Abi Morgan
Abi Morgan has revealed that she was interested in looking at a man 'through a prism of an extra-marital affair' when she signed up to write The Invisible Woman.
Morgan has adapted Claire Tomalin's book, which focuses on the affair between Charles Dickens and young woman Nelly Ternan.
The screenwriter was on the red carpet in London this week to promote the film, along with the cast and the director.
Speaking exclusively to FemaleFirst, she said: "I loved the idea of looking of a famous man through the prism of an extra-marital affair. I feel that that is always very relevant in the 21st Century as many famous people are trying to hide a scandal of some sort: even if it is not of their own making.
"I didn't really know that much about Dickens. When I came to work on the film, I realised that there weren't that many films about him; it was very curious to go back and look at that.
"Also, I think you are always looking for an organising principle when you work on a vast biopic in this way, and so the prism of the thirteen-year affair was a great way to look at him. That really was the attraction."
Ralph Fiennes takes on the role of Dickens in the film - he is also in the director's chair, while Felicity Jones plays Nelly.
This is the first film screenplay for Morgan since The Iron Lady, having worked on TV projects.
The Invisible Woman is released 21st February.