Wild Child (2008)

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Kent Film Office

Emma Roberts (Poppy), Linzey Cocker (Josie), Sophie Wu (Kiki), Kimberley Nixon (Kate) and Juno Temple (Drippy) all dressed in fancy dress posing at the camera.

Emma Roberts (Poppy), Linzey Cocker (Josie), Sophie Wu (Kiki), Kimberley Nixon (Kate) and Juno Temple (Drippy) on the set of Wild Child. Giles Keyte: copyright: © 2008 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Directed by: Nick Moore

Written by: Lucy Dahl

Starring: Emma Roberts, Natasha Richardson, Aidan Quinn, Alex Pettier, Shirley Henderson

Production Company: Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Kent Locations: Cobham Hall

Emma roberts soaking wet emptying water from a red shoe with her bed behind

Emma Roberts and Kimberley Nixon in school uniform frowning at each other in a corridor full of students

Writen by Lucy Dahl, the daughter of literary giant Roald Dahl, “Wild Child” follows the antics of 16 year-old Poppy (Emma Roberts) on a search of self-discovery and maturity. Brought up in Los Angeles, Poppy has been living a selfish and spoiled existence. Fed up with Poppy’s attitude and behaviour, her father ships her off to an English boarding school where she’s faced with strict rules, curfews, school girl hierarchies and scary teachers. Will Poppy be able to remain the ultimate Wild Child?

Starring Emma Roberts (Hotel for Dogs, Nancy Drew), Natasha Richardson (The Parent Trap, Blow Dry), Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall, Unknown) Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike, I am Number Four) and Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Bridget Jones Diary Franchise).

Shot on location, “Wild Child” was mostly filmed at Cobham Hall, near Gravesend, in Kent. Already a boarding school for girls, the location was perfect for the film. The country house has become an increasingly popular filming location and has played host too many productions including The Great Fire (2014), the BBC’s adaptation of Bleak House (2005), and Agent Cody Banks (2003).

Laura Goldfinch as an extra on set - standing in school uniform on a field with cars parked behind

Laura Goldfinch as an extra on set © Laura Goldfinch

Local Kent girl Laura Goldfinch was lucky enough to be an extra on the film.

“On the fourth day of filming, two women approached me and revealed Kimberley Nixon, one of the young lead actresses, was absent and they needed a stand-in for three night shoots – me!!! I found myself whisked away into my very own trailer and travelled down to set in the same cars as Juno Temple, Alex Pettyfer and the amazing Shirley Henderson!”

“When the whirlwind rush of Wild Child was over, my life went back to normal, but my attitude towards my chosen career changed for the better. To this day I am grateful for having been given this opportunity and that Kent was chosen as the location for the Wild Child Production. Since Wild Child, I have gone on to have other successes working as a supporting artiste and actress in other Film and Television productions.”

Wild Child was released in cinemas in August 2008 and is available out on DVD.

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

Children of Men (2006)

Posted on February 4, 2006 by Kent Film Office

Clive Owen and Julianne Moore stood facing each other having a conversation in the Slip roof at Chatham Dockyards

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Writer: Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy J Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

Starring: Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Pam Ferris, Clare- Hope Ashitey

Production Company: Universal Pictures, Strike Entertainment,Hit & Run Productions, Ingenious Film Partners 2, Toho-Towa

Kent Filming Locations: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Adapted from P.D James’ novel of the same title, Children of Men is set in 2027, eighteen years after global human infertility has begun. The youngest citizen of the world has died at the age of 18 and in a world without children, or the possibility of children, there is no hope. Miraculously a young woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) falls pregnant against all expectation and a dormant activist, Theo (Clive Owen) is forced to decide whether he will fight for humanity’s survival by protecting mother and child or leave her to fend for herself.

Directed and written by Alfonso Cuarón (Great Expectations, Gravity) and starring Clive Owen (Sin City, The Knick) Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right, Still Alice), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight, Inception), Pam Ferris (Call The Midwife, Luther) and Clare- Hope Ashitey (Exodus, All Is by My Side).

