A NEW interactive map has revealed where some of the most loved movies of all time were shot in the UK - and one was filmed right here in south Essex.
Virgin Media has created the new interactive "Movie Mapper" showing where some of the most famous Blockbuster movies have been filmed across the country.
The map shows Southend pops up briefly in Goldfinger, still rated by many fans as the quintessential Bond film. It was also the last of the films to involve Bond’s creator, author Ian Fleming.
Some of the scenes for the 1964 blockbuster - where Sir Sean Connery played James Bond a third time - were filmed at the original terminal building at Southend Airport. In one scene viewers spy the master villain Goldfinger’s Rolls Royce loaded onto a British United Air Ferries Carvair, just ahead of his flight to Geneva.
Southend Airport has become a popular filming location over the years, with previously unseen photographs revealing its role in 2006 British biographical drama The Queen - which depicts the events following the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
The airport was transformed into RAF Northolt in October 2005 for the film with an aircraft, disguised as the RAF transport aircraft which flew Princess Diana coffin back to the UK from Paris following her tragic death, filmed.
Smaller productions, such as Aldi’s Christmas advert, a British Airways advert, and a Mr Beast YouTube challenge video, were all filmed at the airport last year.
The city itself has attracted production crews in recent years, with the latest instalment in the Rise of the Footsoldier movie series shot at key seafront businesses including Gold Coast Chinese restaurant and Adventure Island - with theme park boss Philip Miller even starring in the action film.
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