Creation stars acclaimed British actor, Paul Bettany as Charles Darwin, alongside his real life wife and Academy Award winning actress, Jennifer Connelly as Darwin’s deeply religious wife, Emma. The film tackles a difficult period in Darwin’s life following the death of his child and his subsequent struggle between his wife’s religious views and his desire to write a book that went against everything she believed. Directed by Jon Amiel, this is a moving adaptation from the book Annie’s Box that was written by Darwin’s great-great grandson.
Screen East’s locations team assisted the production throughout filming, helping to secure locations in the Region. Sourced directly from Screen East’s location library, a private house in Hertfordshire was used as a double for Darwin’s Kent home. Filming also occurred at a private estate in Bedfordshire where scenes at the Malvern Guest House that Darwin visits was filmed.
Jamie Lengyel, Location Manager on Creation said: “We received invaluable help from Screen East in our search for Creation’s key locations, in particular the finding of an exceptional match for the home of Charles Darwin. Our three months filming at a private house in Hertfordshire – a house that captures the spirit of Darwin’s family life – provided us with an outstanding opportunity to recreate both interiors and exteriors of Darwin’s actual home in Kent”.
The film’s release coincides with the 200th anniversary of the British scientist’s birth and 150 years since his landmark book, The Origins of Species, was published. Earlier this year, the city of Cambridge also celebrated the anniversary hosting a special Darwin Festival marking Darwin’s success in laying the foundations of the theory of evolution and transforming the way we think about the natural world.
Charles Darwin began his studies at Christ’s College in Cambridge in 1828 and it was here where he developed a strong interest as an amateur naturalist. At Christ’s College today there is a large bronze bust of Darwin located in the College grounds and to mark his 200th birthday, a special garden has been created in the New Court as the location for a new bronze statue showing Darwin in his twenties. During his time spent in Cambridge, Darwin lived both on Sidney Street and Fitzwilliam Street, where today visitors will find stone plaques marking the locations out.
If you would like to see your property appearing on the big or small screen, please contact Screen East for a free entry onto the Location Library by calling 01923 495051, emailing locations@screeneast.co.uk or by visiting www.screeneast.co.uk. They’d also like to hear from companies that could supply services such as those offered by dry cleaners, florists, wood suppliers and cleaning companies as well as crew who reside in the region.
Visit Creation production page.