Daily Mail October 9th 2009. Article by Baz Bamigboye
Meet Alex in Wonderland
Manchester schoolboy Alex Etel was delighted when he won a big-screen role playing a Manchester schoolboy. He figured he wouldn't have to travel far from his home in Stockport.
But director and Oscarwinning screenwriter Julian Fellowes and his team had to shoot the film, "From Time To Time", at Ealing Studios and on locations in Dorset.
'It was a bit of a hassle,' Alex, 15, sighed, 'and I had to have a private tutor on set which I'm not always happy about, but there you go.'
Alex did admit, though, that he had a good time working with the film's star Maggie Smith, although he was a tad concerned about meeting her, before shooting began on the movie, based on Lucy M. Boston's novel "The Chimneys Of Green Knowe".
'I'd heard a few stories that she was feisty on set, but she was really nice to me and we had quite a good bond by the end of it,' he told me.
In a way, that initial wariness echoes their on-screen relationship. The film is set during the end of World War II and Alex, who plays Tolly, has to go from Manchester and stay with his paternal grandmother (Maggie) at her ancient pile. It's a haunted house full of secrets and Tolly begins to winkle them out, with the help of his grandmother and a few ghosts.
Alex said that initially he thought his character was a bit of a wimp, but the director kept telling him to be bolder. 'Be feistier, Alex!' he said, imitating Mr Fellowes's resonant tones remarkably well.
It's an enchanting little gem and Alex - who has starred in The Water Horse, Cranford and the forthcoming two-part Cranford Christmas - is a young actor to watch.
From Time To Time will be shown during the Times BFI London Film Festival on October 15 and 18.
