Audrey Tautou hailed the next big thing after her star turn in the French film Amelie has been in Wandsworth filming her follow-up role.

Wandsworth Town Hall was transformed into a hotel for the filming of Dirty Pretty, directed by Stephen Frears.

It took the crew three days to turn the marble entrance hall and stairway into a hotel, complete with palm trees and a revolving door.

The film company will donate the fee for use of the building to a charity chosen by council staff.

In previous years the town hall has been transformed to feature in other films and television series, including The Bill and The Charmer.

November 15, 2001 14:00