Movie News

Newcomer joins legends at Venus premiere

Thu 19 Oct 8:54 PM

Screen legends Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips took to the red carpet tonight for the premiere of their film Venus at the London Film Festival.

Alongside them was newcomer Jodie Whittaker, still coming to terms with the fact that she'd landed a role in a movie which is already generating Oscar buzz.

"Before we started filming, I was, like, how can I live up to playing against Peter O'Toole?" admitted the blonde actress, who was wearing a clinging black satin dress.

Describing her co-stars as "legends", she joked that people might ask who she had paid to give her the job.

The newcomer makes her big-screen debut in Venus, which tells the story of an ageing actor, played by Peter O'Toole, who forms a relationship with a teenage girl.

24-year-old Jodie revealed she was still not used to seeing herself on screen.

"I'm so proud of [the film], it's just weird because I have never watched myself before," she smiled.

She described her character as "a stroppy teen".

"People need to give her respect before she needs to give it to anyone else," she said.

The film's stars were joined by The History Boys star Richard Griffiths, London Mayor Ken Livingstone, and Deputy Mayor of London Nicky Gavron.