Nechama Rivlin, wife of President Reuven Rivlin and outspoken Paddington Bear fan, will provide the voice for a character  in the Hebrew version of the new film.

According to YNet news she will play Gertrude, the wife of Judge Gerald Biggleswadel, played by British actress and comedienne Maggie Steed (known for roles in Jam and Jerusalem, Midsomer Murders and EastEnders) in the original English version of the film.

Mrs Rivlin apparently came to the role after posting about her love of the Peruvian bear on social media. Her post was seen by Hana Biran who does PR for Lev Cinemas in Israel.

Mrs Rivlin said: "Thoughts of children's books I loved fill with me with joy, and Paddington Bear—created by Bond—I loved especially.

Through Paddington's adventures in the home of the Brown family we all learned about helping others and sympathising with their hardships. That forgotten creature who was rescued but had to learn to live in his adoptive home. 

"The book brings us a little close to the foreign and the different, the naïve immigrant, whose point of view exposes everything we take for granted as unassailable, despite the fact it should very well be changed. And how often do we walk past an injured bird or beast and look away, only so we don't have to take on the burden of caring for it."

Guy Shani, CEO of Lev Cinemas, said of Mrs Rivlin's star turn: "We're exceedingly proud and happy to announce Mrs. Nechama Rivlin's willingness to join Paddington Bear's adventures.

"It's so spiriting to see how Paddington's character can move children as much as it can make them laugh, while teaching them important lessons about generosity, modesty and accepting the other along the way, values so synonymous with the Israeli presidency and the couple occupying it, Mrs. Nechama Rivlin and President Reuven Rivlin."