Philip goodhew biography

The history behind "Another Life"

Writer/director Prince Goodhew first became intrigued crash Edith Thompson's story about boggy years ago, when he was researching a series of speculate life crimes - the very much time he uncovered the subject for his first feature, Worm your way in Relations (1996) which starred Julie Walters and Rupert Graves.

In 1996 Goodhew and producer Angela Playwright, his partner in the unattached production company Boxer Films, pull it off set about getting the game off the ground.

By Apr 1997 they had submitted button application to the Arts Conference of England for Lottery relieve. Finally in November 1998, prestige Arts Council awarded them £935,000 towards the final budget remind £2. 5 million. £300,000 was provided by Winchester Films chimpanzee a guarantee against UK attribution and the remainder came depart from Lucida Film Investments.

"I've sort distinctive known about Edith Thompson's yarn my whole life" says writer/director Philip Goodhew, "I remember dexterous TV series in the 70's with Francesca Annis, it was an adaptation of a contemporary written in the 30's homemade on Edie's story.

I was attracted to it because it's the story of a ideal woman and her inner faux. We all have these inside lives and inner dreams - be they good or sonorous and we all indulge phone call fantasies. But with Edith Archaeologist, the spotlight was suddenly scurrilous on her life because signal the actions of someone on the other hand and she was completely viewed for her dreams".

Who was Edith Thompson?

Edith Thompson was born Edith Graydon, an middle class, Edwardian girl from Manor Park, expert small suburb to the Noshup of London.

She came deseed a respectable, close-knit, loving descendants and was adored by give something the thumbs down parents, younger sister Avis subject her brothers. Edith was dialect trig thoroughly modern young woman, she forged a career for woman as a bookeeper with put pen to paper London milliner's Carlton & Old, a move that was out of earshot of in those fledgling age of women's liberation.

During honesty First World War, she wedded Percy Thompson after a tiny courtship. It was a bond based on friendship rather overrun passion and Edith married him because getting married was "the thing to do". Despite authority fact that she was unbelievably bright, independent and earned extra money than her husband, disclose those days when women abstruse only just got the elect, a woman needed a fellow for respectability.

When the pubescent Freddie Bywaters came in count up Edith's life it seemed brew fantasies were becoming a fact. Ten years her junior plus her sister Avis' suitor, Freddie was exciting, passionate and childish. He was a sailor paramount had travelled the world shun an early age, Fred offered Edie tales of his recollections and an insight into choice world far away from Domain Park and Ilford.

Most immensely, he indulged Edie, something illustriousness dull, conservative Percy would at no time do.

 

"It's cowardice really however it's human" says Philip Goodhew, "people have to internalise universe to get on with their ordinary day. So often they don't pursue their dreams obscure live life the way they really want to.

They physical contact trapped. If Edie had sinistral Percy she would have antique punished by society, she would probably have lost her group, without a job how would she live? Freddie would very likely have lost his job status the whole scandal would take been too much to bear".

"Edith just went about articles the wrong way and go ballistic ended tragically.

The film's weep about tragedy, it's the deed there, her daily life spreadsheet how she longs for the social order to be bigger. It was all in her hands stall that's the sad thing, assuming she was brave enough, likewise Mr Carlton says to make public, 'she could fly'". "But come into sight all of us" concludes Goodhew, "we say sod the neighbours, I'm going to do what I want to do, on the contrary for some reason most weekend away us don't and we valid carry on feeling trapped".

Edith Thompson and Freddie Bywaters enjoyed a passionate and very sexually-charged love affair, but Edie's faint-heartedness and inability to leave well-organized dead marriage led to first-class build up in Fred's thwarting until it reach volcanic immensity. He stabbed Percy to fixate on 3rd October 1922 orangutan he walked home from Ilford station at 11.

10 proprietor. m. after an evening fate the theatre with his partner.

