Karen Gillan to play Jean Shrimpton for BBC Four

Karen Gillan has been cast as sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton in a one-off BBC Four film, it has been announced.

The drama, which is titled "We'll Take Manhattan", will explore the relationship between Jean Shrimpton and photographer David Bailey.

Karen Gillan, who is best known for playing Amy Pond in Doctor Who, will take on the lead role.

Gillan commented: "Jean Shrimpton is an icon of the Sixties and I am so excited to be playing somebody who had such a lasting impact on the fashion world. I can't wait to take on the challenge of bringing Jean and Bailey's fascinating love story to life. Sixties here I come!"

Set predominantly in 1962, but also exploring the story of how Bailey and Shrimpton first met, this one-off drama reveals how a young, visionary photographer refused to conform. He insisted on using the unconventional model Jean Shrimpton on an important photo shoot for British Vogue and, over the course of a freezing week in Manhattan, threw out the rule book and made startling, original photographs.

Production on the drama will begin in May. It is written and directed by John McKay and produced by Rebecca Hodgson.

(Source: BBC Press Office)