Big chill greets the Ms Jones's

by Ed Harris

The scene is a classic English picture postcard. Quaint sandstone cottages stand around a village green and church, warm sun beating down on the rolling valley from a blue June sky—and children frolicking in a thick blanket of snow.

This is not another quirk of the English climate—this is Hollywood doing the Cotswolds, and Bridget Jones has arrived.

For three days the chocolate-box village of Snowshill in Gloucestershire has been the location for a winter shoot on the film version of the bestselling book, Bridget Jones's Diary.

The buzz is considerable. The film is, after all, from the team that made Notting Hill, and the village is very excited. It will star Hugh Grant, and he was rumoured to be dropping in on Snowshill for the shoot.

All day yesterday and the day before a small army was busily transforming the village. Sheets of fake snow were laid around the churchyard and a giant snow machine blasted authentic-looking flakes on to rooftops and trees.

Festive wreaths, tinsel and baubles were hung on doors and windows of many of the cottages. Some homes even have plastic Father Christmas statues in their gardens. Meanwhile, tourists and locals wander around in shorts and shirt sleeves.

The impact on the village, with a population of around 100, is considerable, and the effect on this quiet valley is surreal. The residents love it. "They went to 40 villages before they chose this one," said Pete Wilkes, an electrician whose home overlooks the steep slope of the churchyard.

"Everyone I have spoken to is thrilled. Some of the locals have taken part as extras. This is the Cotswolds and you won't find anywhere better than this."

This may be the biggest event in Snowshill since the only village shop closed 12 years ago, but it may be that the village's starring role turns out to be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it one. The film makers are shooting just three scenes. Stars have so far been conspicuous by their absence. Grant, who is expected in the village for shooting today, plays Daniel Cleaver, Bridget's boss, with whom she has an on-off passion. (To quote from her diary, "Yessssss! Daniel Cleaver wants my phone number. Am marvellous. Am Irresistible Sex Goddess. Hurrah!")

Bridget, a Chardonnay swilling, chain smoking, calorie-counting neurotic, is on her way to her parents' house for a Christmas party. It is her arrival that is being filmed in Snowshill.

Bridget is played by the Texan actress Renee Zellweger, best known for starring opposite Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. But her part was being played yesterday by a stunt driver. Ms Zellweger's absence was not a great loss to everyone. There are still pockets of England, apparently, which resist the Bridget Jones phenomenon. "The Diary of Bridget who?" asks a middle-aged woman studying a sign on the church notice board warning that filming was taking place.

However, Dolly Maude, 28, who lives with her husband Chris and their two children in a home overlooking Barnabas Church, said: "Chris is quite keen on what's-her-name, Renee, so he is quite excited."

The village was snowed in last winter, so their children,10-month-old Nell and Billy, three, were prepared for the fake version. "I don't know when anything this exciting last happened here," said Mrs Maude.

The film, which also stars Colin Firth as the smouldering Darcy, is due to be released next February. It could do for Snowshill what Shakespeare did for Warwickshire. Imagine the signs as you enter Gloucestershire: Welcome to Bridget Jones Country.