100401 Evening Times

October 4, 2001
Evening Times
Johanna is inspiration for Dougray new movie role
by Jonathan Rennie

Scots actor whisks leukemia girl to glittering premiere as thank-you for all her help

Evening Times columnist Johanna MacVicar stunned guests at the glittering Scottish Film Awards in Glasgow by turning up on the arm of movie star Dougray Scott.

Johanna's night out with the Scots star of Enigma, was a 'thank you' for her help on his next movie.

In Ripley's Game, the actor plays a man who undergoes a bone marrow transplant and he turned to leukemia sufferer Johanna for assistance in creating the role. He even sent a stretch limo to pick up Johanna and her mum, Angela, from the door for the trip to the Scottish Film and Television Awards in Glasgow's Hilton

Hotel.

However, the arrival of the 30ft car in Bishopton almost caused a riot.

"When the car arrived a boy started shouting to other children 'Robbie

Williams has come to visit Johanna'. So all these kids came running to the house."

Robbie Williams is another of Johanna's celebrity supporters and earlier this year she was his VIP guest at his Hampden show. And he even donated blood to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Appeal to test if he was a suitable donor.

Johanna herself has undergone one failed transplant and she is now waiting for another, so she was the best person to advise Dougray on what the treatment entailed.

"The Trust put him on to me since he was playing a character who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant," explains Johanna.

"I explained exactly what was involved and what he could and couldn't do.

"He kept phoning me from the set asking if his character would be able to jump off bikes a month after the operation and asking if he was portraying a transplant patient correctly.

"There were quite a few changes, and quite a few phone calls to get it right!"

Through the making of the film, Dougray struck up a friendship with Johanna and is

BIG NIGHT OUT: Hollywood hotshot Dougray Scott hired a stretch limo to take Johanna to the premiere in style

now one of her biggest supporters in her fight to increase awareness of leukemia and in her appeal to get more bone marrow donors onto the national register.During Johanna's evening at the Hilton, Dougray Scott, who was there to receive an award for Scottish Film Star of the Year paid tribute to her part in creating his role in his speech.

Johanna adds: "He thanked me for letting him know what it feels like to live with leukemia.

"It was a very glitzy affair and I felt very privileged and proud to be there."

The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust operates the largest bone marrow register in Britain. To register phone 0901 882 2234 or for fundraising details phone 0141 400 7850.

- Thanks to M for the article!