Pictured above: A young Nigel Slater and his mother,
courtesy of Ruby Films
When the Oscars are announced this weekend one Birmingham city
centre worker will be watching more closely than most.
Melissa Spence will be looking out for The King's Speech best
supporting actress nominee Helena Bonham Carter, after appearing as
an extra alongside her in the recent production of BBC drama
Toast.
The 34-year-old from Great Barr unexpectedly landed the role in
the Christmas drama about television chef Nigel Slater while at
work last summer. Working as a property manager for
Birmingham-based Hortons Estate, Melissa was showing the location
manager - who was on the hunt for a venue - around the Grand Hotel
on Colmore Row when she was asked to attend a screen test for a
role as an extra.
Melissa, who has no previous acting experience, says: "The
production company was really interested in filming some scenes
inside the Grand Hotel for the programme and I was showing them
around the property when the opportunity to appear as an extra came
up. I jumped at the chance and within a week I was being fitted for
my costume!"
Melissa was cast as one of three waitresses in the part where
the young Nigel joins his father (Ken Stott) and Mrs Potter (Helena
Bonham Carter) at the Masonic dinner. Melissa served prawn cocktail
followed by chicken and chips in a basket to the A-list stars.
"It was a long day," explains Melissa, "we had to be in Moseley
at 6.30 in the morning and then stay there until 7.30 that
evening.
"We didn't really have any rehearsals but it took a number of
takes to get the scene right. It was incredibly
nerve-wracking, and then someone dropped a tray of wine but
fortunately I held on tight to my tray of prawn cocktails!
"All the food we served was real - except the young Nigel didn't
like prawns so his prawn cocktail was made out of lychees
instead!"
The scenes shot in the Grand Hotel on Colmore Row also appeared
in the televised production which aired over Christmas.
Tony Green is the chief executive of Hortons Estate, one of
Birmingham's leading family owned property companies. He explains:
"There were three scenes which Hortons helped them shoot at the
Grand Hotel including; right at the start of the programme where
young Nigel was dancing with his mum, the dream scene after his mum
had passed away, then at the very end when the real Nigel Slater
made his cameo appearance at The Savoy and walked the older Nigel
through the kitchen - that was actually the kitchen at The
Grand."
Melissa adds: "My normal day to day job at Hortons as a property
manager is spent managing our portfolio of properties and tenants -
which is why I became involved with this when the production
company first expressed interest in using The Grand - but it's a
world away from rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's finest.
"I don't think I'll be Oscar nominated for 'best supporting
actress' anytime soon but thanks to Nigel Slater I've had a taste
of stardom and loved every minute of it!"
Last week, Toast received its European Big Screen Premiere at a
prestigious gala screening as part of this year's Berlin Film
Festival, followed by a theatrical release worldwide.