Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson attend 'Saving Mr. Banks' premiere in London [PHOTOS]

(UPI) -- Tom Hanks has been a busy man.

Two of his most recent films opened and closed the BFI London Film Festival. The event started 10 days ago with "Captain Phillips," in which the 57-year-old actor plays the real-life captain of a ship taken hostage by pirates in 2009.

On Sunday night, Hanks and his "Saving Mr. Banks" co-star Emma Thompson closed the festival with their movie about Walt Disney, his tense relationship with irritable "Mary Poppins" author P.L. Travers, and their battle over the iconic film's journey to the big screen.

"In a lot of ways 'Mary Poppins' was the crowning achievement of everything he did," Hanks said of Disney. "It won all the Academy Awards, it was a huge monster hit and it was the last movie that he truly was hands-on."

"What was fun was inhabiting someone who refused to let the fairy dust work," Thompson said of her role as Travers. "I loved her belligerence, I loved playing her rudeness, and her honesty."

Cast members Colin Farrell and Ruth Wilson also attended the premiere.

"Saving Mr. Banks" hits US theaters December 20.