032402 Wiltshire

March 24, 2002
This is Wiltshire
Stately home has star turn
by Wantage staff reporter

THE visitors' car park at Wilton House turned into film city last week, as shooting took place in the stately home on a British film.

The Earl of Pembroke's home is one of a series of locations across the south of England chosen as backdrops for the filming of Cromwell & Fairfax, an historical drama starring Tim Roth and Dougray Scott

Large white caravans for the film stars and principal members of the crew filled the parking area, flanked by a gigantic marquee, where extras were fitted for costumes.

Dozens of men and women from the Salisbury area who had applied to be extras were transformed into 17th century Puritans and dignitaries through the skills of the costume assistants and make-up artists.

Tanya Tilbury (pictured), an editorial assistant at the Journal, exchanged her black trousers for a stunning, full-length silk maroon dress finished with lace and layers of petticoats beneath, for her part as a dignitary.

Laced, it was, she said "very tight" but "I feel very much in the role".

Salisbury College student Miles Townsend (26), is an old hand as an extra - he worked at Trafalgar House in November on Danny Boyle's upcoming 28 Days Later.

Waiting patiently to be called for shooting in Wilton House, he was dressed as a Puritan servant, in brown doublet and black hose.

"The clothes are fine," he said. "But it's a pain going to the loo."

The media was not allowed access to the actual filming but one of the extras said on Thursday that they had already been involved in scenes shot in the Single Cube Room with Reservoir Dogs star Tim Roth, who plays Oliver Cromwell.

The film is being directed by Mike Barker, who directed the BBC television adaptation of the novel Lorna Doone, while first assistant director is Richard Stiles, who was also first assistant director on The Woodlanders, the adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel shot at Breamore and Alvediston in 1996.

Cromwell & Fairfax explores a friendship that turns into betrayal during the English Civil War, as the paths of comrades Oliver Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax, played by Dougray Scott, star of Enigma, diverge.

The film also stars Olivia Williams, who was in The Sixth Sense and Lucky Break. She plays Lady Anne Fairfax, Sir Thomas's aristocratic wife. Lady Anne was one of the names on the large white caravans parked around Wilton House visitors' car park.

A name that was missing, however, was that of King Charles I, a role being played by popular actor and Madonna's best friend, Rupert Everett.

The star of An Ideal Husband and My Best Friend's Wedding had already finished shooting his part, possibly because poor King Charles's life came to an abrupt end when he was beheaded in 1649.

- Thanks to Tamara of The Dougray Enigma for the find!