Vanity Fair (2018)

Poster for Vanity Fair series- women in long red dress sat on a gold chair with her feet up on a globe model.

Poster for Vanity Fair series ©ITV Studio

 

Writer:  Gwyneth Hughes

Director: James Strong

Starring: Olivia Cooke, Suranne Jones, Martin Clunes

Production Company: Mammoth Screen

Kent Locations Used: Deal, Dover, Sevenoaks and Medway

This new ITV series is an adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s classic Victorian novel Vanity Fair. Set in the time of the Napoleonic wars, it follows the life of a beautiful and determined woman named Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and climb straight to the top of 19th century English Society.

Starring Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Bates Motel) as the antihero Becky Sharp, Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster, Scott and Bailey) as Miss Pinkerton, Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Men Behaving Badly) as Sir Pitt Crawley, Michael Palin (Monty Python, Remember Me) as Thackeray, Tom Bateman (Snatched, Into The Dark) as Captain Rawdon Crawley.

A cottage on Chevening House Estate was used for filming and featured as Rawdons’ (Tom Bateman) Cottage. This location is situated at the foot of the North Downs in Sevenoaks with extensive parkland surrounding it. It is set aside for official Government business.

A scene on the promenade, featuring soldiers and horses was filmed outside the Royal Hotel in Deal. The town is situated on the South Coast of Kent and has a longstanding naval history as one of the major Cinque Ports and many period features remain.

Squerryes Court in Sevenoaks was also used for filming Miss Pinkertons’ (Suranne Jones) school interiors. This location is a beautiful 17th century manor house which has been in the residence of the Warde family since 1731. It is surrounded with 20 acres of attractive and historic gardens which includes a lake and 18th century dovecote. Previous films that have used this location are The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012) and The Boat that Rocked (2009).

The Historic Chatham Dockyard was also used. Production filmed various London street scenes outside the Ropery, as well as Anchor Wharf for an embarkation to France and the interior of Commissioners House. The Historic Chatham Dockyard built many ships for the Royal Navy over the last 400 years, including HMS Victory, and it is the home of the Royal Rope Makers, having produced ropes since 1618. It is a popular filming location which offers many period locations, authentic cobbled streets and three historic warships. The Dockyard has previously been featured in films such as Suffragette (2015) and Mr Turner (2014).

Vanity Fair begins on 2nd September 2018 at 9pm on ITV, with episode two airing the next day, on Monday (3rd September 2018). It will then continue for 5 Sunday nights at 9pm.

 

 

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

 

 

 


Vanity Fair (2005)

 

Vanity Fair Film Poster- close up of reese witherspoon's face, with her hand covering her eyes. Vanity Fair written in white underneath

Vanity Fair Film Poster © Focus Features

Director: Mira Nair

Writer: William Makepeace Thackeray (screenplay) Matthew Faulk, Julian Fellowes, Mark Skeet (novel)

Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Rhys Ifans, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Gabriel Byrne

Production Company: Focus Features, Tempesta Films, Granada Film Productions, Inside Track Films, Mirabai Films, Cine Mosaic

Kent Filming Locations: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The film, an adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray novel, follows the fortunes of Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon), an ambitious woman living in the 19th century. An orphan, she leaves her home to become a governess and has a keen interest in advancing herself.

Constantly casting her eye over eligible men with handsome fortunes, her endeavours are constantly met with society’s disdain. The film follows her life over 20 years through her trials, wars and adventures. Becky is determined to make her way in the world and her determination results in some disastrous consequences for herself and others.

Mira Nair (New York, I Love You Monsoon Wedding) directs the film which is adapted by Matthew Faulk (Morlang, Hannibal), Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, Gosford Park), Mark Skeet (Jason and the Argonauts, Hannibal).

Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Wild) stars alongside Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Match Point, Dracula), Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, The Amazing Spider-Man), Bob Hoskins (Snow White and the Huntsman, Hook), Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!, Cloud Atlas) and Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Ghost Ship).

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, offered up its Old Paint Store to the production, once again providing the perfect film location.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set over 80 acres and contains over 100 Georgian and Victorian buildings. It is a popular filming location and has been  used for productions such as Muppets Most Wanted (2014), Call the Midwife (2012-2014) and  Sherlock Holmes  (2009).

Vanity Fair was released in January 2005 in the UK and is now available to buy on DVD.

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