Mrs Harris Goes to Paris: release date, plot, cast, and more

Ellen Thomas stars as Violet and Lesley Manville as Mrs. Harris in director Tony Fabian's MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS.

(Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd)

Mrs Harris is off on her travels once more, as the feel good period film, based on the 1958 novel, Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris, by Paul Gallico, has been remade for audiences to enjoy this summer.

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris is about a widowed cleaning lady, Ada Harris, who falls in love with a beautiful couture Dior dress and decides she simply must own one for herself.

It's previously been adapted for the small screen, once in 1958, with Gracie Fields as its star and again in 1992 with Angela Lansbury in the titular role.

Set in the 1950s, the film follows Mrs Harris as she scrimps and saves enough money to embark on an adventure to the French capital to buy her very own designer gown.

Filming took place at the end of 2020, beginning in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and then moved to London and Paris. Featuring an all star cast, the movie promises to be a charming and heartwarming watch that will delight audiences this summer.

So pack your bags and get ready to be swept off your feet by the magic of Mrs Harris…

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris release date

Filming wrapped in November 2020 but, due to the inevitable covid delays, it took until 2022 for the film to arrive in movie theaters. Already released in the US, it's out in the UK on 30 September 2022.

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What's the Mrs Harris Goes to Paris plot?

Lesley Manville stars as Mrs. Harris and Lambert Wilson as Marquis de Chassange in director Tony Fabians MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS. — (Image credit: Dávid Lukács / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

The film — that's been made in partnership with the House of Dior — follows Mrs Ada Harris as she goes on a remarkable journey. On the surface, the film is about buying a beautiful dress but dig a little deeper and it's about dreaming big and the importance of friendship, love and family.

The story begins with Mrs Harris working as a widowed cleaning lady in London for the incredibly upper-class Lady Dant, (Anna Chancellor), who owns some Dior dresses. When Mrs Harris spots the garments she is blown away by their beauty and elegance and decides she must own one.

For the next three years, Mrs Harris saves every penny she can (plus a little gambling, here and there) and finally has enough money to go to Paris and buy her very own Dior dress. When she gets there, however, she discovers that purchasing such an exclusive garment isn't as simple as popping into a regular shop and picking one off the rail.

Mrs Harris hasn't come all this way to fall at the first hurdle, though, so, with the help of some amazing new friends, she sets about making her dream become a reality and helping her newfound friends along the way.

Is there a trailer?

In the trailer, we see Mrs Harris feeling miserable about her life as a cleaner, before making the life-changing decision to save all her cash up and head to Paris to get her hands on her very own Dior dress...

Who's in the Mrs Harris Goes to Paris cast?

Lesley Manville is Mrs Harris

Lesley Manville as Mrs Harris, getting a dress fitting, in MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, a Focus Features release. — Lesley Manville as Mrs Harris, getting a dress fitting. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

Oscar-nominated actor Lesley Manville takes the leading role of Mrs Harris as the down-to-earth cleaner embarks on a life-changing journey to Paris. In an interview with The Guardian Lesley revealed that the film is a nostalgic and joyous event.

"It feels good. Like a musical, without the music. It’s going to look gorgeous and it’s going to be a real bit of escapism."

Manville may be best known for the UK television series Mum is likely to be much better known for her turn as Princess Margaret in seasons 5 and 6 of The Crown.

Manville was nominated for Best Actress — Comedy/Musical by the Golden Globes for her performance.

Lambert Wilson is Marquis de Chassange

Lambert Wilson stars as Marquis de Chassange in director Tony Fabians MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS — Lambert Wilson stars as wealthy Marquis de Chassange. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

French actor (and singer), Lambert Wilson, stars as the Marquis de Chassange — a rich widower who soon takes an interest in Mrs Harris.

Isabelle Huppert is Claudine Colbert

Isabelle Huppert stars as Claudine Colbert in director Tony Fabianâ€™s MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, a Focus Features release. — Isabelle Huppert stars as Claudine Colbert, a manager at the Christian Dior boutique. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

Iconic French actor Isabelle Huppert plays Claudine Colbert, a senior manager at the House of Dior. After initially being a little frosty, she helps Mrs Harris achieve her designer dress dream.

Ellen Thomas is Violet, Jason Isaacs is Archie

Ellen Thomas stars as Vi and Jason Isaacs as Archie in director Tony Fabian's MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, a Focus Features release. — Ellen Thomas stars as Vi and Jason Isaacs as Archie, friends of Mrs Harris. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd)

Ellen Thomas and Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs play Violet (Vi) and Archie, friends of Mrs Harris'. Archie is an incorrigible flirt who works at the races. Vi, just like Mrs Harris, cleans houses for a living. Both of them encourage Mrs Harris to go for her dream.

Lucas Bravo is André Fauvel

Lucas Bravo stars as Andre Fauvel in director Tony Fabian's MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, a Focus Features release. — Lucas Bravo stars as Andre Fauvel, the Christian Dior accountant. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

French actor and star of Emily in Paris, Lucas Bravo, plays André Fauvel who is the accountant at The House of Dior and is in love with model Natasha (played by Alba Baptista). André invites Mrs Harris to stay with him while she has the numerous dress fittings required for her custom-made Dior dress.

Mrs Harris, in turn, helps André to woo beautiful Natasha. Sadly, at the beginning of the film, the woman of his dreams sees him as nothing more than a boring accountant.

Alba Baptista is Natasha

Alba Baptista in The Caracas dress from the Christian Dior show in director Tony Fabian's MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, a Focus Features release. — Alba Baptista stars as Natasha in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd)

Portuguese actor Alba Baptista (Warrior Nun) takes the role of Dior model Natasha, who first shows Mrs Harris her ideal dress and then helps her navigate the various problems she faces to purchase the gorgeous gown. This Instagram post from Alba shows how much fun she had shooting the film, as she fondly calls The House of Dior, "the office," and reveals that her glamorous character whizzes around Paris in a little red convertible car.

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Roxane Duran is Marguerite

Isabelle Huppert stars as Claudine Colbert and Roxane Duran as Marguerite in director Tony Fabianâ€™s MRS.HARRIS GOES TO PARIS — Roxane Duran is Marguerite, one of Mrs Colbert's assistants. (Image credit: David Lukacs / Ada Films Ltd - Harris Squared)

Roxane Duran, best known for her role as Adriana Clios in TV series Riviera, plays Marguerite who works at Dior, alongside Mrs Colbert. She posted a sweet picture of herself with co-star Isabella Huppert. Filmed during the pandemic she alludes to the many difficulties faced by production companies while trying to keep going as lockdowns and covid rules made filming a challenge.

Looking incredibly poised and glamorous in the picture Roxane says: "For a second we were all like... The show is going on and with such a wonderful woman by my side, how could it not be amazing!"

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Anna Chancellor is Lady Dant

Anna Chancellor stars in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. — Anna Chancellor stars. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Four Weddings and a Funeral actor Anna Chancellor takes the role of Lady Dant, Ada's upper-class employer in London where she first spots a Dior dress. Inspired by the beauty of the gown she then decides she will do whatever it takes to own one of her own.

Who starred in the original Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris?

Angela Lansbury, Omar Sharif in Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris — Angela Lansbury and Omar Sharif star in the 1992 TV film. (Image credit: Alamy)

The upcoming film is based on a novel by American author Paul Gallico, which was published in 1958. It was the first of four books all featuring Mrs Harris as she travels the globe with her unique sense of charm, good manners and kindness.

It was first turned into a TV show in 1958 starring the legendary actress Gracie Fields. It took another 34 years before the book was revisited, this time as a TV movie starring Angela Lansbury, Omar Sharif and Diana Rigg.