WE reported in August that David Gandy had landed his first acting role and now, for the first time, we have the finished film to show you.
A celebration of W Hotel's arrival to London's Leicester Square, Away We Stay follows the romantic story of a photographer (played by Helena Christensen), who falls for a stranger she meets in a restaurant (Gandy). Inspired by the iconic movie Blow Up, the film is directed by Edoardo Ponti - the son of the film's original producer, Carlo Ponti. The cast also includes Fenton Bailey, Nick Moran and Tom Hollander.
"I was approached a few times with acting opportunities, but I wasn't tempted until I learnt about and saw the script for Away We Stay. Obviously with this being my first film and my first attempt at any acting, I wasn't sure if I could do it justice, but the director, Edoardo, made me feel very at ease and believed in me," Gandy tells us. "The other members of the cast - including Helena, Tom Hollander and Nick Moran - and the fact that it was set and filmed in London also added to its appeal. It would be fair to say, or even an understatement, that there were a few nerves beforehand, but I really enjoyed the whole process and didn't want it to end. The fact that people are saying positive things - including Sophia Loren I may add - is a huge relief!"
The film, set in London, features a glimpse of the new hotel which is set to open early next year.
"W London sits at the heartland of British film premieres in Leicester Square," says Kevin Rockey, the hotel's general manager. "We want to approach our opening with an innovative commissioning within the world of film. Away We Stay is inspired by the quintessentially British fashion film Blow Up which follows neatly our passions for fashion and film."
Will Gandy be taking his newly found acting skills further?
"If the opportunity comes along to do more acting work then it's definitely something I'd jump at the chance to do," he says. "However, like anything, if you want to do well you have to put in the groundwork, so there is a long way to go, but my first experience of acting was a great one."