The production filmed at Slip 3 at The Historic Dockyard Chatham is the setting for the rebel safe house where Julian first enlists Theo’s help to protect Kee, a young, Fijian woman who needs to leave the country. Will she make it out in time to give birth to the first child born in 19 years?

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is one of Kent’s most popular filming destinations previously hosting productions such as Call the Midwife (2012-2013), Les Miserables (2013) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Children of Men was released in cinemas in September 2006 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Posted on September 4, 2005 by Kent Film Office

Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) and Mrs Bennet (Brenda Blethyn)

Director: Joe Wright

Writer: Deborah Moggach

Starring: Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn, Matthew Macfadyen, Judy Dench, Talulah Riley, Kelly Reilly, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan

Production Company: Focus Features, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Scion Films

Kent Filming Locations: Groombridge Place and Gardens

Jane Austen’s classic love story “Pride and Prejudice” is adapted for the big screen with an all-star cast which follows Elisabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) through the trials and tribulations of love in the 1800’s. A first encounter between head strong Elisabeth and the rich and cold Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) leaves Elisabeth hating him and declaring that he is the ‘last person’ she could ever marry. Are they able to overcome their ‘pride and prejudices’ to realise that they truly are meant to be together?

Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Hanna) and starring a wealth of acting talent including Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean series, Anna Karenina), Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Secrets and Lies), Matthew Macfadyen (The Three Musketeers, Frost/Nixon), Judy Dench (Philomena, Skyfall), Talulah Riley (Inception, St. Trinian’s), Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes, Flight), Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher, Die Another Day), Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, The Italian Job), Jena Malone (Step Mom, Sucker Punch) and Carey Mulligan (Drive, Never Let Me Go).

Keira sitting under a tree at Groombridge holding a stick

Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley) sitting under a tree at Groombridge © Groombridge Place

Groombridge Place in Tunbridge Wells was chosen for the perfect location to where they made use of the 17th century house, gardens, extensive woodlands and lake which doubled as the Bennett’s house and grounds.

Jane Austen has many connections with the county as her family originated from Kent and her brother Edward Knight owned Godmersham Park which lies between Ashford and Canterbury. Both Jane and her sister Cassandra were frequent visitors; this is perhaps why Kent appears throughout her novel Pride and Prejudice and it is therefore no surprise that Kent was chosen as the prime location for the new adaptation.

Pride and Prejudice was released in cinemas in September 2005 and can now be bought on DVD.

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

Johnny English (2003)

Posted on November 2, 2003 by Kent Film Office

Johnny English Movie Poster - Rowan Atkinson in a suit and bow tie holding his fingers in a gun shape. Johnny English written in white. He knows no fear he knows no danger he know nothing written above.

Johnny English © Universal Pictures

Directed By: Peter Howitt

Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & William Davis

Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich

Production Company: Universal Pictures,StudioCanal,Working Title Films

Kent Locations Used: A2 Carriageway (leading to Jubilee Way) and the Port of Dover

After an unexpected bomb attack on the MI5, incompetent spy Johnny English is the only agent left alive when the crown jewels are stolen. English and his sidekick Bough (Ben Miller) are assigned to the case. For English, the prime suspect is mysterious French Entrepreneur Pascal Sauvage (John Malkovich). They soon learn the horrifying plan behind the theft, for Sauvage intends to wear them when he is crowned King of England.

The film is directed by Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors, Antitrust) and written by writing duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (SS-GB, Spectre), who met at University of Kent alongside William Davis (Puss in Boots, Ignition).

Rowan Atkinson (Bean, The Lion King) takes the feature role with a supporting cast of Ben Miller (Death in Paradise, The Armstrong and Miller Show), Natalie Imbruglia (Neighbours, Closed for Winter) and John Malkovich (RED, Dangerous Liaisons).