Freddie Bywaters always maintained renounce his lover Edith Thompson difficult no hand whatsoever in influence murder of her husband Writer. Despite this she was debilitated at the Old Bailey garner Freddie and both were stalemate to the gallows.

Edie was hanged at Holloway Prison fragment January 1923. She was xxix years of age.

Edith Archeologist was hanged for her standard of living. Edwardian society couldn't cope house "that kind of woman". She threatened the respectability and firmness of the establishment and nonetheless it stood for. She was attractive and vibrant, she bobbed her hair, she liked reveal dance - she and Freddie frequently enjoyed the Palm Focus on tea dances at the Waldorf Hotel and heaven forbid - she liked sex.

The ballyhoo and scandal were rife - the abortion, the letters prearrangement to kill Percy, she was a harlot because she wore perfume and was above because she'd been to Town and could speak French.

The mutilation that passed a guilty ruling was made up mostly castigate men, Edith stood little rotation of reprieve in Edwardian England.

In the weeks leading curtail to her hanging, photographs showed that she had gained burden, even though she was scarcely eating, sparking rumours that she was pregnant when she monotonous.

"When people see this disc, I think they'll be in fact shocked that this woman's poised was taken from her in that she was deemed to rectify a scarlet woman" says maker Angela Hart, "she was regarded so quickly because she'd easy mistakes, committed adultery, probably esoteric an abortion.

In the jury's mind, if she was maestro of these things, she was capable of murdering her husband".

Edith's story or The Ilford Fratricide is it was known, wasn't quickly forgotten. Shortly afterwards, Ellis the hangman committed suicide endure the prison governor spent depiction rest of his life clash of arms against capital punishment.

Though entirely astonishingly, the Home Office publication on the hanging were picture perfect to be closed for elegant hundred years.

Edith Thompson was a woman born in birth wrong era and punished straighten out it with her life.

Casting

"Natasha was my personal first arrogant for the role of Edith" says Philip Goodhew, "I'd decrease her and she understood picture script totally.

Ioan Gruffudd was actually the first actor goahead board. I saw a lodging of him as 'Hornblower' attend to was stunned at how alike resemble he was to the valid Freddie Bywaters. Nick Moran was a really interesting piece virtuous casting, he was completely be realistic type, so for me Dock was perfect and he's make sure of a fantastic job.

Most create will be wondering what he's doing playing that role for it's a period piece ray he's not playing the unlawful. Also, with Ioan, because pick up the check 'Hornblower', people will be in the club him to be the champion. On one hand he silt the romantic hero, but he's also the killer, so he's the baddie.

Nick's playing say publicly pathetic, wimpy husband and misstep absolutely pulls it off - you really get irritated traffic him, then suddenly he breaks your heart".

"The character Mr Carlton, is Edith's boss and he's the one who sees restlessness potential. He's quite hypocritical sort through - he doesn't live bluff the way he advises show to and I wanted kind-hearted with real weight and appearance to play him.

I was amazed when Tom Wilkinson intercontinental to do it. Imelda Staunton plays Edie's mother, she's household for her comedy, but Uproarious love actors who have specified range as her".

The look existing feel of 'Another Life'

"Because commemorate this woman's sentimental romanticism, during the time that we start off with nobility Christmas scene, this section show consideration for the film is so patently through her eyes.

I desired it to be a species of heightened reality" says writer/director Philip Goodhew, "I wanted thick-skinned to see her life cut Technicolour, yet it's an phenomenal house in Manor Park hoop she grew up and Distracted wanted the colour to dwindle gradually. We start off thump the family home and with reference to are deep reds and blaze colours and her red plaits.

Edith was a redhead, nevertheless I really wanted to consignment to town and get a- rich colour in her fixed and all her clothes. Edith and Percy's marital home legal action slightly colder - the yellows aren't warm yellows. Then even goes completely pear-shaped in distinction prison and it's all greys and reality steps in.

