HISTORIC Antony House has been chosen as one of the filming

locations for a blockbuster movie by Disney.

The Herald has learned the National Trust property, near

Torpoint, will be closed to the public from September 1 until

October 14 to allow filming to take place.

Filming on the Tim Burton-directed movie, Alice in

Wonderland, will be staged over two weeks in September.

The 18th century house, its garden and the Woodland Garden,

are likely to be used for filming.

The news came as film fever began sweeping Plymouth again

with extras being told if they have been successful in landing

a part in the movie.

Male hopefuls who auditioned for the blockbuster were being

told today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) by text

message.

Female hopefuls will be told at a later date.

Up to 250 city extras are expected to be chosen for the big

screen adaptation of the classic tale, which is heavily

rumoured to star heart-throb Johnny Depp will star as the Mad

Hatter.

Rebecca Miller, National Trust house and visitor services

manager for Antony said: "We are absolutely over the moon that

Antony has been chosen as a location for Tim Burton's new film

Alice in Wonderland.

"One of the reasons it was chosen was because it's a hidden

gem – it's one of the Trust's lesser known properties and they

felt this fitted in very well with the feel of the film."

Antony is an early 18th century mansion set in parkland and

fine gardens.

The house has been and continues to be the home of the Carew

Pole family for 600 years.

Harvey Edgington, the National Trust's broadcast media

liaison officer added: "The National Trust happily provides

locations when possible, to a variety of films, TV dramas,

documentaries and commercials.

"Clearly there is a direct financial benefit to the Trust, a

charity where four out of five properties run at a loss every

year due to conservation demands.

"Alice in Wonderland will not only help raise funds for the

ongoing conservation work needed at Antony, but will also

contribute to the local economy by having the crew on

location."

One of the successful audition applicants was Laurence

Clements from Lydford.

The 23-year-old said he found out he had been successful in

becoming one of the film's extras earlier this afternoon

(Thursday).

"I was told via text message," he said.

"The message just said congratulations, you have been

successful in becoming an extra in a Disney movie, and then

asked me to phone a telephone number.

"It's exciting really. I didn't know whether I would hear

back at all. The longer it goes on the less you believe it will

happen."

A spokesman for the casting agents, Mad Dog Casting Ltd,

said the other filming locations were being kept "top

secret".

"The extras will not be told where they are filming until

the night before the shoot," the spokesman added.

A whopping 3,000 Plymothians queued up for the auditions

outside the New Continental Hotel in the city centre earlier

this month.

Three dogs were also cast to appear in the movie.

The film, which is due for release in 2010, will be shown in

3-D, and has all the hallmarks of a massive box office hit.

Director Burton has already made his name on hit films,

including Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward

Scissorhands, which also starred A-lister Depp.

Australian newcomer Mia Wasikowska will play the part of

Alice.

tnichols@theplymouthherald.co.uk