Now Natascha has to turn real nasty
Natascha McElhone, one of the most sweet-natured people in acting, is about to turn into a monster.
The actress has just been cast in director Nick Moran's new movie The Kid, based on Kevin Lewis's heartbreaking autobiography about his upbringing in Croydon, south London and how his violent mother Gloria beat him often, at one point placing his hand in a washing machine mangle.
Nasty turn: Natascha McElhone will play a violent mother in the big screen adaptation of The Kid
Natascha will portray that woman and there will be scenes in the film, which starts shooting in December, where she has to starve her screen children and knock them about.
It's a great role for her, although tinged with sadness as it's the first major part she has undertaken since her husband, surgeon Martin Kelly, passed away suddenly in May of an undiagnosed heart condition. Natascha gave birth to their third child this month.
Moran and producers Steve Daly and Mark Thomas have assembled a good cast including Nicholas Hoult, who will play Lewis in his teenage years and Rupert Friend, who will play him as an adult.
They are looking for an eight-year-old to play his character as a child.
Ioan Gruffudd is expected to play the teacher who inspired Lewis and helped him turn his life around.
Con O'Neill will surely be in the movie. He's the star of Telstar, Nick's accomplished portrait of record producer Joe Meek, in which he brilliantly captures the frenzy of the early years of rock 'n' roll in London.

By the way, Telstar is screening at the London Film Festival tomorrow night and on Tuesday. Call 020 7928 3232 or check out www.bfi.org.uk/lff.