Local History

Keira Knightley in 'The Duchess'

There was no need for a second invitation when Andy Potter was asked if he fancied interviewing the rather good-looking Keira Knightley about her latest role as the Duchess of Devonshire.

Yes, BBC Radio Derby's film reviewer was on a train to London before you could even say 'period drama'.

Knightley plays the lead role in 'The Duchess', the film adaptation of Amanda Foreman's best-selling biography of the 18th Century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.

Georgiana was a charismatic but flawed character trapped in a loveless marriage with an older man - leading to inevitable comparisons to Princess Diana (not least by the film's marketing people who've even used an image of Diana in the trailer!)

Many scenes for the film were shot at Kedleston Hall and Chatsworth House last autumn - and you can see behind-the-scenes photos using the gallery link below.

The film's director Saul Dibb said he was grateful for being allowed to film in such historical buildings.

Filming at Kedleston Hall

He said: "They were very accommodating. It can be difficult because they're obviously very protective of their buildings and the stuff there is priceless - if you break something it literally can't be replaced!

"So we did have what seemed at the time to be very strange rules - someone would turn up with a measuring stick to make sure you were 90cm away from a wall!"

Keira said having to take such care on set was a new experience for her.

She said: "I remember at Chatsworth we were filming a marriage scene with loads of candles - Saul had planned this shot with the Duchess walking in on them all.

"But we weren't allowed to let the room get too hot because it could lead to the ceiling and paintings melting so if things heated up we'd have to shut down and let the room cool - I'd never had that before."

But Saul says being given permission to film at the stately homes was a marriage of convenience.

He explained: "Obviously there are parameters but they want you to do the film because they need the money.

"Whether it's a National Trust building like Kedleston or privately-owned like Chatsworth, they exist through visitors and we all know that if a film's made in a particular place, loads more people want you to visit."

The film opens nationwide on Friday, 5th September and both Chatsworth and Kedleston are hosting exhibitions based around Georgiana and the film.