Maggie SmithAlex Jennings
Directed by
Nicholas Hytner
Screenplay by
Alan Bennett
from his memoir
and his hit play
 

On Blu-ray and Digital

A MOSTLY TRUE STORY

Synopsis

Alan Bennett's story is based on the true story of Miss Shepherd (played by a magnificent Maggie Smith), a woman of uncertain origins who "temporarily" parked her van in Bennett's London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. What begins as a begrudged favor becomes a relationship that will change both their lives. Filmed on the street and in the house where Bennett and Miss Shepherd lived all those years, acclaimed director Nicholas Hytner reunites with iconic writer Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George, The History Boys) to bring this rare and touching portrait to the screen.

The
Cast

The
Filmmakers

 
"ACTING LEGEND MAGGIE SMITH'S TOUR DE FORCE."
Lou Lumenick, NEW YORK POST
"MAGGIE SMITH COULD EARN YET ANOTHER OSCAR® NOMINATION FOR HER GREAT PERFORMANCE. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FILM PERFORMANCES FROM AN ACTRESS WHO'S UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED."
Tim Gray, VARIETY
"MAGGIE SMITH IS SPECTACULAR. THE KIND OF TOTAL DELIGHT SO RARE IN MOVIES TODAY."
Rex Reed, NEW YORK OBSERVER
"MAGGIE SMITH IS EXCELLENT IN A PEPPERY, UNSENTIMENTAL PERFORMANCE. SHE'S HYSTERICALLY FUNNY UNTIL SHE'S NOT, FLOORING YOU AS THE REGRET AND TRAGEDY BEHIND MISS SHEPHERD'S VAGABOND LIFE IS REVEALED."
Cath Clarke, TIME OUT
"DIRECTOR NICHOLAS HYTNER AND WRITER ALAN BENNETT'S THIRD SCREEN COLLABORATION MAY BE THEIR BEST YET, FEATURING A BRAVURA PERFORMANCE BY BELOVED, DELICIOUSLY DEADPAN MAGGIE SMITH."
Anne Thompson, INDIEWIRE - THOMPSON ON HOLLYWOOD
 
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DAME MAGGIE SMITHMISS SHEPHERD

Dame Maggie Smith made her debut with the Oxford University Drama Society (OUDS) as Viola in 1952 and since been awarded two Academy Awards, countless best actress nods, and has been honoured with both the CBE and DBE. In 2014 she was honoured to be made a Companion of Honour by Her Majesty the Queen. She received the Hamburg Shakespeare Prize in 1991, is a Fellow of the British Film Institute, and was awarded a Silver BAFTA in 1993. She is an Honorary D.Litt of Cambridge University and St Andrews, and is a patron of the Jane Austen Society. Her theatre credits include: AS YOU LIKE IT, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, RICHARD II and WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS. In 1963 she joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic and appeared in OTHELLO playing Desdemona opposite Laurence Olivier, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, MISS JULIE, THE RECRUITING OFFICER, HAY FEVER, THE MASTER BUILDER, BLACK COMEDY, THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM, THE THREE SISTERS, HEDDA GABLER and COMING IN TO LAND for Peter Hall at the RNT. In several seasons at Stratford, Ontario, between 1976 and 1980 she appeared in ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, THE WAY OF THE WORLD, THE THREE SISTERS, THE GUARDSMAN, AS YOU LIKE IT, MACBETH, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE SEAGULL and VIRGINIA. Her West End work includes: SHARE MY LETTUCE, RHINOCEROS, THE REHEARSAL, THE PRIVATE EAR & THE PUBLIC EYE, MARY MARY, PRIVATE LIVES, PETER PAN, NIGHT AND DAY, VIRGINIA, INTERPRETERS, THE INFERNAL MACHINE, LETTICE AND LOVAGE, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, THREE TALL WOMEN, TALKING HEADS, A DELICATE BALANCE, THE LADY IN THE VAN, THE BREATH OF LIFE, and THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE. Her film credits include OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR!, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, DEATH ON THE NILE, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, CALIFORNIA SUITE, A PRIVATE FUNCTION, THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE, HOOK, SISTER ACT, THE SECRET GARDEN, RICHARD III, FIRST WIVES CLUB, WASHINGTON SQUARE, TEA WITH MUSSOLINI, THE LAST SEPTEMBER , GOSFORD PARK, DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, KEEPING MUM, BECOMING JANE, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, QUARTET, THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and MY OLD LADY. She is also known worldwide as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Television credits include: MRS SILLY, TALKING HEADS: BED AMONG THE LENTILS, MEMENTO MORI, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, ALL THE KING'S MEN, DAVID COPPERFIELD, MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA, CAPTURING MARY, and most recently as the Dowager Duchess in DOWNTON ABBEY.

