Kipling's tragic tale - helped by a Sex in the City star

Nov 5 2007

Emma Johnson discovers Kim Cattrall has swapped the streets of New York for pre-war Britain in a new ITV1 drama

WOMEN (and many men) the world over are eagerly anticipating her return to the role of PR executive Samantha Jones – one of television’s most famous man-eaters.

But, while she and her fellow on-screen fashionistas battle paparazzi on New York’s streets trying to get the big- screen version of Sex and the City wrapped, Kim Cattrall fans can satiate themselves when she appears on the small screen in one of ITV1’s autumn drama showpieces.

The Liverpool-born actress plays Rudyard Kipling’s wife Caroline (Carrie) in My Boy Jack, with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe as her son, the eponymous John “Jack” Kipling.

Set during World War I, the film tells the true story of how the Jungle Book author, (played by David Haig, above) used his influence to get his son a commission with the Irish Guards, despite his son’s poor eyesight.

Jack went missing in action during the Battle of Loos and his parents carried out an ardent search for him, spanning many years. His mother Carrie does not want the war, or for her son to be any part of it, but is powerless against her husband.

THE role is a million miles away from the bed-hopping antics of her most famous alter-ego, but, for 51-year-old Kim, the story has a very personal relevance.

“My reasons for doing My Boy Jack were personal as well as professional,” explains the softly- spoken actress.

“I’m reminded of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Everyone was rallying for vengeance and retaliation. I can imagine the same kind of fever in 1914 and a young man like John Kipling wanting to sign up and defend king and country.

“There’s a similar situation going on in my own family at the present moment. A young man in my family wants to go to war. Even though my 18-year-old nephew’s grandfathers and great grandfathers served in World War I and II, there is no way I want to see my eager nephew sign up and serve in Iraq. And I have been anything but silent about it.

“My young nephew has bad vision, like Jack Kipling, and can only see clearly through his right eye,” Kim continues.

“Still, his desire to serve and become part of what he perceives as the greatest battle being fought in his lifetime is stronger than all the arguments made. I don’t want my nephew to be part of any war, but I am powerless to stop him should his passion continue and he be accepted.

“Ultimately, it is his decision. This doesn’t stop me emailing and sending him articles to try and stop him.

“Unlike Carrie Kipling, I live in a time when women can and do speak out publicly and privately against war, and my hope is that my nephew and other young men and women like him will get a chance to see My Boy Jack and think more clearly of how it will not only affect their lives but their families for generations.”

Born in Mossley Hill, Kim moved away to Vancouver, Canada, when she was just one, but returned to Liverpool when she was 11 and studied at St Edmund’s College.

A keen actress, she trained for a year at Lamda, in London, before returning Stateside where she graduated from the famous American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

While these days she is arguably one of television’s most recognisable stars, with a glut of Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe on the sideboard, success was a long time coming for Kim.

After graduating from college, she trod the boards before being cast in a string of movies.

Her most memorable roles (if not the most impressive) included playing a voracious teacher in the teen comedy Porky’s and the lead in the romantic comedy, Mannequin. And, of course, there was that infamous pointy-eared appearance in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

However, her shaky CV was quickly forgotten when, after turning the part down twice, in 1997 she finally joined the cast of Sex and the City in what would turn out to be one of television’s most graphic of roles.

And while she may find herself baring all once more in the film version of the series (who knows – they are all keeping their cards very close to their chests on the plots, despite the constant stream of on-set photos), Kim seems to have enjoyed being literally buttoned up in her latest role.