Costumes from Belle on display at Kenwood

Just popped into Kenwood, where the costumes from the film Belle (out next week) are on display. I'm really excited to see the film, and how it tackles the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the daughter of an enslaved African woman and a British naval officer, who was brought up by the Lord Chief Justice who ruled in the Somerset case. 

So I thought I'd share a few snaps- which don't really do the gorgeous costumes justice! It's really good to see the story highlighted in Dido's former home. Her story is already present in the house, since last year's refurbishment- you can see the pictures I took when it re-opened in November here. The portrait that inspired the filmmakers is in Scone Palace in Scotland (the home of the current Earl of Mansfield, which is hosting a special exhibition on Dido this summer), but there is now a large photographic reproduction on display at Kenwood. 

I've posted the trailer below too, and there is also a new book out by Paul Byrne to accompany the film, which fills in a lot of the background history. For a brief summary of Dido's life, see the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry. There's an in-depth interview with director Amma Asante here. If you're a real groupie, then you might spot some of the cast if you turn up at Kenwood tomorrow morning, or at the UK premiere at BFI Southbank tomorrow night. Once I've had a chance to see the film myself, I'll be posting a review here, so watch this space!