The movie stars meet the real Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls tells the tale of the making of the highly successful fundraising stunt.

Their story has been transferred to the big screen by Disney starring Julie Walters, Helen Mirren and Penelope Wilton.

Filmed on location in the Yorkshire Dales, the movie hits British screens in September.

It was in memory of John Baker, husband of Angela, that the calendar was made. He died in 1998 from cancer.

I didn't want to do the nude scenes at my age. I know it sounds daft but you do feel so vulnerable Actress Julie Walters

The following year, the women came up with the idea of their fundraiser, which has since been copied throughout the world.

The 12 pictures in the original calendar involved women posing naked in the kitchen with their modesty being maintained by judiciously placed utensils and tableware.

The ages of the models ranged from 45 to 60 - they were all members of the WI branch near Skipton.

Miss October, Tricia Stewart, said: "Julie has captured so much of Angela and how she felt. And I have been told Helen got me down to a tee."

Naked ambition: One of the calendar stars

Mrs Baker said: "Everybody has been asking us are we rich and famous.

"We are not rich, a little bit famous, but all our money has gone to the Leukaemia Research Fund."

The stars were out in force in Cannes for the films debut showing.

Julie Walters said: "Yes, it's a film about a calendar. It's about a group of middle-aged women, without the aid of plastic surgery or exercising themselves to death to get into shape, that have produced a beautiful set of photographs."

But it was those very nude scenes that caused the most problems for the cast.

"I didn't want to do the nude scenes at my age," said Ms Walters.

"I know it sounds daft but you do feel so vulnerable."