Lesbian love story starring Miriam Margolyes filmed in care home

A care home in Kent has become the filmset for a movie about two landgirls who fell in love during WWII and were reunited years later in residential care.

The care home part of the film stars Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes, aged 77, and Born Free actress Virginia McKenna aged 87. The actresses who play the two landgirls are Carla Fraser and Rosie Day from TV cult series Outlander.

The short film ‘Wings’ shows two girls taking on typically male-dominated jobs during the second world war and against this background of gender liberation, they fall in love. Once the war is over, conventional life takes over again and they don’t rediscover each other again until they meet up in a care home.

Carla Fraser, who wrote the script for the film, hopes it will show “it’s never too late to be brave and never too late to love. Hopefully most homosexual people of this period were able to find their wings eventually and leave behind the fear, guilt and judgment that tethered them”. She added that the film ‘Wings’ is “for those who did, those who couldn’t and those who are yet to”.

The filming took place in Lavender Fields care home in Sevenoaks, a new purpose built care home owned by Greensleeves Care. Residents at the home got the chance to watch the filming and chat to Miriam Margolyes, who recently looked at one of the world’s last taboos, death, in her two part BBC series Miriam’s Dead Good Adventure and Virginia McKenna, who came out of retirement to take part in the film. Some of the residents were even extras in the film.

Karen Cooper, manager at Lavender Fields Care Home, revealed that one of the residents was able “to meet his heart throb Virginia and this truly made his day”.

She added: “We are so glad that our care home could be part of this truly poignant story. The whole day was wonderful, and I know that the residents were blown away by being included in this production.”

Carla Fraser, who as well as writing the film script, produced it and acted in it, said: “The care home team were fantastic and went above and beyond to make the day a success.

“Aside from the amazing support with the filming, I would see the cast and crew speaking to residents or organising activities for them and I was absolutely blown away by the care and dedication I witnessed – not only is this a beautiful location, the atmosphere is so incredibly welcoming and happy!”

‘Wings’ will be screened next year, although Lavender Fields will be able to have their own personal screening as the care home has its own cinema.

Paul Newman, Greensleeves Care’s chief executive, said “Residents look forward to seeing themselves on the silver screen and marking the film’s release with their own local red carpet premiere. Fingers crossed for a Best Supporting Actor role!”

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