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Alex JenningsALAN BENNETT

Since training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Alex Jennings has become one of the most successful British theatre actors of his generation. His achievements include three Laurence Olivier awards: for the Russian comedy TOO CLEVER BY HALF (Comedy Performance of the Year), Ibsen's PEER GYNT (Best Actor), and as Henry Higgins in MY FAIR LADY (Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment), a role he recently reprised on stage in Paris. He has also recently played Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes' CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and Alan Bennett in HYMN & COCKTAIL STICKS (UNTOLD STORIES). The versatile actor's career includes performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the English National Opera, and at the National Theatre. On television, he is well known for his roles in TV series including the BBC period drama CRANFORD, Carnival Films' WHITECHAPEL, the BBC's legal drama SILK, and the forthcoming Netflix series THE CROWN, in which he plays the Duke of Windsor. His film appearances include roles in Amma Asante's BELLE, Stephen Frears's THE QUEEN (in which he played Prince Charles), Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's BABEL, John Stephenson's FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, Iain Softley's THE WINGS OF A DOVE, and Shekhar Kapoor's THE FOUR FEATHERS.

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Jim BroadbentUnderwood

Jim Broadbent is an Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning theatre, film and television actor, best known for roles in IRIS (for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes in 2001); MOULIN ROUGE! (for which he was awarded the BAFTA for performance in a Supporting Role in 2001) and the international phenomenon the Harry Potter franchise. He was BAFTA nominated most recently for his role alongside Meryl Streep in Phyllida Lloyd's THE IRON LADY (2011) Since his film debut in 1978, Jim has appeared in countless successful and acclaimed films, establishing a long-running collaboration with Mike Leigh (LIFE IS SWEET, TOPSY-TURVY, VERA DRAKE and ANOTHER YEAR) and demonstrating his talents as a character actor in films as diverse as Neil Jordan's THE CRYING GAME (1992), Woody Allen's BULLETS OVER BROADWAY ( 1994), Mark Herman's LITTLE VOICE ( 1998); Sharon Maguire's BRIDGET JONES' DIARY (2001); Edgar Wright's HOT FUZZ ( 2007); Tom Hooper's THE DAMNED UNITED (2009) and Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski siblings' CLOUD ATLAS (2012). Also honoured for his extensive work on television, Broadbent received a Royal Television Award and BAFTA nomination for his leading performance in ANY HUMAN HEART, based on William Boyd's novel of the same name) and has been recognised for his performance in Tom Hooper's LONGFORD, winning a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, as well as being nominated for an Emmy. He received an Emmy for THE STREET (2006) and his earlier role in THE GATHERING STORM (2002) earned him Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Broadbent has also appeared extensively on the stage, notably with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His work on the stage has seen him appear in acclaimed productions ranging from Peter Flannery's OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH, at the RSC Pit, and Athol Fugard's A PLACE WITH PIGS, at The National, through to Alan Bennett's HABEAS CORPUS at the Donmar and Martin McDonagh's THE PILLOWMAN at the National.

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Francis De La TourMRS VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

British actress Frances de la Tour boasts a hugely successful career spanning theatre, television and film. A regular at the National Theatre, the RSC and on London's West End; Her celebrated stage performances include Helena in Peter Brook's iconic production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE HISTORY BOYS (a role she reprised on film for which she earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2007), and on Broadway for which she received a Tony Award. She starred in the title roles of HAMLET at the Half Moon Theatre and ST JOAN for the National Theatre as well as LES PARENTS TERRIBLES, a role which garnered her an Olivier award nomination for Best Actress. De la Tour won the Evening Standard and Olivier awards for Best Actress for DUET FOR ONE, the Variety Club Best Actress prize for FALLEN ANGELS, the Olivier award for Best Supporting Actress for WHEN SHE DANCEED, and the Olivier award for Best Actress for A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN. Her television roles include BAFTA-nominated performances in DUET FOR ONE, and for Kudo Productions' VICIOUS. Frances also starred in the BBC comedy series BIG SCHOOL. On film, in addition to RISING DAMP, the film, for which she received The Evening Standard Best Actress Award; De la Tour has also appeared in Martin Scorsese's HUGO, David Yates' HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and THE GOBLET OF FIRE, Albert and Allen Hughes' THE BOOK OF ELI, Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND and James Bobin's ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Recently Frances appeared in SURVIVOR and MR HOLMES. Her last stage appearance was the starring role in PEOPLE by Alan Bennett at The National Theatre directed by Nicholas Hytner.

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ROGER ALLAMRufus

The three-time Laurence Olivier award-winning actor Roger Allam is a well-known face on UK television and film and voice on radio. A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) since 1981, Allam originated the role of Inspector Javert on the London stage in LES MISERABLES in 1984. His many and varied theatrical roles include Macbeth in MACBETH, Graves in John Caird's MONEY (for which he won the Best Supporting Actor prize at the Laurence Olivier Awards), Captain Terri Dennis in Michael Grandage's PRIVATES ON PARADE and Falstaff in Dominic Dromgoole's HENRY V PARTS 1 & 2. He won the Laurence Olivier award for Best Actor for the latter two roles. In film, Allam is the winner of the Peter Sellers' award for comedy at the Evening Standard Film Awards 2011 for his role in Stephen Frears' TAMARA DREWE. He has enjoyed further dramatic and comedy roles in an eclectic line-up of titles including Michael Winterbottom's A COCK AND BULL STORY, James McTeigue's V FOR VENDETTA, Ken Loach's THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, Stephen Frears' THE QUEEN, James Watkins' THE WOMAN IN BLACK, Phyllida Lloyd's THE IRON LADY and the Wachowski's SPEED RACER. Most recently Allam has appeared in Julian Jarrod's A ROYAL NIGHT OUT and Declan Recks' THE TRUTH COMMISSIONER. Allam's TV performances include memorable roles in Armando Iannuci's THE THICK OF IT, Susanna White's PARADE'S END, ENDEAVOUR and Al Campbell's BAD EDUCATION.

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NICHOLAS HYTNERDirector & Producer

NICHOLAS HYTNER's films are The Madness of King George and The History Boys (both in collaboration with Alan Bennett), The Crucible and The Object of My Affection.

He was director of the National Theatre from 2003-2015, where he brought in a new community of artists, produced in equal measure the classical repertoire and new work, introduced National Theatre Live cinema broadcasts around the world, and established the Travelex ticket seasons which - by radically reducing ticket prices - filled the National with large new audiences.

At the National he directed plays by Alan Bennett (The Madness of George III, The History Boys, The Habit of Art, People, Cocktail Sticks); Shakespeare (Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Timon of Athens, Othello); Richard Bean (England People Very Nice, One Man Two Guvnors, Great Britain); and plays from the classical repertoire (The Alchemist, Phèdre, London Assurance) and new plays by David Hare (Stuff Happens), Ayub Khan Din (Rafta, Rafta), John Hodge (Collaborators), Tom Stoppard (The Hard Problem) and a two part stage adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.

He produced, in addition, a repertoire of 20 plays a year, including War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

He has worked widely in the West End and on Broadway (Miss Saigon, Carousel), and in opera - in London, Paris, Munich and at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

He received the BAFTA award and Evening Standard award for best British film for The Madness of King George. His theatre awards include three Olivier awards, five Evening Standard awards and three Tony awards. He recently became an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts at the Juilliard School. He is currently working (with Nick Starr) on plans for a new theatre company in London, which will be announced shortly.

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ALAN BENNETTWriter

Alan Bennett has been one of the UK's leading dramatists since winning acclaim for BEYOND THE FRINGE in the 1960s. In film, credits include his original screenplay A PRIVATE FUNCTION, directed by Malcolm Mowbray, his adaptation of PRICK UP YOUR EARS, directed by Stephen Frears. For television he wrote the screenplay for AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD (1984), and adapted his play A QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION (1990), both directed by John Schlesinger. Bennett's television series TALKING HEADS has become a modern-day classic, as have many of his works for the stage, including FORTY YEARS ON, THE LADY IN THE VAN, A QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION, THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III (for which Bennett wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for the film adaptation THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE) and an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. At the National Theatre, THE HISTORY BOYS, directed by Nicholas Hytner, won Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Olivier awards, and the South Bank Award. On Broadway it won five New York Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics' Circle Awards, and a New York Drama Critics' Award for Best Play, a New York Drama League Award and six Tonys including Best Play. The film of THE HISTORY BOYS was released in 2006 and was nominated for the Best Screenplay award at the BIFAs the same year.

Bennett's play, THE HABIT OF ART played at the National Theatre and then around the country in 2009, while Bath Theatre Royal's production of THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III (starring David Haig) toured the UK and transferred to the Apollo Theatre, London in 2012, Alan Bennett's latest play, PEOPLE, opened at the National Theatre in 2012 and went on to tour the UK. His two short plays, HYMN and COCKTAIL STICKS (UNTOLD STORIES) opened at the National Theatre at the end of 2012 and enjoyed successful transfers to the Duchess Theatre, London. The film version of LADY IN A VAN, for which Bennett wrote the screenplay, is an adaptation of his 1999 hit West End play of the same name, which was directed by Nicholas Hytner and starred Dame Maggie Smith.

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KEVIN LOADERProducer

Kevin Loader is one of Britain's most experienced film producers. He spent his early career at the BBC, starting in news and current affairs before making arts programmes for strands such as ARENA and OMNIBUS, before becoming first managing editor of THE LATE SHOW. He moved to BBC Drama in 1990. His productions there included the award-winning mini-series THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA and CLARISSA. He left the BBC in 1996 to run a film company for Sony Pictures and Canal+, The Bridge. His first feature film as producer was CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN, starring Nicholas Cage, Penelope Cruz and John Hurt. Subsequently his producing credits include Armando Iannucci's Oscar-nominated IN THE LOOP, Sam Taylor-Johnson's NOWHERE BOY, Andrea Arnold's IUTHERING HEIGHTS, Julian Jarrold's film version of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, and ALPHA PAPA: THE ALAN PARTRIDGE MOVIE.

His and Roger Michell's company, Free Range Films, has produced most of Michell's British films over the past 15 years, including LE-WEEKEND, starring Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan; VENUS, for which Peter O'Toole received his final Oscar nomination; THE MOTHER, starring Daniel Craig and Anne Reid; the film of Ian McEwan's ENDURING LOVE; and HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, starring a Golden Globe-nominated Bill Murray as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Free Range is preparing several films, including Sarah Gavron's film of Rachel Joyce's best- selling novel THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY; Michell's version of Daphne Du Maurier's MY COUSIN RACHEL and a new Armando Iannucci version of DAVID COPPERFIELD.

THE LADY IN THE VAN marks Loader's second collaboration with Nicholas Hytner and Alan Bennett after he produced 2006's film of Bennett's award-winning play THE HISTORY BOYS. Loader is also working with BBC Films on GOLD, telling the story of the on-track rivalry between British Olympic athletes Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett; and GYPSY BOY, an adaptation of Mikey Walsh's best-selling memoir about growing up in a Gypsy community in England.

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DAMIAN JONESProducer

Damian Jones is a British film producer and the founder of DJ Films Ltd. His award-winning career spans over 30 feature films, working with prestigious directing talents including Phyllida Lloyd (THE IRON LADY), Amma Asante (BELLE), , Danny Boyle (MILLIONS), Mat Whitecross (SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL), Nicholas Hytner (THE HISTORY BOYS, LADY IN THE VAN) and Michael Winterbottom (WELCOME TO SARAJEVO). Jones has recently simultaneously completed principal photography on a feature version of the heritage British comedy series, DAD'S ARMY directed by Oliver Parker and starring an A-list line up including Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Gambon and Tom Courtenay and released February 2016. Jones' most recent producing success is the critically- acclaimed THE IRON LADY in 2011. Starring Meryl Streep as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the film went on to win Streep an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Best Make-up Designer Oscar as well as further Best Actress awards from the Golden Globes and BAFTA. Further film credits include M.J. Delaney's POWDER ROOM, Gregg Araki's SPLENDOR, Regan Hall's FAST GIRLS, and Vondie Curtis-Hall's GRIDLOCK'D, and Menhaj Huda's hard- hitting KIDULTHOOD. Jones is now prepping AB FAB THE MOVIE based on the iconic TV series with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley; and developing GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN with Steve Christian and director Simon Curtis and also developing an as-yet-untitled biography of the late fashion designer ALEXANDER MCQUEEN with writer Chris Urch and director Andrew Haigh.

