Diana Hardcastle was surprised by the success of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’.
The British actress thinks the film, which became the UK’s fourth highest grossing movie of 2012, "warmed people," but admits she had no idea that it was going to "take off" in the way that it did around the world.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Royal World Premiere of ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ at the Odeon Leicester Square in London tonight (17.02.15), she said: "You can’t ever know that a movie is ever going to quite take off in the way that it is. I think the original was a feel-good movie in a very true sense of the word. I know an awful lot of people who said, ‘Oh well, I only went because my wife took me, I didn’t really want to see it.’ The movie is lovely! I think it warmed people."
Diana, whose husband Tom Wilkinson also appeared in the original movie, is very proud of the sequel and believes fans of the first film will be happy because it continues to explore real life experiences.
She said: "I think it touches on life experiences to do with courage, adventure, love, failure at love. They affect everybody – and that’s the key to it."
Other guests at the premiere included Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Donald Pickup, John Madden, Lillete Dubey, Tena Desae and Myleene Klass.
Diana Hardcastle surprised by success
