Noele Gordon biopic to star Helena Bonham Carter
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ITV has ordered Nolly, a three-part drama from Russell T Davies about iconic actor Noele Gordon, to be played by Helena Bonham Carter.
Nolly is the first drama commission for Quay Street Productions, Nicola Shindler’s new production banner with ITV Studios.
Gordon, known as Nolly to her friends, became a household name when she starred as red-haired widow Meg Richardson in the hugely popular and long-running soap Crossroads. In 1981, after more than 18 years on the show, Gordon was axed suddenly, with no warning or explanation.
Nolly will go into production in 2022 and is executive produced by Shindler and Davies. Peter Hoar directs; Karen Lewis produces.
Bonham Carter said: “Noele Gordon was a fascinating, complex, brilliant and gutsy woman – none of which I knew before I read Russell T Davies’ script. I’m so thrilled to help tell Nolly’s long overdue and largely forgotten story. Russell’s screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I’ll do him and Nolly justice. I can’t wait to start.”
Russell T Davies added: “One of my very first jobs in TV was a trial script for Crossroads, and I've wanted to write the story of behind the scenes on that show for 40 years. At last, the truth can be told!”
Shindler remarked on the inaugural Quay Steet commission: “I couldn’t be prouder or more excited that the first drama we will be filming for Quay Street Productions is this beautiful script by Russell T Davies. And that Helena Bonham Carter will star as such an iconic British woman is dream casting.”
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