MOTHER-AND-SON FILM DUO
ARE CLOSER THAN EVER AS NEW MOVIE HITS THE SCREEN IN NEW YORK
Few mother-and-son movie industry stars are as glamorous as Elizabeth and Damian Hurley, and they certainly lived up to their reputations at a series of events to promote their new film Strictly Confidential.
Wearing complementing outfits, the duo arrived on the red carpet at New York’s Robin Williams Center for a special screening of the thriller, with Elizabeth, 58, sparkling in a metallic Versace gown.
They were also joined by her former husband Arun Nayar, the man 22-year-old Damian, who was five when the pair married, regards as his father.
Damian both wrote and directed the film, with his mum as his leading lady.
“It was a joy to come to work and tackle each day together,” he said. “We only had 18 days to shoot the whole film so our twinlike telepathy was invaluable throughout.
“To work tirelessly alongside such a committed and talented cast was truly inspiring. I’m eternally grateful to all involved for trusting and believing in me.”
He knew as soon as he’d created the script who he wanted to star in it, telling a newspaper: “Of course, once I’d written this glamorous, glorious woman, I went: ‘It’s got to be Mum.’” Nor did he have any doubts about filming her intimate scenes with her on-screen lover. “I hate to say that it felt totally normal,” he said. “I don’t know what that says about us. It’s business.”
For her part, Elizabeth said she had felt “safe” with her son in his directorial debut.
“It’s relaxing, knowing someone’s behind the camera who looks out for you. The things that his script needed me to do weren’t necessarily things I’d always done in movies many times. But having him there meant that I felt safe and looked after and I knew in [post production] he’d look after me. So actually it’s kind of liberating to work with your family. I may do it again.”
‘MORE LIKE SIBLINGS’
Elizabeth and Damian have always been close, with the actress b