Johnny English soon meets Interpol Agent, Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia). After his case is taken away from him, she tracks him down and together they vow to stop Sauvage’s plan. As English and Campbell race to France they drive down the familiar A2 carriageway leading to Jubilee Way. Kent’s brief cameo continues as we see the car drive down Marine Parade past the sign for the Port of Dover.

The cameras would not have been a strange sight to local Dover residents. The town and surrounding landmarks have played host to many productions over the years. The famous Dover Castle alone has starred in many feature films. The site can be seen replicating another iconic British landmark like the Tower of London in the films Lady Jane (1987) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Johnny English is not the only spy to have visited the Port of Dover. In the famous 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Sean Connery stars as the suave spy 007. The Port makes its appearance as 007 foils diamond smuggler Peter Franks and boards a hovercraft bound for Amsterdam.

Johnny English was released in cinemas in April 2003 and can now be purchased on DVD.

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

The Mummy (1999)

Posted on October 5, 1999 by Kent Film Office

The Mummy Movie Poster- montage of images from the film, the main characters stands with a gun against an ancient wooden box.The Mummy written in gold

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hannah.

Production Company: Universal Pictures, Alphaville Films

Kent Filming Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Mummy is an action-adventure film which is about a team serving in the French Foreign Legion on an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Hamunaptra who accidentally awakens a mummy. As it calls up the ten plagues in revenge for the desecration of his tomb, the team face a race against time to stop the and put an end to the centuries-long curse.

The film is directed by Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing, The Jungle Book) and stars Brendan Fraser (Inkheart, The Affair), Rachel Weisz (The Bourne Legacy, About a Boy) and John Hannah (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sliding Doors).

Viewers may be surprised to learn that our very own The Historic Dockyard Chatham made a cameo appearance in the film. Hollywood transformed the popular location into Giza Port using CGI and an impressive 600 ft long set. Complete with steam ship and hundreds of extras, it truly looks authentic as the 1920’s Egyptian port.

One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, The Historic Dockyard Chatham has been used in various productions Features to TV programmes. With its cobbled streets, Georgian and Victorian architecture and period features spread across 80 acres, it has been the perfect location for films such as Les Miserables (2013) Sherlock

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set over 80 acres and contains over 100 Georgian and Victorian buildings as well as cobbled streets and dock spaces. Projects that have previously filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham include Downton Abbey (2013) and The Golden Compass (2007) among others.

The Mummy was released in cinemas in June 1999 and is now available on DVD.

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

The Black Windmill (1974)

Posted on August 2, 1974 by Kent Film Office

Production poster- Michael Cane with his hands on his stomach in front of a purple background, Michael Cane The Black Windmill written in white

Director: Don Siegel
Writer: Leigh Vance (screenplay), Clive Egleton (novel)
Starring: Michael Caine, Donald Pleasence, Delphine Seyrig
Production Company: Universal Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate Hover port, Pegwell Bay

The Black Windmill (1974) is a thriller about British agent Tarrant (Michael Caine) whose son has been kidnapped and is being held ransom for diamonds. Tarrant finds out that the people he thought he could trust are no longer on his side to help his son and desperately works to do all he can to get him home safely.

The screenplay was adapted by Leigh Vance (The Saint – Season 5 (1967), Switch), based on Clive Egleton‘s novel, ‘Seven Days to a Killing’.

The film is directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz) with Michael Caine (Battle of Britain (1969), Last Orders (2002)) taking the lead role along Donald Pleasence (Halloween, The Great Escape) and Delphine Seyrig (The Day of the Jackal, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles).

The production visited Ramsgate Hover port at Pegwell Bay to film the scene where Tarrant makes his way across the channel and sneaks onto a bus on board the hovercraft.

Formerly the home of Ramsgate Hover Port, Pegwell Bay is now a National Nature Reserve offering distinctive sea cliffs, parking, toilets, a cafe/restaurant and picnic areas.

The Thanet area has featured in a variety of productions such as EastEnders (2015), True Love (2012) and The Big Sleep (1978).

The Black Windmill (1974) was released on Friday 2^nd of August 1974 and is now available on DVD and online.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission