"When it came to casting, we wanted a couple of real movie stars," producers Nick Barton and Suzanne Mackie said. Sometimes what you want is what you get. Among the first actresses to be sent the screenplay were Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, for the roles of Chris and Annie respectively. The Academy Award-nominated stars needed little persuading to sign up.

HELEN MIRREN (Chris) is one of Britain’s most versatile and acclaimed actresses, who has worked with some of the world’s best directors both on the screen and the stage. Her best known films include John Mackenzie’s THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY, Tinto Brass’s CALIGULA, John Boorman’s EXCALIBUR, Pat O’Connor’s CAL, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984, Peter Greenaway’s THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER, Terry George’s SOME MOTHER’S SON, Nicholas Hytner’s THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, for which she won an Academy Award Best Supporting Actress nomination and a second Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Robert Altman’s GOSFORD PARK, for which she received her second Academy Award Best Supporting Actress nomination, and Fred Schepisi’s LAST ORDERS. She will soon be seen alongside Robert Redford and Willem Dafoe in THE CLEARING from director Pieter Jan Brugge.


JULIE WALTERS (Annie) burst onto the film scene with her debut performance in Lewis Gilbert’s EDUCATING RITA for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination and a Bafta Best Actress award. Since then, she has starred in David Green’s BUSTER, Terry Jones’ PERSONAL SERVICES, Stephen Frears’ PRICK UP YOUR EARS, Roger Michell’s TITANIC TOWN, Stephen Daldry’s BILLY ELIOT and the international blockbuster HARRY POTTER series.

JOHN ALDERTON (John) is one of Britain’s best known television stars, thanks to his performances in such well-loved and long-running series as UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, MY WIFE NEXT DOOR and PLEASE SIR. His film credits include Ian Sharp’s MRS CALDICOT’S CABBAGE WARS and Vadim Jean’s CLOCKWORK MICE. On stage, he has starred in WHAT THE BUTLER SAW at the National Theatre, SPRING AND PORT WINE at the Apollo, DUTCH UNCLE at the Aldwych, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY at the Savoy and WAITING FOR GODOT at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.


LINDA BASSETT (Cora) was most recently seen in Stephen Daldry’s THE HOURS. Her credits include the international sleeper hit EAST IS EAST, directed by Damian O’Donnell, Jasmin Dizdar’s BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE and Gillian Armstrong’s OSCAR AND LUCINDA. After five years with the Belgrade theatre company in Coventry, where she wrote and directed as well as performed, Bassett has enjoyed a long theatre career, working with some of the leading directors on the British stage. Her credits include OUT IN THE OPEN, directed by Kathy Burke, at the Hampstead Theatre, FAR AWAY directed by Stephen Daldry at the Royal Court, HENRY IV PARTS 1 AND 2, directed by Adrian Noble at the RSC, THE THEBAN PLAYS and ARTISTS AND ADMIRERS, both directed by Phyllida Law at the RSC, as well as several plays directed by Max Stafford Clark at the Royal Court.

ANNETTE CROSBIE (Jessie) is best known for her performance as the long-suffering wife of archetypal moaner Victor Meldrew in the award-winning BBC television sitcom ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. She has also starred in MURDER IN MIND, ANCHOR ME, AN UNSUITABLE JOB FOR A WOMAN and DR FINLAY.

PHILIP GLENISTER (Lawrence) has starred in a string of critically acclaimed television dramas, including the award-winning series CLOCKING OFF, HORNBLOWER, THE HUNT, VANITY FAIR, ROGER ROGER and SHARPE’S JUSTICE. On the stage, he has appeared in THE FEAST OF SNAILS at the Lyric, TRANSLATIONS at the Abbey, Dublin, and CROSSING THE EQUATOR and BEAUTIFUL THING, both at the Bush.

CIARAN HINDS (Rod) was recently seen in Sam Mendes’ THE ROAD TO PERDITION, Phil Alden Robinson’s THE SUM OF ALL FEARS and Joel Schumacher’s CHASING THE DRAGON: THE VERONICA GUERIN STORY and Jan de Bont’s LARA CROFT AND THE CRADLE OF LIFE: TOMB RAIDER 2. His others film credits include Roger Michell’s TITANIC TOWN, Kathryn Bigelow’s THE WEIGHT OF WATER, Chris Menges’ THE LOST SON, Pat O’Connor’s CIRCLE OF FRIENDS and Gillian Armstrong’s OSCAR AND LUCINDA. On television, he has starred in PERSUASION, HOSTAGES, COLD LAZARUS, IVANHOE and JANE EYRE. His theatre credits include Patrick Marber’s CLOSER in London and New York, THE YALTA GAME at the Gate Dublin and several productions with the Glasgow Citizens Company.

CELIA IMRIE (Celia) is perhaps best known for her hilarious performances in several television series and serials by Victoria Wood, including AS SEEN ON TV, DINNERLADIES and the award-winning BBC film PAT AND MARGARET, which also starred Julie Walters. She is however no stranger to television drama and her credits include DANIEL DERONDA, SPARKHOUSE, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, THE GATHERING STORM and GORMENGHAST. Her film career has embraced both genres and includes Damien O’Donnell’s HEARTLANDS, Peter Hewitt’s THUNDERPANTS, Sharon Maguire’s BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, Anand Tucker’s HILARY AND JACKIE and IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER and FRANKENSTEIN, both directed by Kenneth Branagh.

GERALDINE JAMES (Marie) won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in 1989 for her performance in Peter Hall’s SHE’S BEEN AWAY. Her film credits include Marleen Gorris’ THE LUZHIN DEFENCE, Mel Smith’s THE TALL GUY and Richard Attenborough’s GANDHI. On television, she has starred in WHITE TEETH, BAND OF GOLD, A DOLL’S HOUSE, STANLEY AND THE WOMEN, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN, THE HISTORY MAN and DUMMY.

PENELOPE WILTON (Ruth) has worked with some of Britain’s most accomplished directors both on stage and screen, including Richard Eyre, Jonathan Miller, Peter Hall, Karel Reisz and Harold Pinter. Best known for her
stage work, she has starred in several acclaimed films including the Academy Award-winning IRIS, directed by Richard Eyre, Christopher Hampton’s CARRINGTON, Howard Davies’ THE SECRET RAPTURE, Richard Attenborough’s CRY FREEDOM and Karel Reisz’ THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN.


Buena Vista International | Touchstone Pictures | Harbour Pictures