Where Was Belle Filmed? A Phenomenal Historical Drama Film!

If you’re fond of watching historical dramas, then you must have seen the movie Belle (2013). The historical/period drama film recounts the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy Captain, who is raised by her uncle Murray, the Earl of Mansfield. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Belle filmed.

While some may find historical dramas to be boring, they teach a great deal about the past. And as the old saying goes, if you don’t learn from the past, you’re bound to repeat it. Belle is a well-researched and well-directed movie that narrates the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a biracial girl who grows up to be a respected woman during a time when slavery and racism were rampant.

Belle features a brilliant cast, including renowned and award-winning actors like Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, and James Norton. Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays the protagonist in the movie. She has worked in both the British and American film industries and has been in popular TV shows and movies like Doctor Who, Beauty And The Beast, and many more.

Now, getting back to your primary concern about where was Belle filmed, the historical drama movie was shot in the Isle Of Man, Oxford, and London, England.

Helmed by Amma Asante, Belle premised at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8th September 2013, followed by its release in America on 2nd May 2014. It was released in the United Kingdom on 13th June 2014. The historical drama film is a TSG Entertainment production and was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. However, without any further ado, let’s learn more about the filming locations.

Where Was Belle Filmed? Belle Filming Locations!

Amma Asante’s Belle won several accolades, including a British Independent Film Award, NAACP Image Award, and a Black Reel Award. The movie did well, if not great, at the box office as it earned over $16 million against a $10 million budget. Not to mention, the historical drama film received a number of constructive reviews from critics who were quite impressed with the movie’s screenplay, editing, costume design, and the cast’s flawless performance.

Belle got a fantastic score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7.3 on IMDb. However, let’s cut to the chase and jump into the details of where was Belle filmed.

Isle Of Man

The historical drama film Belle was filmed in the Isle of Man and England’s Oxford and London. Principal photography began on 24th September 2012. The production team shot some of the scenes in the capital town of Douglas on the Isle Of Man, except for the sequences that were filmed in Oxford and London. 

The Isle of Man is not a part of the United Kingdom nor the European Union; it is a self-governing British Crown dependency on the Irish Sea between Ireland and England. The place is known for its rough and rugged coastline, spectacular rural landscape, and medieval castles. Besides filming in Douglas, the cast and crew also filmed a number of scenes in Castle Town, which is another nearby town.

Oxford, England

The city of Oxford was another location where filming of the historical drama film took place. The cast and crew moved around the city, shooting against suitable backdrops. The production team filmed several exterior scenes at New College Lane and Catte Street. 

Oxford is home to some of the world’s most reputed and notable universities. The city is situated in southeast England and has a population of 1.52 lakh. 

London, England

The capital city of London also served as one of the filming locations of the historical drama movie. Filming took place at the Old Royal Naval College. It is located on the campus of the University of Greenwich at SE 10 NN 9NN London, UK. Several scenes were also shot at the Middle Temple or the Honourable Society Of The Middle Temple in London near the Royal Courts of Justice. 

Other Filming Locations

The cast and crew of Belle shot in various other places across England, including Buckinghamshire, Brentford, and Isleworth. The interior and exterior scenes of Kenwood House were filmed at West Wycombe House, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. A few interior scenes of the Kenwood House were also shot at Syon House, Brentford, Middlesex. 

Some of the sequences were filmed at Osterley Park House in Isleworth. The production team shot a portion of the movie at Pinewood Studios, situated at Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

Plot Of Belle (2013) | A Tale Of A Biracial Girl!

The story of Belle is set in the 1700s and revolves around Dido Elizabeth Belle, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The biracial daughter of a British Admiral and Captain of the Royal Navy, Sir John Lindsay, played by Mathew Goode. He had an affair with an enslaved woman, and when she died, he accepted her as his daughter. 

Later on, John Lindsay takes Dido to the Mansfield family and hands her over to his uncle, William Murray, the Lord Chief Justice and 1st Earl of Mansfield. The girl later grows up to abolish slavery in England.

Final Words

If you happen to be a history buff and like to visit places with historical significance, I suggest you check out all the places I mentioned. Every filming location has its own history. Having said that, the historical drama film Belle is streaming on a number of OTT platforms, so if you haven’t watched it yet, make sure you watch it soon. And if you wish to read more filming location articles, then check the Viebly website.