The Oscar nominated, BAFTA award-winning Mrs Brown tells the story of Queen Victoria’s (Dame Judi Dench) controversial relationship with her servant, Brown (Billy Connolly), following the death of her husband. John Madden, the Director, made it for a mere $2 million as this British film was only intended to be aired on the BBC, but Miramax purchased it for cinema distribution and it went on to gross $13 million world-wide. The producer, Douglas Rae (Ecosse Films), was awarded the first Bowmore Scottish Screen Award in 1997 for transforming Mrs Brown from a modest TV period drama into an international cinema hit. The film used a variety of locations largely in Scotland and the South West. Scottish locations include Ardverikie, Duns Castle and Taymouth Castle where Victoria and Albert really did spend their honeymoon. The exterior of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight was also used and was actually Queen Victoria’s holiday home in real life. Mrs Brown sparked a significant increase in visitors to Osborne House illustrating the power of popular film and television to evoke tourism. One location in the East of England was used.

Release / Airing: 05/09/1997