insideKENT Magazine Issue 87 - June 2019 | Page 116

SPECIALFEATURE
FAMOUS I N K E N T
CONT.
ENGRAVING OF DICKENS AT GAD'S HILL, SAMUEL HOLLYER
GEMMA ARTERTON AT
THE HANSEL & GRETEL:
WITCH HUNTERS 3D
MOVIE PREMIERE,
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA ©
Eva Rinaldi
JOHN HURT © Walterlan Papetti
Charles Dickens John Hurt
Gad's Hill Place was the country home of Charles Dickens, where he lived until his
death in 1870. Dickens first saw the estate when he was nine years old and his father told him if he
worked hard enough, he might one day own such a place. After he rocketed to success, Dickens heard
it was up for sale and turned Gad's Hill into his country home entertaining many of his literary friends
such as Hans Christian Anderson and Wilkie Collins there. Now Gad's Hill is a school, but it can still
be viewed clearly from the road and tours can be arranged. Hailing from Sevenoaks, the actor John Hurt played roles
in a number of blockbuster films, including Elephant Man,
Alien and Harry Potter, his first role though was in a school
production of L'Oiseau Bleu (The Bluebird) by Maurice
Maeterlinck at Otford Primary School.
Gemma Arterton
Miriam Margoyles
National treasure, Miriam – who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films – has been famous
forever… She has a house in St Margaret's, near Dover, and said of her first holiday memory: “We
always went to Cliftonville and Broadstairs. I loved it and still have a holiday home in Kent. I used
to be taken to Dreamland in Margate where I'd take part in the talent contests, which I once won.”
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Bond girl and St Trinian's star Gemma Arterton grew up
in Gravesend and attended Gravesend Grammar School
for Girls before starting at the Miskin Theatre at North
West Kent College.