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Nell's Cafe in Gravesend gets starring role in TV thriller

Look out for upcoming BBC America drama Killing Eve, starring Sandra Oh, Darren Boyd, and some burgers and chips cooked at Nell’s Cafe in Gravesend.

The film crew and actors, including Oh and Boyd, were at the popular roadside cafe just off the A2 last week, filming a scene for the new eight-part thriller, which follows a psychopathic assassin and the woman charged with hunting her down.

Cafe manager Sandra Hassan (second from right), with actors Darren Boyd, Sandra Oh (second from left) and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (far right)
Cafe manager Sandra Hassan (second from right), with actors Darren Boyd, Sandra Oh (second from left) and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (far right)

Cafe manager Sandra Hassan said the crew were at the cafe from 7.30am to 9pm last Thursday, and that she cooked some food to be used as props in the scene.

But while she said it was exciting seeing famous faces like Oh, who has starred in Grey’s Anatomy, it wasn’t all glamorous.

“I don’t know how they do it,” she said. “For a little scene like that, it took hours and hours. I couldn’t be an actress.

“I’ve seen Grey’s Anatomy so it was quite exciting. They were all absolutely lovely and they chatted away having a cup of coffee. It was so nice. Sandra Oh was especially nice - she was so down to earth.”

Mrs Hassan said the location researchers had looked up and down the country before choosing the cafe, although wasn’t sure exactly why.

“I think they liked the view, and the location by the motorway,” she added.

Film crews were at Nell's cafe in Gravesend filming for BBC America drama Killing Eve
Film crews were at Nell's cafe in Gravesend filming for BBC America drama Killing Eve

According to the BBC America website the eight-part thriller is penned by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is based on the ‘Villanelle’ novellas by Luke Jennings.

It also stars Jodie Cromer, who plays killer Villanelle, who goes head to head with security services operative Eve (played by Oh), in “an epic game of cat and mouse.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, writer, showrunner and executive producer, said: “I’m hugely excited to have started filming Killing Eve. It’s looking fantastic and our cast, led by the indomitable Sandra and Jodie, are to die for.”

Also joining Oh and Comer are Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, True Blood) who plays Carolyn Martens, David Haig (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Penny Dreadful) as Eve’s colleague Bill, and Kim Bodnia (The Bridge) as Konstantin.

Further cast includes Darren Boyd (Frank Haleton), Sean Delaney (Kenny Stowton), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Elena Felton) and Owen McDonnell (Niko).

Killing Eve is produced by Sid Gentle Ltd. for BBC America with Waller-Bridge serving as showrunner and executive producer. Sally Woodward Gentle and Lee Morris also executive produce with Colin Wratten serving as producer.

It is not the first time Nell’s has provided the backdrop for film crews.

In March 2014, BBC One series The Interceptor, about a surveillance team tracking Britain’s most wanted criminals, was filmed there and in April 2013, the diner became a fried chicken hut for a black comedy which was entered for the Cannes Film Festival.

It starred Maxine Peake (Shameless, Silk, The Village) and Geoff Bell (War Horse, Brighton Rock, Ripper Street).

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