Sophie Kinsella Q&A

4 months ago 26th Jun 15:08

Sophie Kinsella series of Shopaholic novels cemented her as one of the most popular chick-lit writers and this popularity was cemented by a big screen adaptation of the first Shopaholic novel.

What was it like watching your book come to life as a movie?

It's just been amazing and completely surreal. It's such an adventure and such a treat. I'm just the luckiest girl alive because I could just sit on the set and watch these guys bringing my story to life, and being so witty, entertaining and just brilliant. So, it's been a dream... it really has.

How did you receive the information that Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to turn your book into a movie?

It was a phone call from my agent, saying...you won't believe his, but...I nearly fell off my chair. It had never occurred to me that anybody would be interested in making a movie out of it.

The whole Shopaholic thing has blown me way. I sat down all those years ago and thought I was writing a little story about a girl in Fulham with an overdraft. I hoped a few people might relate to it and be interested.

What was your original inspiration?

It was a mixture of me, my sister Gemma and friends. The first inspiration was Visa bill - which is nearly the first scene in the movie....the shock and denial you feel when you open the Visa bill.  With me it was amnesia, claiming I had never been in the shop. I would think it was wrong and then my husband would remind me I had shopped there.

When did you realize that Shopaholic was more than a little story?

It dawned on me gradually. I started getting the odd fan letter. It was a very gradual thing. I still get surprised by the scope of it.

Was there any trepidation over your book becoming a movie?

I had no preconceptions. By the time it came round I had almost put the film out of my mind and I had no idea what, if any, my involvement would be. A lot of authors don’t get involved so for me it was a real bonus that everybody was so welcoming. I felt very privileged.

You were pretty active in the production side of this... so, how did it feel to be on set?

It was a privilege for me. I never expected to be so involved. So many times, the author is really not a part of it... in fact; I think often they prefer the author to be deceased. So, I felt very honoured.

Everybody was very inclusive and collaborative and it was enormous fun. It was just so exciting to see it come to life and a whole new world for me. I feel very spoiled to have my first movie experience be a huge Jerry Bruckheimer movie. I feel my standards are now really high. I started off way up there [gestures high].

And do you have more work in production?

Yes. I have two other books that are in development at the moment.

What was the stand-out moment for you when you were on the film set?

I did get goose bumps on the first day of shooting when the first scene to be shot was the Visa scene. It was the first scene that I had written all those years ago, coming to life before my eyes. That was a bit shivery. The big scene, like the ballroom scene, was amazing.