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ANDREW DUNNDirector of Photography

Andrew Dunn BSC is a BAFTA award-winning cinematographer, He received the BAFTA for Best Film Cameraman three times for his work in the 1980s on THREADS, EDGE OF DARKNESS and TUMBLEDOWN. He has been Director of Photography on a wealth of films and works with many of the industry's most respected directors including Stephen Frears, Richard Eyre, Lee Daniels, Martin Campbell, Robert Altman, Mick Jackson, Bill Forsyth, Dennis Potter and Nicholas Hytner. Andrew was BAFTA nominated for Hytner's THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE and won the British Society of Cinematographer's Award and the London Evening Standard Award for his work on the film. He shot the Oscar- nominated dramas GOSFORD PARK and PRECIOUS. His further credits include L.A. STORY, THE BODYGUARD, HITCH, SWEET HOME ALABAMA, THE HISTORY BOYS, MISS POTTER, CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, THE BUTLER, HELLO CARTER, EFFIE GRAY AND THE FORTHCOMING COMEDY MAN UP. Andrew is now working on KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES with director Greg Mottola and THE LADY IN THE VAN is his fourth film with Nicholas Hytner.

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JOHN BEARDProduction Designer

John Beard's eclectic feature credits include Martin Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, Julien Temple's ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS and Michael Apted's ENIGMA. Beard has worked regularly with director Iain Softley on projects including INKHEART, THE SKELETON KEY, K-PAX, THE WINGS OF THE DOVE and HACKERS. THE LADY IN THE VAN marks his second collaboration with Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner, having previously worked on the critically acclaimed film version of THE HISTORY BOYS. Beard drew on personal experience in designing the film, as he, like Bennett and Hytner, is a long -term resident of Camden and observed the last days of the Van.Among Beard's further design credits are MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART, THE BROWNING VERSION, THUNDERBIRDS, DORIAN GRAY and HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE.

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TARIQ ANWAREditor

Having spent 18 years at the BBC, Tariq Anwar learnt his craft by cutting a huge array of programmes for almost every department. From the News department, to Music and Arts, to the History and Geographic channels Tariq worked on an extremely tight schedule, and the lessons he learnt in terms of storytelling, structure and how to make fast decisions were invaluable to his later work. Tariq has since cut a diverse selection of feature films and television dramas and has won and been nominated for multiple awards. He won the European Editor Film award for his work on THE KING'S SPEECH, for which he also received nominations for the Academy Awards, BAFTA and ACE awards in 2011. Other recent feature film work includes CURVE, LIBERTADOR, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, HUSSEIN WHO SAID NO, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, THE OTHER MAN, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, STAGE BEAUTY AND SYLVIA, as well as AMERICAN BEAUTY, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, an ACE award and won the BAFTA for Best Editor. Further BAFTA wins include the television dramas OPPENHEIMER and CAUGHT ON A TRAIN, and nominations include THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, SUMMER'S LEASE, FORTUNE'S WAR, THE MONOCLED MUTINEER and TENDER IS THE NIGHT.

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GEORGE FENTONComposer

George Fenton is an internationally renowned British film and TV composer. His film work includes composing the music for Richard Attenborough's GANDHI and CRY FREEDOM, Stephen Frears' DANGEROUS LIAISONS, Terry Gilliam's THE FISHER KING and THE ZERO THEOREM, Nora Ephron's YOU'VE GOT MAIL, Harold Ramis' GROUNDHOG DAY, Michael Caton-Jones' MEMPHIS BELLE, Ken Loach's LAND AND FREEDOM, MY NAME IS JOE, LOOKING FOR ERIC, THE ANGEL'S SHARE AND JIMMY'S HALL, Andy Tennant's SWEET HOME ALABAMA, HITCH and the upcoming WILD OATS, Nicholas Hytner's THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, THE CRUCIBLE, and THE HISTORY BOYS and Terry Jones' upcoming ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. Fenton's TV work includes TALKING HEADS, OUT, FOX, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN, THE MONOCLED MUTINEER,

