A BIG, HUGE, thanks to Stephen for sending his recollections of seeing filming. Thank you so much for sharing! This is his account, unaltered, unedited, and untainted. = )

The Gatehouse in Merton Street

I was just looking for some info on Iris and came across your site. Didn't even know the movie was being done, until I stumbled across the filming next door to my college in Oxford last night!

One of the scenes with Kate in arriving at Merton College in the pouring rain was being shot, and we were all allowed to get very close to the filming - so much so that a lot of people were getting pretty wet! It had actually been a stifling hot day in Oxford, and so a massive rainmaker machine was being used.

Kate looked much as she did in the picture in the Sun [click here], short cropped hair and a little 'larger' than usual (guess still the aftereffects of birth!) wearing a pretty red dress. She seemed to be having quite a good time laughing and joking with the other cast members in between takes, despite it being 11.30pm!

The scene was Iris on her way to a party with friends. They all arrive in old black taxis and have to get the umbrellas out quickly to avoid getting soaked. Merton college was all decked out in party lights and posters, for some kind of ball/party.

I think they were just doing the one evening of filming there. But I guess they must be doing other locations in Oxford over the next few days.

A nice surprise...I was actually on my way home from somewhere else in Oxford, when a friend stopped me on the street and said 'Kate Winslet is in Merton Street!'. A chance I could not pass up!

The 'Rest' of Merton Street

A Photographic Tour of Merton College