A distinguished South African writer has just become the oldest lady ever to have sold the film rights to a book. 92 year old Madeleine Masson, grandmother and veteran of the Allied resistance, has sold the rights to her biography of Countess Krystyna Skarbek (aka Christine Granville), one of the most daring agents of the Second World War.
The book - originally published thirty years ago - caught the attention of Canadian film company Queen Fine Arts. 'Christine: The Search for Christine Granville' recounts the daredevil exploits of the beautiful Countess who was dubbed 'Churchill's favourite spy.'
Amongst her many legendary exploits, Skarbek once walked straight into the hands of the Gestapo in an audacious attempt to free two imprisoned colleagues. Claiming that the resistance had the Gestapo chief as a marked man, she tricked the Germans into handing over her friends. It was said of Skarbek that she could do anything with dynamite besides eating it.
Polish actress Liliana Komorowska has already been tipped to play the heroine, but no release date has been put forward as of yet.
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