The National Trust’s Kedleston Hall has a major new exhibition opening on 18 August, 'The Duchess – Behind the Scenes'.
  
© Pathe/Nick Wall
The exhibition shows how five of the glorious rooms at Kedleston Hall and parts of the spectacular parkland were used as locations for the new feature film, 'The Duchess', which is due to be released in cinemas in Britain on 5 September.
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About the film
The Duchess was filmed at Kedleston Hall during September and October 2007. Based on the biography, 'Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire' by Amanda Foreman, the film tells the lifestory of Duchess Georgiana (1757 – 1806). The Duchess married from the Spencer family into the Devonshire family in the 18th century.
Georgiana was a fashion icon of her day, a celebrated beauty and socialite and also an active political campaigner. Beneath her glamorous façade lay an intelligent and vulnerable woman, stranded in a loveless marriage to the Duke. Georgiana was also famous for her gambling and for deliberately courting risk.
During the filming Kedleston Hall relived its days of Georgian grandeur and was used in the film to depict Althorp (the Spencer family home), Devonshire House in London and a rented villa in Bath. Keira Knightley (Georgiana), Ralph Fiennes (the 5th Duke of Devonshire) and Charlotte Rampling (Lady Spencer) topped the bill.
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About the exhibition
This special exhibition will lift the lid on the filming of 'The Duchess' and will also feature a number of costumes from the film. Visitors will also be able to see parts of a replica floor that was made to protect the Marble Hall floor during a ballroom scene, as well as many behind the scenes photographs of the filming process.
Two lucky staff from the National Trust were also selected as extras for the film and the exhibition will feature their behind the scenes experiences.
Charles Glenn, National Trust Building Surveyor appeared as a foot-man on a number of scenes.
'It’s not every day you get the chance to be involved in a big budget movie like ‘The Duchess’. I really enjoyed the whole experience. I was particularly struck by how much care was lavished recreating the 18th century on film. Even the food on the table was real and made to recipes of the time.'
Lesley Tonge, Senior Visitor Services Assistant at Kedleston Hall appeared as a Georgian Lady in the main Ballroom scene. Once dressed in her costume, a full length dress ‘bib’ was worn over the top to protect against any food and drink spillages in between scenes! Lesley said:
'An amazing experience. Long days and extremely tiring, but wouldn’t have missed it for the world!'
Visitors to Kedleston Hall can see The Duchess exhibition from 18 August - 2 November, daily except Thursday and Friday (12 - 5pm). The exhibition will continue throughout the 2009 season.
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