EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Rosamund Pike’s film means big payday for rival Oxford University

Hollywood star Pike (pictured in February) is set to hand his rival university a bumper salary

Hollywood star Rosamund Pike has returned to Oxford. But the Wadham graduate opted to give rival Christ Church University a bumper salary by filming her new film there.

The college, one of the most venerable in the city, may be keen to make some money after its three-year battle to oust its controversial dean Martyn Percy.

Percy was the senior clerk and headmaster of the college who eventually left his post this year after reaching a settlement involving substantial payoff.

I can now reveal that Rosamund (right) and Brad Pitt were feisty the night away for a night out filming.

My mole says the two, executive producers of the new Netflix series The Three-Body Problem, based on the novel of the same name by Liu Cixin, made the trip to Oxford for just one night of secret filming.

The shooting is believed to have recouped a significant chunk of the millions the college spent in its dispute with the former dean.

Controversial ex-dean Martyn Percy recently left Christ Church after a three-year battle

Controversial ex-dean Martyn Percy recently left Christ Church after a three-year battle

Christ Church, Oxford, gatehouse built in the 1680s, had faced financial difficulties for years

Christ Church, Oxford, gatehouse built in the 1680s, had faced financial difficulties for years

“They came under the cloak of darkness, it was very exciting,” my mole said. “Rosamund and Brad were obviously extremely impressed with the incredible architecture and knew it was a location they wanted in the film.

Brad Pitt (pictured last month promoting

Brad Pitt (pictured last month promoting ‘Bullet Train’) dropped out of the University of Missouri weeks after graduating

“It was so secret that we didn’t even know the title of what was being filmed,” adds my man to the submarine. “They did all the filming in one night.” As to how much Christ Church was rewarded for this nocturnal invasion, I am told the expense was significant.

Christ Church College was unable to provide me with any additional information yesterday, which is understandable as the A-level results meant it was their busiest day of the year.

The quaint college has 13 British prime ministers among its alumni – and Albert Einstein – and was used to film Harry Potter.

Pike earned a 2:1 in English Literature at Wadham – after being away from Oxford for a year to gain stage experience in David Hare’s Skylight as well as several Shakespeare productions.

By contrast, Pitt, now 58, was weeks away from graduating from the University of Missouri when the lure of Tinseltown proved too much.

Joanie’s Money Series

‘Who’s having more fun, blondes or brunettes?’ is the question posed by Dame Joan Collins as she returns to an old look – albeit temporarily.

The 89-year-old Dynasty star played brunette Evie Gallant in the American Horror Story TV series, who meets her creator after being murdered by her grandson. But that wasn’t the end of Joanie’s involvement in the show, which is co-created by Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband Brad Falchuk, as she returned in a new role as the white-haired witch Bubbles McGee, d ‘where the new do.

Dynasty star Joan (in striking silver, left, and her recognizable brunette, right) takes on a new role

Dynasty star Joan (in striking silver, left, and her recognizable brunette, right) takes on a new role

Demi’s daughter bares it all

Rumer, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, caused a stir on her 34th birthday

Rumer, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, caused a stir on her 34th birthday

Something in the water? Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughter