Joan Plowright

By SHARON SWART, JILL FEIWELL

Plowright

Joan Plowright will star in helmer Dan Ireland's low-budget pic "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont," which starts its five-week shoot in London next week.

Based on English author Elizabeth Taylor's 1971 novel, "Palfrey" is the story of an elderly woman who checks herself into a retirement hotel after her husband dies. When her family fails to visit, she befriends a young writer who is willing to pose as her grandson.

Scribe Ruth Sacks adapted the novel.

Pic co-stars Brit legit thesps such as Anna Massey, Robert Lang and Zoe Tapper.

Producers on the Cineville/Picture Entertainment project are Lee Caplin, Zachary Matz and Carl Colpaert.