BOLTON film fans flocked to the cinema yesterday to meet young starlet Beth Winslet who, despite being heavily pregnant, visited the town...to promote her new film.
Beth chatted to fans and signed autographs at the UGC Cinema at Valley Centertainment along with fellow actors, the director, and producer of new film Bodywork.
The stars stayed one night at the Last Drop Hotel, Bromley Cross, on a whistle-stop tour of the country.
Bodywork is the first film from up and coming director and writer, Gareth Rhys Jones, and features a host of attractive, trendy actors, including familiar face Charlotte Coleman who won the nation's hearts in the phenomenally successful Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Beth is still a newcomer to the film world, but if the thrill of starring in the movie has worn-off, she has plenty to look forward to with her first baby due at the end of November, only a couple of months after big sis Kate's firstborn.
She and director, Gareth, only started seeing each other once the film was finished, but are now very much an item and excited about their baby.
Beth said: "I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. We do have some names in mind, but we don't want to say which yet.
"The baby is due next month, but it's amazing the number of people who haven't realised I'm pregnant."
Proud dad to be, Gareth, who is from North Wales originally, said: "Beth and I are very lucky to be doing the promotion work together while she is pregnant and once she has had the baby, we'll be taking some time off."
Gareth, who has a number of films in the pipeline, is no stranger to Bolton and promised me he once bowled here many years ago with his uncle.
Charlotte Coleman, aged 32, also knows this area of the world well having starred in the award winning BBC series, Oranges are not the Only Fruit, which was filmed entirely in the outskirts of Bolton.
She said: "I love this part of the country.
"Some of the views coming up to the hotel were just stunning and everyone is very friendly up here."
Despite Charlotte having such an instantly recognisable face, she claims few people bother her in the street, but has recently been surprised how many times that old TV chestnut Marmalade Atkins has been mentioned.
She explained: "After Four Weddings, lots of people recognised me, but at the moment people keep bringing up Marmalade, which was 20 years ago, so maybe I really look like that character at the moment!"
Actors Peter Ferdinando and Hans Matheson agreed the stop-off in Bolton had made a refreshing change to simply promoting the film in London.
Hans, who has recently worked on a film in Prague with renowned Hollywood actress Angelica Huston, said: "London is a big rat-race and audiences seem to really appreciate the fact we've made an effort to get out of London and visit places like Bolton."
Peter said: "Hundreds of films per week come out in London and it's no big deal to anyone, but we've had a really warm welcome in Bolton and Sheffield. "
If Bodywork proves a success in its initial run at five cinemas across the country, it will soon be released nationwide.
The film is being shown daily at UGC Cinema this week with performances at 1.35, 3.50, 6.45 and 9.00.
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