Madonna the film-maker takes to the streets of London as she shoots new movie W.E.
By
Richard Simpson
Last updated at 1:26 AM on 21st July 2010
The streets of London are more usually film-maker Guy Ritchie's shooting location of choice.
But yesterday there was a new pretender making her feature film directorial debut there - his ex-wife Madonna.
In what might easily be seen as a slap in the face for Mr Ritchie, his 52-year old former wife was barking out the orders to a film crew.
On location: Madonna was spotted on the streets of West London yesterday shooting her directorial debut film W.E.
As the Mail wrote at the time, one of the reasons for the breakdown of the couple's marriage was Ritchie's ridiculing of Madonna's efforts to direct a short documentary film about Malawi.
And it seems clear that has made the singer even more determined to succeed in her ex-husband's professional field.
Sources on the set of her new movie have told how the singer is throwing her all into it - and tellingly has cast two very strong female parts as the leads.
Ritchie's Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch were filmed in East London.
Madonna chose a pub in Kensington in West London to film scenes from 'W.E.' which is described as a 'two-tiered romantic drama'.
Getting in on the act: The ex-wife of film-maker Guy Ritchie was filming in a pub in Kensington
It focuses both on the affairs between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson and by comparison a contemporary romance between a married woman, Wally Simpson, and a Russian security guard.
'Mrs Simpson is played by Andrea Riseborough and Wally Simpson by Abbie Cornish.
'They are two very strong female parts. This is a film about the strength of the so-called weaker sex.
'It's fitting that Madonna's directorial debut should be this way - and is no coincidence.
'Guy made no secret of his views of Madonna as a dreadful director when they first went to Malawi together and she made a documentary about it. This film almost feels designed just to show Guy who's boss', said a film source.
Filming took place on the top two floors of The Abingdon pub in Kensington yesterday.
The singer, wearing a fedora hat and directors' headphones doled out the orders while her ever-present entourage of drivers and bodyguards hovered nearby.
In his element: Guy, pictured here in London back in December 2008 shooting Sherlock Holmes
She looked pale, wrinkled and drawn with dark bags under her eyes, no doubt resulting from the early-morning start.
During the morning, the singer's adopted Malawian daughter Mercy James was brought to the set by her nanny. Mercy left wearing a tiger mask over her face.
Madonna's boyfriend, Jesus Luz - who is staying with her at her home in London's Marylebone - was nowhere to be seen however.
Madonna has also used her influence in the film to launch the acting career of her 14-year-old daughter Lourdes Leon. Lourdes, Madonna's daughter with fitness trainer Carlos Leon, will make her first appearance on set in the coming weeks and star in a minor role.
A source said: 'Lourdes has been getting in shape at the TriYoga yoga school in Covent garden in London ready for her first screen role.'
The film also stars James D'Arcy, James Fox and Laurence Fox.
Umm...this is the second feature Madonna has directed. The first, the 2008 "Filth and Wisdom," was deceased on arrival.
- kenneth land, new york, usa, 21/7/2010 12:14
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