If Straight Out of University Were a Film

Let's face it novelists, we've all had the internal monologue that starts with "If my book was made into a film..." Without that all-encompassing ambition, we'd never finish writing our novels.

I'm not ashamed to say, that I sometimes lie awake in bed, making casting decisions about the non-existent film adaptation of Straight Out of University.

The lead, Sophie Sweet, must be played by a Brit. I don't care how well Renee Zellweger or Anne Hathaway faked a British accent. We have enough talented female actors in the UK to cast Sophie without looking further afield.

Sophie needs to be played by somebody who can deliver comedy. She must be conventionally attractive in many ways (tall and slim with blonde hair), but also a bit quirky. If I didn't have my heart set on a Brit, I'd like Kerry Bishe (Lucy Bennett, the protagonist from the new Scrubs.) In the absence of Kerry's British twin, Sara Hooppell would make an excellent Sophie.

I want Jim Sturgess (One Day) as John Killigrew. His portrayal of Dexter Mayhew was spot on, so he's clearly talented. With stubble he looks quite a lot like my mental picture of John. He's British, dark, good-looking, and would look smoldering even whilst wearing a cardigan.

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I'd like to cast Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, Sugar Rush) because I've really enjoyed watching him in other things. He's too young-looking and not quite gruff enough to play John, but I think he'd make a good Joseph, the henpecked husband.

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I can't miss this brilliant opportunity to resurrect a nineties face from an Aussie soap. Brooke Satchwell (Anne Wilkinson from Neighbours) will play Ellie Hart, the sexy Australian feminist (or Holly Valance with a serious wig and some clothes.)

Of course, there are more than four characters in Straight Out of University. It's an ongoing game!

I haven't come up with a satisfactory Splanna Fiddock yet. Perhaps you can suggest somebody? Splanna is a slightly insane, overbearing housewife. Here is a description of her from the book:

"She was a bizarre-looking woman. It was as if someone had misplaced Pocahontas and she'd turned up five thousand miles east, wearing a pair of curtains. Splanna was dark skinned for a Cornish person (which, from her accent she blatantly was) and had long, coarse, black hair woven into two long plaits. She wore a knee length, a-line dress made from cream cotton with a large, imposing, red floral print. She gave off an aroma of mid-priced eau de toilette."

Who should play Splanna Fiddock?

Straight Out of University

A novel by Rosen Trevithick

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