Karen Gillan to star in BBC Four biopic

Thursday, 31 March 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Karen Gillan is to play Jean Shrimpton, one of the world's first supermodels, in a new biopic commissioned for BBC Four.

We'll Take Manhattan, written and directed by John McKay, explores the explosive love affair between photographer David Bailey and the sixties supermodel which developed during a wild and unpredictable 1962 Vogue photo shoot in New York. The drama brings to life the story of two young people falling in love, misbehaving, and inadvertently defining the style of the Sixties along the way.

The role will be Gillan's first leading role away from the series since she joined the cast of Doctor Who.

Jean Shrimpton is an icon of the Sixties and I am so excited to be playing somebody who had such a lasting impact on the fashion world. I can't wait to take on the challenge of bringing Jean and Bailey's fascinating love story to life. Sixties here I come.

Claire Parker of Kudos Film and Television, says:

In Jean, Bailey found someone that he and his camera fell in love with. We'll Take Manhattan captures the essence of their dynamic affair and how they unwittingly changed the face of a decade. We're delighted to have the opportunity to make another film for BBC Four and are thrilled to have Karen Gillan on board as Jean.

Filming starts in May.

BBC Four has also recommissioned Dirk Gently, the adaptation of the late Douglas Adams novel.

The channel has ordered another three episodes of the drama based on the books by the former Doctor Who author and Script Editor, following the success of the pilot shown on the channel last December.

FILTER: - People - Karen Gillan