Lesley Manville

Harlots (2017)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay) in period costume, handing something small to Daniel Marney (Rory Fleck-Byrne)

Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay) and Daniel Marney (Rory Fleck-Byrne) © Monumental Television

Created by: Alison Newman and Moira Buffini

Written by: Moira Buffini, Jane English, Cat Jones and Debbie O’Malley

Starring: Samantha Morton, Jessica Brown Findlay, Lesley Manville, Eloise Smyth, Dorothy Atkinson, Alexa Davies and Bronwyn James

Production Company: Monumental Pictures, Independent Television (ITV)

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Already hotly debated in the press, ITV’s risqué eight part series, Harlots, takes us back to London 1763 when one in five women sold their body. The story follows brothel owner Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), her daughter Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) and their rival, Madam Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville).

Marie-Louise D’Aubigne (Poppy Corby-Teuch) and three friends sitting in a row of chairs with curtains behind

Marie-Louise D’Aubigne (Poppy Corby-Teuch) and friends © Monumental Television

The series was inspired by Jack Harris’ stories collected in Harris’s List of Convent Garden Ladies, a directory that contained a list of prostitutes, with their age, price and ‘specialities’.

The new drama stars Samantha Morton (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Rillington Place), Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey and Victor Frankenstein), Lesley Manville (Secrets & Lies, Another Year and Maleficent), Eloise Smyth (Ill Manors and The Frankenstein Chronicles), Dorothy Atkinson (Call the Midwife and Mr Turner), Alexa Davies (X + Y and Raised by Wolves) and Bronwyn James (Cut and Moving On).

The Tarred Yarn Store was featured as a tavern in various episodes.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location with variety of Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets and industrial buildings. Call the Midwife (2012-present), SS-GB (2017) and The Crown (2016) are just a few of the productions that were filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

Harlots premiers on ITV Encore on Monday 27th March at 10:00pm and on Hulu on Wednesday 29th March

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Mr Turner (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Mr Turner (Timothy Spall) standing in front of a painting

Mr Turner © Entertainment One

Director/Writer: Mike Leigh

Starring: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey, Karl Johnson, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville

Production companies: Film4, Focus Features International, Lipsync ProductionsT, hin Man Films, Xofa Productions

Kent locations: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Stangate Creek

Mr Turner was written and directed by the acclaimed Mike Leigh and chronicles the last twenty-five years of one of the most celebrated artists in British history – J.M.W. Turner.

The biographical drama takes us back to the nineteenth century when Turner travelled and painted some of his renowned works, even though he was struggling with the death of his esteemed father. The film also highlights Turner’s eccentric behaviour which resulted in his being both celebrated and reviled by the public and royalty alike.

Mr Turner looking at a painting in his study. Paintings are also on the walls behind

Mr Turner © Entertainment One

Turner is played by BAFTA winner Timothy Spall (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The King’s Speech) and also stars Paul Jesson (Vera Drake, Rome), Dorothy Atkinson (Call the Midwife, All or Nothing), Marion Bailey (Persuasion, Meantime), Karl Johnson (The Illusionist, Hot Fuzz), Ruth Sheen (Run Fatboy Run, Vanity Fair) and Lesley Manville (Maleficent, Another Year).

The Mr Turner production visited The Historic Dockyard in Chatham where they used HMS Gannet which doubled for a pleasure vessel on the Thames as well as the scenes where Turner is tied to the mast of a ship in a storm to make some sketches for his painting Snow Storm- Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth.  Stangate Creek was also used to film a rowing scene.

Turner had a rich history with Kent and drew inspiration for his works from a variety of locations including Stangate Creek, Margate and Whitstable. Now, the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate celebrates Turner’s association with the area.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham  lies on the River Medway which boasts a dry dock, cobbled streets, industrial buildings and extraordinary Georgian and Victorian architecture. The location has previously featured on screen in productions such as Muppets Most Wanted (2014), Call The Midwife (2012-2014) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Stangate Creek is on the River Medway and has been used by feature film adaption Great Expectations (2012) as well as the BBC’s Great Expectations (1999).

Mr Turner is released in cinemas on Friday 31st October 2014.

 

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

All Or Nothing (2002)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Car driving through a isolated background with lighthouse

All or Nothing Screenshot © Thin Man Films/StudioCanal

Director: Mike Leigh

Starring: Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, James Corden

Production Company: Les Films Alain Sarde, Thin Man Films

Kent location used: Dungeness

All Or Nothing is a film set on a London housing estate and centres around three working-class families and the struggles they face; including unemployment, violence unplanned pregnancy and alcoholism.

The film was nominated for many awards and won two at the London Critics Circle Film Awards – British Film of the Year and British Actress of the Year for Lesley Manville.

The film is directed by the acclaimed Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake) and stars Timothy Spall (Mr Turner, The King’s Speech, Enchanted), Lesley Manville (Maleficent, Another Year, Secrets & Lies) Ruth Sheen (Run Fatboy Run, Misfits, Vanity Fair) and James Corden (Begin Again, Into the Woods, The History Boys).

driving through fields looking out onto the beach

All or Nothing Screenshot © Thin Man Films/StudioCanal

Dungeness features in the film when Phil drives to the beach to contemplate his problems.

Set in the Shepway district of Kent, Dungeness is a unique location with a shingle beach, old and modern homes, two lighthouses, a historic railway station and a Power Station. Dungeness has been used as a film location by productions such as Ginger and Rosa (2012), Derek (2008) and I Want You (1998).

All Or Nothing was released in cinemas on 18th October 2002 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.