University role in star-studded movie

Film star Greg Wise has been to Lancaster University this month in order to research his latest movie role.
The actor visited the University to prepare for his part as John Ruskin, who is famous for being an influential Victorian art critic and writer.
Wise will be playing Ruskin in the film “Effie” which tells the story of Ruskin’s ill-fated marriage to Effie Gray. Effie will be played by Dakota Fanning.
Wise came to Lancaster University to look at Ruskin’s drawings and papers in the Whitehouse Collection which is kept in the Ruskin Library. The university has the largest single collection books and drawings belonging to a man who is widely regarded as one of most influential thinkers in the Victorian era.
He said: “It is very kind to let a scruffy actor touch these things but it has helped immensely. Seeing Ruskin’s own work has enabled me to see what he did, the style and phrasing and drawing. I feel I understand him better now.”
Director of the library, Professor Stephen Wildman, said: “It shows that Ruskin is still of great interest today, and this film, following two recent biographies of Effie, will renew the attention his extraordinary life and work deserve.
“Greg and Emma are doing their best to make the settings as accurate as is practical, and the great range of material we have helps to make that possible.”
The Ruskin Library is providing the film makers with images of the art critic and writer’s books and drawings so that they can be recreated for the film. The film will be shot in Venice, Scotland and London and will premiere at the 2012 Venice Film Festival.