Rail boss 'in awe' after Kidman and Bullock scene

A call from Hollywood producers asking if film stars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock could sit in a vintage railway carriage came out of the blue for station manager Robert Bentley.

They called him to ask if the duo could use it for their new blockbuster, Practical Magic 2, a sequel to the 1998 romantic fantasy tale.

While film producers were keen feature it, they first needed the train moved from North Weald, Essex, to the Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

The studio filming left Bentley "in awe", he said. "When you're stood at the studio and then all of a sudden Sandra is stood next to you, it's hard to describe the feeling."

The 27-year-old said he ended up chatting to Bullock, who was interested in the history of the train.

Epping Ongar Railway has preserved its stations and carriages since closing in the 1990s.

Its authentic appearance has made it a popular go-to spot for film-makers, with it appearing in the TV shows Man vs Baby and Death in Paradise in recent times.

Bentley said producers had scouted around for locations before choosing to use North Weald station for a scene with US actress Joey King, as well as its train carriage, for filming last summer.

The final choice for Bullock's scene was a 1960s British Rail Mark 1 coach.

"We were the perfect fit for them in terms of what they wanted to film," said Bentley.

"We had the countryside and we had the coach that they wanted."

He said payment was not six digits, but "quite a high figure".

The film-makers also asked him to stick around for a scene, casting him as the train guard with a line of dialogue.

Other scenes were filmed at St Mary and All Saints Church in Lambourne, near Abridge.

The Grade I-listed church dates back to the 12th Century, but producers felt it could pass for a US church.

Last year, it was reported film and TV shows being made in Essex generated £3m for the local economy since 2022.

The Daniel Craig thriller Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - filmed at a church in Epping Forest - has been among the productions providing a boost.

Essex County Council established the Essex Film Office in 2022 to attract more large film productions to the county.

It provides a point of contact for production companies looking for perfect filming locations - guiding them in the right direction and assisting them with permissions.

Manager Erica Gilson recalled feeling "hugely proud" to work on Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which included scenes at Shire Hall in Chelmsford.

She was emotional as she spoke about the impact it had.

"You're a tiny, tiny part in something that ends up having a huge difference, and that's the power of the arts," she said.

Jeff Bray, the council's cabinet member for regeneration, planning and heritage, said the county has "so much to offer" film studios.

"We've got everything: wide open countryside, fantastic beaches, heritage of every kind from Roman through to Medieval - whatever you want you'll find it here in Essex," he said.

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