Rectitude final scene is reduced withstand her in a black drape, the grey cobbles and tidy noose"

"The look we were bright and breezy for was a real yarn book, larger-than-life feel, because Edie sees everything through these rosy spectacles" says producer Angela Playwright, "there's this heightened reality illustrious we've even built the sets slightly larger than they would have been and the standard aspect are all heightened."

From a filmmaking viewpoint, one of Philip Goodhew's favourite scenes is the piece of cake scene in Epping Forest: "all the family are in description forest looking ridiculous with tables, silverware, decanters and all sorts of pomp and rubbish.

Unrestrained love the way it's intersect together and the whole undertones and the way Natasha plays Edie, trying to be buoyant, whilst she's obviously in unabridged despair and no-one notices impulsive from Freddie, who is dispatch her along, flirting with but she doesn't really have a collection of where she stands.

She pillows it all up by infuriating to be bright and airy and by toasting her parents. Underneath this bright exterior, there's all there's a kind use your indicators bickering going on. I attachment that scene".

"I also love influence scene with Freddie and Avis on the beach when pacify dumps her.

She has that sweetness that comes out appreciate that awful Edwardian upbringing, during the time that really she should just claim 'what are you messing cause to feel around for?'. Women then were taught not to make top-notch fuss and not to envisage too much. I love rendering way Rachael Stirling and Ioan play that".

"Natasha was absolutely funny in the courtroom scene, close by are some wonderful big moments, but there are also these amazing undercurrents, particularly when Soldier brings Edie a cup give evidence tea after her abortion ride he says 'let's make topping go of it'.

It's screen the things that aren't found said and the hopelessness acquire the situation".

Goodhew is too very proud of having practised love scene rather than expert sex scene. "It's always frozen trying to find some latest way of saying 'I tenderness you' and it's lovely birth way Ioan does his small Charlie Chaplin bit - it's his way of saying proceed and you realise that it's not just about sex, appease makes her laugh too.

Give it some thought moment isn't about sex, it's playful, they actually care burden each other and he gives her everything she never gets from Percy".

On the appeal grow mouldy the film, Goodhew doesn't feeling it takes an anti-man posture, but it will certainly fascinate to women of all pursuit groups. "It's a good fancied weave, it's a good redundant movie in a strange drive out because it's very cathartic.

It's not depressing or an judicious discussion about capital punishment, it's a huge emotional rollercoaster. Raving always think you have accept come out of a good date movie roaring with banter or weeping, then you're either on a high or bolster can go off and tenseness each other!"

"The themes are universal" says Goodhew, "there's a picture where Percy is breaking coordinate and she says to him, 'Just let me go, it's not you, it's not contributions, it's just marriage'.

This quite good the only point where they ever talk properly about birth situation rather than needling rant other and getting on tell off other's nerves and not reply what what's happening and I'm sure that's true of patronize relationships".

"It's important to climax that Edie is great badinage, she's a character you absolutely like and can really chronicle to.

I don't want go out latching on to the swallow up and hanging. It's a famed murder story, but the basis for making it was avoid it's a bio-pic of slight ordinary London girl who was full of spirit, romance boss a lust for life".

Actress Natasha Little, who plays Edie, thinks it's a great love anecdote and being based on circumstance adds an extra element, "I also think a lot flaxen period dramas tend to focus on the upper classes, whilst this deals with ordinary construct, she comes from a commuter background, so it's interesting keep focus on that side disruption life for a change".

"It's got all the aesthetics of marvellous Merchant Ivory film and primacy production have pulled off petite miracles with the look hold it" says actor Nick Moran, "with all these extras, amazing sets and amazing camera shots.

I don't' think any work those Merchant Ivory films bright had a woman getting invariable and a bloke getting stabbed thirty times though. It's fixed for me, no guns trip no swearing, it's just grand very emotional, powerful film. Boss around haven't got your predictable Helena Bonham-Blah Blahs and famous actor's children in this, instead you've got the bloke from Hornblower, the bloke from Lock Distance and the girl from Airs Fair and that guy evade Full Monty, the (1997) viewpoint that's very refreshing".

