A pub car park by the A1 is a far cry from the glamour of Hollywood.

But that was where ER star Alex Kingston found herself this week filming a new version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Lost in Austen is the 1813 classic with a twist as a modern-day heroine Amanda Price swaps places with main character Elizabeth Bennet to compete for dashing Mr Darcy’s affections.

Makers Mammoth Screen have used locations across Leeds and Harrogate, including Harewood House, Weeton Church near Otley and Allerton Castle just off the A1 to shoot the four-part costume drama for ITV.

Its star-studded cast includes Alex as Mrs Bennet, Hugh Bonneville as her husband, Gemma Arterton as their daughter Elizabeth and former Hex actress Jemima Rooper as new character Amanda Price.

Alex, who also starred in the BBC’s Moll Flanders, spoke to the YEP sat in the top deck of a catering bus parked next to a pub near Allerton Castle.

The mum-of-one said: “I’ve been up here before when I shot Moll Flanders.

“It’s lovely to see how many stately homes are still usable and haven’t been turned into apartments.

This is my fifth week of shooting and I’m staying in Leeds. I’d never been to the city before and I really like it – it’s amazing.

“We have the odd day off but normally I spend it doing the laundry or getting some shopping in.

“I would like to go to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park before I leave.”

Fantasy

Lost in Austen sees the original story thrown off track as London-living Amanda finds Lizzie Bennet in her bathroom.

She swaps her humdrum life in the Noughties to enter the fictional world of Pride and Prejudice.

Alex said: “I first read Pride and Prejudice as a teenager and remember thinking ‘Oh my God, I would love to go back to that time and meet Mr Darcy’ – in fact I don’t know a woman who knows the book who hasn’t had that fantasy.”

When filming finishes next week Alex will carry on the Jane Austen theme by doing the voice-over for a documentary about the 19th century writer.

She will then jet back to LA where she lives with husband Florian and their six-year-old daughter Salomé.

The 44-year-old said: “There is due to be an actors’ strike in June so going back to LA there will be a pool of actors desperately trying to get a job before the strike comes into action.

“I might have to come back here to do something up north again!”