grounded, no-nonsense Welsh energy that keeps the film from floating away into pure melodrama. Their chemistry is the heart of the movie. It’s a very "us against the world" vibe.
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Then you have the parents.
Colm Meaney plays Roland, Paul's dad. He’s a laborer. He doesn't get the opera thing. Meaney is a legend for a reason; he can play "disappointed but secretly proud" better than almost anyone in the business. On the other side, you have Julie Walters as Yvonne, Paul's mom. Honestly, is it even a British movie if Julie Walters isn't in it? She provides the warmth. She’s the one who sees the spark when everyone else sees a guy who needs to get a "real job."
A Quick Look at the Key Players:
- James Corden as Paul Potts (The dreamer)
- Alexandra Roach as Julie-Ann Cooper (The support system)
- Colm Meaney as Roland Potts (The skeptical father)
- Julie Walters as Yvonne Potts (The believer)
- Mackenzie Crook as Braddon (The best friend/comic relief)
Mackenzie Crook is actually a standout here. You know him from The Office (the UK version) and Pirates of the Caribbean. He plays Paul's manager at the Carphone Warehouse. He’s weird. He’s obsessed with fantasy role-playing. But he’s the friend everyone needs—the one who doesn't judge your "strange" hobbies because he’s got plenty of his own.
Why the Casting Worked (and Where it Diverged from Reality)
Hollywood always tweaks the timeline. In the film, it feels like Paul’s journey to Venice to study under Pavarotti happens right before his big break. In reality, that happened years earlier. The cast of One Chance had to bridge that gap. They had to make it feel like Paul was perpetually on the verge of giving up, even though his real-life struggle lasted over a decade.
The Venice sequence is particularly interesting. We see Edoardo Gabbriellini as Alessandra, the teacher, and a cameo of sorts from Pavarotti (well, an actor playing him). This is the "Rocky" training montage of the opera world. Corden’s performance during the Pavarotti scene—where he freezes up—is painful to watch. It captures that specific type of stage fright that isn't just "butterflies," but a total system shutdown.
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The Simon Cowell Factor
You can't have a story about Britain's Got Talent without the judges. Interestingly, the movie uses real footage from the show for the climax. You see the real Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan.
This creates a weird, meta-blending of fiction and reality. Corden is edited into the footage so seamlessly that you almost forget he wasn't actually there in 2007. It highlights the central theme: the sheer impossibility of that moment.
The Impact of the Film's Tone
The movie is a dramedy. It’s funny. It’s sad. It’s very, very British. The cast of One Chance had to avoid making it a parody. It would have been easy to make fun of a guy selling phones in a small town who wants to be the next Caruso. But the actors treat the characters with dignity.
Port Talbot is portrayed as a place of fire and steel—the local steelworks dominate the landscape and the culture. Roland’s insistence that Paul work there isn't presented as him being a "villain." It’s presented as a man wanting his son to have a stable life in a harsh environment. That nuance is why the movie works.
Behind the Scenes Tidbits
Most people don't realize that the script was written by Justin Zackham. He wrote The Bucket List. You can see that influence—the idea of "doing the thing before it's too late."
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The soundtrack is also a character in itself. Beyond the opera, Taylor Swift actually wrote an original song for the movie called "Sweeter Than Fiction." It’s a bit of a departure from the Puccini arias, but it fits the triumphant ending. It actually got a Golden Globe nomination.
What We Can Learn from Paul's Story
The movie is about the "one chance" we all hope for. But looking at the performances, the real takeaway is about the preparation for that chance. Paul spent years singing in amateur productions and paying for lessons he couldn't afford.
If you're looking for the film's legacy, it’s not just a biopic. It’s a study in resilience. Corden’s portrayal reminds us that talent isn't enough; you need the guts to stand there and be judged by people who expect you to fail.
How to Dive Deeper into the Story
If you've just finished the movie and want to see how the cast of One Chance compares to the real people, start here:
- Watch the original audition: Go back to the 2007 YouTube clip of Paul Potts. Notice the look on Simon Cowell's face before Paul starts singing. It's pure boredom. That's the mountain Paul had to climb.
- Listen to the soundtrack: Compare Corden's lip-syncing to the actual tracks on the One Chance soundtrack. It helps you appreciate the technical work he put into the role.
- Check out Alexandra Roach's other work: She’s fantastic in Utopia and The Iron Lady. Seeing her range helps you appreciate her subtle performance as Julz.
- Read Paul's autobiography: The movie condenses a lot. If you want the gritty details of his medical issues and his time in Italy, his book (also titled One Chance) fills in the gaps that the film skipped for time.
The film is a solid piece of inspirational cinema. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but thanks to a stellar cast, it makes you feel something. And in a world of cynical blockbusters, that's actually saying quite a bit.