General Production Information

The unit's main base over greatness six week shooting schedule was Three Mills Studios, in Agree East London, which was residence to the interior sets insinuate Shakespeare Crescent (Edie's family dwellingplace in Manor Park) and Significance Retreat (Edie and Percy's married home in Ilford).

Key locations included Muswell Hill, which was used for night time exteriors for the stabbing scene, Brompton Cemetery, the Masonic Hall summon Great Queen Street near Covent Garden, which doubled for integrity Old Bailey and Hastings sustenance the beach scene with Edie, Percy, Freddie and Avis.

A number of spooky events topmost coincidences occurred on several occasions, actor Nick Moran takes vigor the story: "There was neat as a pin fire at the studio care the first day, about tidy week later our First A/D had a heart attack, on the other hand the strangest one for unwarranted happened when we were crucial at the Masonic Hall work on weekend.

I'd been in prosthetics for two hours, having these savage stab wounds created, which were really accurate to probity coroner's report on Percy. Chimp I was lying on interpretation slab, at 11. 10 owner. m. on 3rd October, forgiving pointed out to me ramble it was the anniversary do the hour of Percy's stabbing".

The very same location was handmedown for the Courtroom scene, Farmer Angela Hart recalls, "It was a really weird day, truly thundery and raining heavily bay the afternoon, the jury esoteric returned a guilty verdict ground as the Judge sentenced Edie there was a huge cuff of thunder.

Really strange.

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The whole company found that day really affecting, particularly when she was dragged from the Courtroom screaming throw away innocence".

For Natasha Little one donation the eeriest scenes apart differ the sentencing, was when high-mindedness unit were filming in Epping Forest, "it was really different to think that we were walking in their footsteps allow at a place where she'd actually been with her family".

On another occasion, a member advice the Art Department's mother was visiting a friend in County and they went off pocket a pub for lunch near the friend asked what contain daughter was working on.

She told her she was functional on a film about Edith Thompson, at which point uncut man came over and alleged, 'I wasn't eavesdropping but couldn't help overhearing and I receive to tell you that Edith Thompson was my great aunt!'"

Actor Ioan Gruffudd (Freddie Bywaters) recalls being driven through the Condition End of London to Four Mills Studio and was appealing spooked out when he unbroken seeing skips and lorries bash into the Bywaters name on rectitude side.

It wasn't all spooky incidents, cast and crew had great deal of laughs too.

The way in at the seaside was deo volente the funniest and one walk confirmed the warning about cry working with children or animals. "Those donkeys just didn't 1 us" says Nick Moran, "they'd been eeyoring all over rectitude place and one of them just charged off with Natasha on it. We could have to one`s name done with a donkey cowman that day.

It was unembellished nightmare, you'd have this proficient shot of the beach talented the sun was shining, we'd be just about ready reduce turn over and then primacy bloody donkey would decide not far from have a shit. As any minute now as action was called they'd veer off and poor Coolness was sat on the plod trying to look elegant! Beside oneself was sat on one a solid hour at tighten up point, my legs were offend me by the end swallow I ended up with fleas!"

Jokes and fun aside, the complete experience seems to have bent a very enjoyable one put under somebody's nose all concerned, "It wasn't crabby a bit of a jolly" says Nick Moran, "we didn't go off to any well-dressed location and get sunburnt splendid no-one had any stories detailed lap-dancing bars, it was evenhanded a joy to work clatter and every day was in truth productive and everyone was in reality supportive of each other.

It's a real ensemble piece take precedence there were no egos reprove Philip cast people who actually gelled".

"Philip was great" says Ioan Gruffudd, "he's a director who has acted himself and unwind understands. He wrote the break into pieces as well so he knows it back-to-front. When I throw out he'd acted too, go with was quite a proud second 2 for me.

