NICOLE Kidman has finally met the woman she is playing in her new film.
The Hollywood star met Patti Lomax in her home town of Berwick-upon-Tweed during a gap in filming.
Meanwhile, co-star Colin Firth set hearts fluttering at a nearby nursing home when he paid a surprise visit to Mrs Lomax's husband, Eric, now 92.
Both stars were in Berwick to film The Railway Man, based on the best-selling book by Eric Lomax, a former prisoner of war in the Second World War. It tells of his experiences during the building of the Death Railway between Thailand and Burma.
It was Mrs Lomax, 75, who helped him overcome the demons that tormented him after the war, and Kidman took time out from filming to meet her.
"She is lovely – a very nice person," Mrs Lomax said afterwards. "I am honoured she is playing the part of Patti and I told her that."
Kidman said she was drawn to the role because Mrs Lomax is "very much the heroine of this film".
Oscar-winner Firth later turned up at a nursing home in Berwick to see Mr Lomax. They have met previously, when Firth made two secret visits to Berwick before filming began.
Firth said afterwards: "They [Eric and Patti] are both incredibly engaging and made me feel very welcome. I found them both a delight, although I did feel at times a little overwhelmed by the story."
Filming continues this week in North Berwick.
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