DAME Helen Mirren says she hopes her new movie largely shot in Bradford will become a national favourite and make its way into "the canon of great British films."

The Oscar-winning actress stars alongside fellow screen veteran Jim Broadbent in The Duke, the true story of the theft of a valuable portrait from The National Gallery in London.

Dame Helen plays the wife of Kempton Bunton, played by Broadbent, a 60-year-old taxi driver who allegedly stole Goya's painting of the Duke Of Wellington in 1961.

The film was shot in the city late 2019 and early 2020, before the pandemic. It was premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2020 but its release was delayed from last year.

Bradford locations - City Hall, Cartwright Hall, Little Germany, Upper Piccadilly and Cannon Mills - were transformed into 1960s settings. Upper Piccadilly was turned into a row of shops including a ladies fashion boutique and tie shop.

It was directed by the late Roger Michell, famous for films including Notting Hill and Venus, who died in September aged 65.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Trailers outside City Hall when filming took placeTrailers outside City Hall when filming took place

Bunton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition the Government invested more in care for the elderly, having long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.

Dame Helen said that the "quintessentially British" story could not be made in other countries.

She added: "I hope it will become, not a cult film, but it will become a favourite in the canon of great British films.

"It was made by a great British director, it has a great British actor in it, Jim (Broadbent) and it's a wonderful British story.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent with 'the Duke'. Picture: Pathe UKHelen Mirren and Jim Broadbent with 'the Duke'. Picture: Pathe UK

"It certainly couldn't be made in America, or France, or Germany, or Italy; it's a quintessentially British story."

She added: "I know people are going to love it, everyone who has seen it loves it."

Broadbent added that the production experience had been "the best of my life" and paid tribute to Michell as "the most wonderful director."

The star said: "The experience of making the film was absolutely delightful, the best filming experience I've had, I think.

"Roger Michell... was the most wonderful director, he was absolutely stress free the whole shoot... no trouble, no difficulty or anxieties.

"It was a treat and it felt great. One of Roger's many talents was getting a great cast together."

The Duke will be released in UK cinemas from February 25.