Casting has been locked in on Francois Ozon'sEnglish-language debut Angel, with Romola Garai to star alongside BerlinaleJury president and Ozon regular Charlotte Rampling. Celluloid Dreams is handling the film in Berlin.

Principal photography has started up around Londonand Bristol on the $17.8m (Euros15m) story, set in 1910, about a woman who climbs the social ladder by becominga famous novelist.

Lucy Russell,Michael Fassbender and Sam Neill round out the cast.

France'sCelluloid Dreams is handling international sales on the UK/France/Belgiumco-production, being produced by Ozon's producersMarc Missonier and Olivier Delboscof Fidelite Films.

Christopher Granier-Deferre ofPoisson Rouge Pictures and Genvieve Lemal of Scope Pictures are co-producers, with Tania Seghatchian (MySummer Of Love, the Harry Potter series) executive producing.

Financing comes from Fidelite,Celluloid, Canal +, France 2 and Philippe Godeau'sPan-Europeenne.

UK-born Garai, who starred in I Capture The Castle and Dirty Dancing 2, plays the title role ofAngel Deverell, described by Ozonas a 'powerful woman'. 'I have always felt an affinity for English culture andliterature,' said Ozon, adding that he was exhilaratedby the prospect of shooting my first English-language feature.

Ozon's last film, TimeTo Leave, was at Canneslast year; a short, Un Lever De Rideau, is currently in post-production. Angel marks the third collaborationbetween the director and Rampling after Under The Sandand Swimming Pool.