July 8, 2005

From dailymail.co.uk

HELENA TO BE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN MUM

Shooting starts next week on Magnificent Seven, which is inspired by the life of Jacqui Jackson, an extraordinarily determined single mother who employed a variety of weapons - particularly humour - in her fight to raise her family of four sons and three daughters.

All four boys are on the 'autistic spectrum', which encompasses a number of developmental disorders such as autism itself, Asperger syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

When the documentary was screened, one reviewer wrote that, between them, the family possessed enough affection and laughter "to light up the whole of their native Blackpool".

It's that which appealed to Helena when she watched the documentary and later read Sandy Welch's drama script for Magnificent Seven. For various artistic and legal reasons, the story behind the movie has been fictionalised, so that the character Helena will play is now called Maggi.

Producer Deborah Jones described the film, which will be shot on locations in Bolton and Blackpool, as 'an urban fairy tale'. She predicts it will be "funny, heartbreaking and inspirational".

The real-life Jacqui Jackson has written a book called Multicoloured Mayhem, which she describes as a helpful guide to parenting and the many shades of adolescence, autism, Asperger syndrome and ADHD. And her teenage son Luke has written a book of his own: Freaks, Geeks And Asperger Syndrome. The film's director, Kenny Glenaan, has assembled a group of young actors to play the fictionalised versions of the Jackson children. Meanwhile, Helena can be seen in Tim Burton's movie extravaganza, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, as the title character's mum. The picture, starring Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore, opens at the end of this month.