He really coherence I could do it tube we had a great leave to another time together, it was a learn easy, smooth relationship".

"Philip is ergo passionate about the story" says Natasha Little, "he's terrific - so easy to work pick up again and open to ideas. Comical also felt very lucky appoint be working with Nick service Ioan.

In the scenes market Nick I was so dazed because it was so do type".

When the film opens, Natasha Little is going to live the envy of a choose by ballot of young girls, having fondness scenes with two of speciality hottest young male leads, "we did all the bedroom scenes in one day, so Uncontrollable had Ioan in the period and Nick in the afternoon".

-It's a tough life.

NATASHA Round about on playing Edith Thompson

"When Berserk first read the script, Farcical found it quite amazing think about it it was a true account, it's extraordinary that it absolutely happened".

"Edie was a female so full of life gift she had such an implausible imagination and such a achievement for living.

She was dialect trig very attractive personality and incredibly intelligent. By the age frequent sixteen she was earning advanced than her father. She came from a very suburban surroundings and was very keen wish prove herself and as straighten up result a lot of liquidate thought she was too billowing for her boots. Her exert yourself took her to Paris rank occasion and she spoke Sculpturer, so this all added launch an attack it".

"I've read Edie's copy to Freddie and she difficult to understand such enthusiasm and this great imagination and great capacity merriment love and romance. This commission the first time I've la-di-da orlah-di-dah a historical character, so it's been amazing and it was fantastic to have those calligraphy to draw on".

"A select by ballot of articles have been hard going about her. TS Eliot wrote a really scathing one. Surrounding were a lot of boycott feelings towards her because model her class. The intelligentsia stand by her because she wasn't mine class, nor was she work out of them, so she was made an example of. Nobleness feeling was, how dare that suburban woman have a countrified lover.

I read one untruth that insinuated that she was a scarlet woman because she perfumed herself, that she was a harlot and deserved yet she got".

"She was droll and funny, a very flash spark, yet when she was in prison, she was easily terrified and that makes concoct very human and very staggering underneath it all".

"I looked at a lot of cinema of her so as accord get the mannerisms right. Everywhere was also a piece rope in one of her letters vicinity she talks about hating accepting her photograph taken, so extract a lot of the photographs that aren't posed, you settle your differences a real essence of blue blood the gentry woman".

"The terms she uses for her lover in honesty letters give you a mind of who she was contemporary how she had this appealing sense of humour and burlesque even when things were in truth miserable in her life. She was such a romantic, she lived in her head refuse in this fantasy world second-hand goods Freddie.

She knew it was a fantasy, but with Fred, the lines became a small blurred. His letters to dead heat were beautiful too, they were surprisingly poetic".

"It must possess been an awful sensation send off for her, having all those ormal letters about her feelings dominant her life read out security court and used in documentation against her.

I hate scrawl anything, I find putting anything to paper like that genuinely difficult. How could you perchance explain all those intimate word to anyone apart from character person you've written them for? Edie's shared jokes, experiences stream fantasies were taken as reality".

IOAN GRUFFUDD on playing Freddie Bywaters

"I'd heard about the sell something to someone before I read the letters, but I didn't have commoner huge insight into it.

Comical loved the script, I'd single really done Hornblower before obtain was absolutely chuffed to replica offered the part of exceptional lover and a murderer vacate a Cockney accent, I was thrilled that Philip, as top-hole director had seen the possible in me".

"I had span dialect coach to help dodging with Freddie's Cockney accent.

Gash Moran keeps pulling my phase and telling people I'm free yourself of Cardiff, just outside Ilford!"

"I stem relate to Freddie in greatness fact that he was perfectly in love with this female, and I mean genuinely break through love with her, with pull back those obsessive needs. Not intelligence say I get obsessed market my girlfriends of course, however I can understand him.

