As a first day went, it was a good one. It was also Jenna’s first experience of being a part of the named cast on a major film and on a period one too. There was something even more special about going through hair, make-up and getting into costume when you got to peel away modern day clothes and step into the life of someone from long ago. Or on this film, the 1940s. The World War II backdrop made her think of Aunt Vi and the soldier she’d been in love with. The women Jenna, Lily and Amanda were playing were glamorous with beautifully curled hair, red lipstick, and costumes that were much more comfortable than when she’d been squeezed and pulled into a corset for an eighteenth century period drama. Two months ago she’d been in a skin-tight top and a mini skirt filming a scene in a south London nightclub, now she was in the depths of Cornwall, the unspoilt surroundings perfect to depict summer in the 1940s. She had to pinch herself that this was really happening and that she was in a film on location for two months. Life couldn’t get much better than this.
~
Jenna settled into a routine of early starts and long filming days. The weather was warm and sunny, the ideal conditions for both the shoot and the work on the cottage. Leaving early in the morning, Jenna hardly saw Finn, but mid-week she had a later call time and Finn and his dad arrived before she’d left. She made them coffee, talked through what they’d been doing and said goodbye. Each day when she arrived back an improvement had been made with the slate roof tiles slowly being removed and replaced.
It was four days into filming when Jenna had her first scene with Milo Blake, the lead actor. She’d worked with big-name actors before but had never shared a one-on-one scene with them or had played the love interest like she would with Milo. There was a buzz at the base the morning when Milo Blake was first on set. Jenna could sense it with extra security on the gate to the base, supporting artists whispering together as they waited to be bussed to location. Milo’s trailer was a focal point for everyone’s attention.
‘He arrived at the hotel yesterday,’ Lily said as the three girls walked together from the costume trailer to hair and make-up. ‘Bet you regret staying at that cottage now.’
‘Not really, I think it would do my head in everyone going dippy over a film star.’
‘He is hot though.’
‘Only the second sexiest man alive though according to Hot Now Magazine.’ Amanda hooked her arm in Lily’s and Jenna’s.
Jenna laughed. ‘Only number two, eh?’
‘They’re obsessed by him.’
‘Who?’
‘The magazine. And women in general.’
Milo Blake was hot, in a movie-star kind of way. He had luscious dark hair with brooding full lips and large deep brown eyes. He was clean shaven, tanned and wasn’t averse to getting his top off at every opportunity. Jenna imagined he’d look just as good in a soldier’s uniform from the Second World War as he did in jeans and a T-shirt. She was also certain of the distraction he’d be at the hotel where he was staying with the rest of the main cast. She was pleased she would escape the craziness, yet she was also anxious that she was the only one who had yet to meet the infamous Milo Blake.
~
‘Lily, Jenna, Amanda. You’re all on the minibus that’s about to leave.’ The First AD scanned the paper on the clipboard he was holding. ‘Head over to the car park and you’re in the first minibus.’
Freshly out of hair and make-up with their long hair pinned neatly back in 1940s style waves, the three of them walked arm in arm across the base.
‘Timothy’s nice too,’ Amanda said as they reached the car park. ‘He arrived a couple of days ago and I think him and Milo already know each other.’
‘Yeah,’ Lily said. ‘He said they worked together before.’
‘Aah, here she is.’ A deep brooding voice took her by surprise. ‘Jenna Wilson, last but not least of a very lovely trio of ladies.’
He’d spotted her before she’d clocked eyes on him. Lily nudged her and Jenna looked to her left and came face to face with Milo Blake.
He held out his hand. ‘Milo.’
She shook it. ‘Hey there, it’s good to finally meet you.’ She stopped herself in time from spilling the beans that everyone had been discussing him all morning. But she guessed he knew that already.
‘I hear you’re not staying with us at the hotel. Holed up somewhere by yourself.’
‘Yeah, I wasn’t sure what the arrangement was going to be when I said yes to the job. If I’d known everyone was going to be put up in a fancy hotel...’
‘I’m sure it’s not too late to change your mind and come join us.’ He slid open the minibus door and let her on first.
‘Ah, well I’m overseeing the building work on the cottage for my parents, it’s how I negotiated staying there for the summer. I kinda like it there too.’
‘The hotel has a hot tub and a swimming pool.’ Milo winked and sat next to her, while Lily and Amanda slid on to the seat behind them. Lily caught Jenna’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
‘That is tempting...’
It was a short journey to that day’s filming location, just enough time for Milo to
