The Daily Telegraph – 15th August, 2011

Richard E Grant is preparing to feature in the Kath and Kim Filum.

A “NOICE” and “different” face is bound for Fountain Lakes, with confirmation British actor Richard E Grant signed to star in the much-hyped Kath & Kim movie, which begins filming in Italy next month.

A known fan of foxy morons Gina Riley and Jane Turner, the star of Gosford Park and Jack & Sarah has confirmed his casting in The Kath & Kim Filum after falling in love with the suburban superstars on a long flight Down Under.

“The first time I came to Australia, in 2000 to film Hildegarde, I was on the plane and saw the (K & K) episode where they do the take-off of the film The Hours,” Grant gushed.

“As you know it is quite a long flight, and I watched the episode about four times. When I landed I said, ‘Please, can I try and buy every DVD of Kath & Kim’.

“When I got the call (to act) it took about half a nanosecond to say yes.”

The movie, written and produced by Riley and Turner and directed by Fast Forward’s Tim Emery, is a jet-set romp in which the mother-daughter duo “head overseas on a whirlwind tour of love, lust and revolution”.

The part for Grant – no stranger to our shores, most recently appearing in the 2008 stage production of My Fair Lady – and the plot treatment remain unclear.

But the “filum” is likely to snag a gaggle of cameos.

Original cast members Glenn Robbins (Kel), Magda Szubanski (Sharon) and Peter Rowsthorn (Brett) are also all attached.

It was announced in March as part of a $9 million package from the federal government film financing body Screen Australia.