Don't expect to see the elegant squares of St. Petersburg in Channel 4's new adaptation of Anna Karenina this week. For though the Tolstoy novel is a classic of Russian Literature, the author's homeland was considered too dangerous a location to film the four-part drama.
'The Russian Mafia have made it too difficult to shoot in Russia', explains actor Douglas Henshall who plays Levin in the series.' Instead we filmed in Poland which is as close to Russia as the producers could get. Fortunately, the Mafia there aren't so bad-and we didn't get any hassle.'
Set in 1878, the epic saga follows the reckless love affair between Anna, an affluent but unhappily married mother, and Vronsky, a handsome cavalry officer. Unlike the two films of the story-starring Greta Garbo and Vivian Leigh-the TV version also focuses on the novel's minor roles, including Henshall's character, Levin, a principled landowner besoted with Vronsky's spurned lover, Kitty.
' Levin is an idealist', says Henshall.' It's only the idea of the perfect woman-Kitty-that keeps him alive. But, like Anna, he suffers for his love.'
The characters weren't the only ones made to suffer. To make the drama, the cast and crew endured an icy Polish winter for four months and were even provided with hot water bottles to beat the freeze.
'Poland would be lovely for a two-week holiday, but four months in sub-zero temperature was quite tough', laughs Henshall. 'Fortunately my character was kitted out in a wonderful coat made of bear and wolf fur. I was tempted to take it back home-but I couldn't wear it in London. It's so politically incorrect, I'd be stoned in the streets.'