My Week with Marilyn (2011)

My Week with Marilyn Movie poster with Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, & Kenneth Brannagh. A london skyline can be seen in the background, My week with Marilyn is written in blue

My Week with Marilyn Movie poster © The Weinstein Company

The Silver Screen Icon comes to life in this blockbuster biopic.

Directed by: Simon Curtis

Writers: Adrian Hodges (Screenplay) & Colin Clark (Books)

Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Brannah

Production company: The Weinstein Company, BBC Films, LipSync Productions, Trademark Films

Kent Filming Locations: Gibraltar Lane, Hawkinge & Saltwood Castle

Released in cinemas from 18th November, My Week with Marilyn tells the story of the infamous blonde bombshell and her love affair with Colin Clark.

My Week with Marilyn is based on true events that took place when Monroe arrived in the UK to film Sir Laurence Olivier’s The Prince and the Showgirl. At the time the actress was married to Arthur Miller. They had a famously turbulent relationship. A tragic miscarriage lead to increasingly erratic behaviour by the star and the depicted time span in her life was one of the most dramatic. Sadly the actress died five years after the film was made.

The production was adapted by Adrian Hodges (Survivors, Primeval) and directed by Simon Curtis (The Practise, Cranford), and stars Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Shutter Island), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl) and Kenneth Brannah (Valkyrie, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit).

In 2010, Kent welcomed the crew and stars of this historic Hollywood tale. Filming took place in Gibraltar Lane in Hawkinge and it was the first film to give the Kent Film Office an opportunity to use their new powers to close a road for filming.

Shooting also took place at the beautiful Saltwood Castle, still privately owned by members of the Clark family. Only rarely open to the public, the castle was also used for the BBC drama series The Alan Clark Diaries, starring John Hurt. Its earliest mention is in the year 488.

The Shepway area has previously featured in productions including The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016),  The Only Way is Essexmas (2014) and The Harry Hill Movie (2013).

My Week With Marilyn is out on DVD.

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


The Alan Clark Diaries (2004)

Alan Clark walking under the gate at Saltwood Castle

Alan Clark (John Hurt) at Saltwood Castle © BBC

Directed by: Jon Jones

Written by: Alan Clark, Jon Jones

Starring: John Hurt, Jenny Agutter, Hugh Fraser, Nicholas Jones, Jeremy Clyde, Paul Brooke, Peter Blythe

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations: Saltwood Castle, Hythe Beach

The Alan Clark Diaries is a 6 part BBC drama production, adapted from the bestselling diaries of late conservative MP Alan Clark. It gives a unique inside into the politicians mind, his controversial views and his dedication to the conservative party. It depicts the highs and lows of his career, as well as his unique relationship with his loyal wife Jane (Jenny Agutter), who tries her best to support him throughout his political life.

Starring John Hurt (Doctor Who, Hellboy Franchise) as Alan Clark alongside Jenny Agutter (Call the Midwife, The Avengers), Hugh Fraser (Agatha Christie: Poirot, 101 Dalmations), Nicholas Jones(Philomena , Hornblower: Mutiny), Jeremy Clyde (The Iron Lady), Paul Brooke(Bridget Jones’s Diary , The Phantom of the Opera)and Peter Blythe(Carrington).

Saltwood Castle featured as itself during the series after Clark’s widow, Jane, gave her support for the production and welcomed the team into her home. The castle remains owned by the Clark family, and is rarely opened to the public. However, it has previously hosted other productions such as My Week with Marilyn (2011), again due to a family connection.

Alan Clark often used to visit Hythe seafront and this is represented in the first episode of the series. Fisherman’s Beach in Hythe is a pebble beach with beautiful views, closely located to several cafés and tearooms, which are perfect for tourists.

The Alan Clark Diaries was first aired on the BBC in 2004 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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