Stevenage’s Edwina in spotlight ahead of Sir Anthony Hopkins BBC drama

Sir Anthony Hopkins' team got in touch with Edwina to let her know that the show would be airing on Monday. Picture: Emma Thompson (Image: Archant)

Edwina Grealy has been a topic of discussion after she stopped the Hollywood actor – who plays a homeless man in the feature film to be aired on Monday – and directed him to the Stevenage Haven when he was filming in the town centre in October last year.

The 85-year-old told the Comet: “I was on my way down to the post office with my little dog on my lap and I saw him and said ‘are you homeless?’. He replied, ‘we’re all homeless’.

“I didn’t let on that I knew who he was and told him ‘if you go to the Old Town there’s a place called the Haven they’ve got some nice rooms there.’ He said thank you and I moved aside and just watched because the make-up was brilliant.

“But my little dog Buster – I call him my little therapeutic dog – started barking.

“Sir Anthony came over and asked what his name was and we got talking. Then he asked me if I had a phone.”

Edwina got her phone out of her pocket and Sir Anthony then handed it to co-star Emma Thompson, who took some photos for them.

“When I saw they’d been talking about it in the papers I felt quite good because obviously as far as he was concerned I didn’t know who he was, and I do try to help the homeless as much as I can.

“I enjoyed meeting Sir Anthony, he had no airs and graces about him and he was a really pleasant man to talk to. I felt really privileged to meet him. “He could be my toy boy – he was born in 1937 and I was born in 1933 so I am a bit older.

“I’ll be looking forward to watching it on Monday, he was brilliant in Silence of the Lambs. He’s a brilliant actor and, to me, he’s someone you can talk to. Some of these stars put you ill at ease, but he doesn’t.”

The modern adaptation of King Lear will air on BBC Two on bank holiday Monday at 9.30pm.