ACTRESS Lesley Staples has flown in from Florida for a mini-budget movie made by villagers who have created their own romantic comedy.

Birmingham-based company Full Range Films is working with villagers from Kingston Bagpuize, near Abingdon, on the £120,000 film The Husband Obedience Trials.

Writer Guy Browning, 44, who lives in the village, has written the screenplay for the film, which went into production earlier this week.

The film was given a major boost when Ms Staples, who appeared the 2003 hit film Calendar Girls alongside Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, agreed to join the cast.

Ms Staples said she dropped everything to fly to the UK in time to take up the role of Mrs Summers, the grandmother of 12-year-old Harry, who has a pivotal role in the plot.

She said: “When I got a phone call from Guy, I said yes more or less straight away and got on a plane from Miami to come here.

“I have been living in Florida with my husband Ray Asper and I haven’t been back in the UK for two years.

“We moved from England round about the time Calendar Girls came out and I’m delighted to be back.

“Everyone in the village is so friendly and I’m really enjoying myself — I’m going to be here for about five weeks and it will give me the chance to see my son Nicholas, who is 28, and other relatives and friends.

“I’m really enjoying the village pubs around here — they don’t have proper pubs in the United States.”

Father-of-three Mr Browning is hoping the film will be a success after it was sponsored by a number of local businesses.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey is being given a walk-on role and it is hoped the Red Arrows will agree to a fly-past.

Mr Browning said: “It’s fantastic that Lesley has joined the cast because it provides a link to Calendar Girls, a film made in the same mode as this one, with a gentle English humour.

“Lesley is a top-quality actress and she doesn’t mind mucking in. She’s staying with one of the villagers who is helping to produce the film.

“The Women’s Institute is doing all the catering for the whole production, which is a massive effort.

“That’s another link with Calendar Girls, which was based on the WI, although on this occasion the women are keeping their clothes on.”

Filming will be completed by the end of July. Most of the film is set in the house and gardens of Kingston House in Kingston Bagpuize.

One of the village pubs, the Waggon & Horses, also features together with houses, farms and allotments around the village.

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