Dame Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Jim
Broadbent have attended the London première
of the film Iris, which depicts the life and
death of the novelist Iris Murdoch.
The film is based on the memoirs of Murdoch's husband, John Bayley, who witnessed her battle with Alzheimer's disease before she died in 1999.
Winslet and Dame Judi both play Murdoch at different stages of her life in the BBC-backed production, while Hugh Bonneville and Broadbent portray Bayley.
The film opened in the US last month and has already been tipped for success at the Oscars. Dame Judi has been nominated for a Golden Globe award, as have Winslet and Broadbent.
Speaking before the première - at the Curzon Mayfair cinema - Jim Broadbent told the BBC he was encouraged by the talk of awards.
"It draws attention to a love story that's very hard to sell - a love story about two old academics," he said.
"I think it's a beautiful
film - it's very moving
and touching and it will
touch a lot of people."
Dame Judi said of Murdoch: "She was a heroine of mine and is still, but I wasn't aware that I looked like her."
She played down talk of awards, saying: "There's a lot of talk about a lot of people in Oscars - so who knows?
"But I enjoy award nights hugely - Michael [Williams, her late husband], Finty [their daughter] and I always had a great time, nudging each other and star-spotting."
Kate Winslet said of making the film: "It was a lot of fun - this was not a pretty film for any of us - not much make-up, and wearing questionable wigs and costumes.
"I love it - I don't normally watch any of my films more than once, but this will be the fourth time I've seen it and I'm still really looking forward to it."
This article appeared on The BBC Online web site on January 13, 2002.