BEYOND THE CLOUDS, BLUE PLANET, PLANET EARTH, LIFE and FROZEN PLANET, as well as many theme tunes including SHOESTRING, ON THE RECORD, BERGERAC and NEWSNIGHT. Fenton also works in theatre. Recent scores include COLLABORATORS for Nicholas Hytner and UNTOLD STORIES, which includes the string quartet "Hymn". Fenton has just completed a new musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS in production this year. He works regularly with the BBC Concert Orchestra and The Philharmonia Orchestra, both of whom performed for the score for THE LADY IN THE VAN. Fenton's work has been recognised with numerous awards and he has received five Oscar nominations, multiple Ivor Novello, BAFTA and Emmy awards; a Classical Brit; the Nina Rota award at Venice; a Lifetime Achievement award from the Royal Television Society and a Fellowship of The Royal College of Music and BASCA.

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NATALIE WARDCostume Designer

After graduating from the Wimbledon School of Art in 1992 with a BA Hons Degree in Costume Design, Natalie Ward began her career assisting Rachael Fleming on productions including DAD SAVAGE starring Patrick Stewart and I WANT YOU directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Rachel Weisz. Ward went on to work as Wardrobe Supervisor on INTIMACY and BRIDGET JONES' DIARY and was reunited with Michael Winterbottom as costume designer on WONDERLAND, TWENTY FOUR HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, CODE 46 and GOAL. As a designer, Ward's work has included ENDURING LOVE and LE WEEK-END for director Roger Michell, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS for Mark Herman, BREAKING AND ENTERING for Anthony Minghella ,WELCOME TO THE PUNCH for Eran Creevy and THE DEBT for John Madden. Her recent design credits include BLACK SEA for Kevin MacDonald and THE LADY IN THE VAN for Nicolas Hytner.

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NAOMI DONNEHair & Makeup Designer

As a hair and make-up artist in both film and theatre, Naomi has become a leading name in her profession. She has divided her time between Britain and America, and worked with such stars as Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, Ben Stiller and Helen Mirren among many others. Her film credits include CHOCOLAT (BAFTA nomination) , ZOOLANDER, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (Hollywood Guild Award), THE CRUCIBLE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, SKYFALL, PHILOMENA and CINDERELLA. Her theatre work both on Broadway and the West End includes MARY POPPINS, SHREK THE MUSICAL, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, TARZAN and NINE. She has been honoured by New York Women in Film. Naomi is currently working on the latest Bond film, SPECTRE.

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TOBY WHALECasting Director

Toby Whale is a British casting director whose film credits include BELLE, FAST GIRLS, ASHES, THE DARK NIGHT RISES, SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL, POPE JOAN, POPPY SHAKESPEARE, MR NOBDOY, FRENCH FILM, THE HISTORY BOYS, ASHES & SAND, WONDROUS OBLIVION, BEFORE YOU GO, and EAST IS EAST. Whale has also done the UK casting for a number of French films including BELLES FAMILLES, MOBIUS, LARGO WINCH, and UN JOUR MON PèRE VIENDRA.

Whale's theatre work includes over 50 productions as head of casting at the National Theatre for Nicholas Hytner. They include THE HISTORY BOYS (also Broadway), ON THE SHORE OF THE WIDE WORLD, BURN CHATROOM CITIZENSHIP, SOUTHWARK FAIR, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE OVERWHELMING, STUFF HAPPENS, THE PERMANENT WAY, SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS, and THE PILLOWMAN. His other theatre work includes over 40 productions principally for The Royal Court Theatre, Out of Joint, The Almeida, The Old Vic, Sheffield Theatres. Recent theatre includes THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Gielgud and UK tour), PRIVATES ON PARADE, PETER AND ALICE (Michael Grandage Company), QUARTERMAINE'S TERMS (West End), DANCING AT LUGHNASA, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, THE REAL THING (Old Vic), and A DELICATE BALANCE (Almedia.) Whale's TV credits include CAPITAL, ARTHUR & GEORGE, WALTER, ATLANTIS, SILK, THE POLITICIAN'S HUSBAND, THE BEST OF MEN, WE'LL TAKE MANHATTAN, ASHES TO ASHES, DOC MARTIN, MUTUAL FRIENDS, TRUE DARE KISS, GEORGE GENTLY, GAVIN & STACEY, REVERSALS, TRUST, HEARTS AND BONES, PARADISE HEIGHTS, WIRE IN THE BLOOD, MEN ONLY, and TABLE TWELVE.

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