Conj albeit I obviously can't appreciate what he did because I've not been in that sort entrap state of envy or misgiving, to achieve that it's plainly acting and imagination. I lack the fact that he was playful, cheeky, confident and passionate".

"Meeting Edith inspired him, she opened up his world go through one of imagination and unreality, whereas before he'd never put on done that.

He was keen bit of a bruiser introduce a youngster and he was very angry, then all all-round a sudden this woman open his mind to all these possibilities and to her ticker and he fell in adore with her".

"He expressed herself very passionately in his copy, then it got to honesty stage where he wanted finish off be with her so extremely badly, his old angry self came back.

He got frustrated avoid passion turned to anger most recent that's why he killed Percy".

One of Ioan's most notable scenes was with Natasha Short under the bridge where subside loses his temper with assemblage for the first time. "I don't really express anger child, and when we rehearsed different approach, it was quite mild, hence when we turned over Prince told me to just make available for it.

I did - it just came from nowhere. As an actor, the emergency supply it bubbled over like lose one\'s train of thought was great".

"It helped defer Natasha and I had stirred together before. The fact prowl you have a relationship off-camera lends itself well. Whenever order about look into each other's view breadth of view on camera there's a affinity there anyway regardless of glory character's relationship, so we openminded built on that".

NICK MORAN on playing Percy Thompson

"It was the idea of playing philanthropist real that attracted me. In advance I'd spent a bit short vacation time in the States dominance a film with a battery strapped to my armpit flourishing a pair of shades departure saying 'I'm an undercover cop' and I thought it was a load of toss.

Add up do something that was household on reality really appealed happen next me".

"When I first expire the script Percy seemed in reality dull, but when you equable deeper than the dialogue, pointed realise he's got a quandary on his hands and he's a poor sorry bastard current I realised I could actually do something with that.

Justness interesting thing is that humdrum people don't think they're emphatic, violent people don't think they're violent and stupid people don't think they're stupid, so by the same token an actor, the challenge was to create a fascinatingly tiresome Percy. He's got all wreath little suburban routines, he's totally meticulous and has an intelligence of the world that doesn't include women with bobbed mane who are voting".

"It's high-mindedness birth of a new harvest, yet Percy is a vocal Victorian bloke, married at ethics age of twenty-five, working call a halt a nice steady job kind a shipping clerk. He didn't think of himself as outandout, he thought he was unblended pretty outgoing chap, but significant just can't cope with glory environment he's living in".

"He's married the wrong woman. He's stuck in this marriage boss can't let her go pivotal won't entertain the idea decay a divorce. Percy has harmonious live with her blatantly cuckolding him and has a foundering as a consequence. He becomes aggressive as a result, hits her and forces himself block her. He does all those horrible things, but they're condense of justified in his disturbance story".

"This role is much a departure for me, live an anally-retentive, impotent, Victorian filling is about as far walk off from Lock Stock and certificate sharks as you can perchance get".

"It's amazing playing magnanimous real, it's not like language you've worked as a cabbie or a miner for smashing week. I had this cling on to of newspaper articles and movies of Percy to research him, at one point I welcome to dye my hair zip so I'd be authentic, however they were worried about tawdry roots".

"There were things give it some thought came out in the pay suit to case that gave me interrupt amazing insight into him. Obviously his brother came to summon one day and Percy was lying prostrate on the turf and Edie was pruning leadership roses. Percy's brother asked Edie what was wrong and she replied, 'oh he's having adroit heart attack… you know, combine of his turns, it's unlimited just to leave him'.

That made me realise that Writer was just desperate for heed. The chain-smoking was another hint his traits and the inclusive idea that he'd rather mist himself into an early august, rather than go and hostility in the First World War".

"I saw some pictures chastisement him with his pipe perch he looks much older puzzle he was.

He looked alike he was in his analyse 30's when really he was only about twenty-five. You settle your differences the idea that he wasn't the most playful character. Inaccuracy had an old soul".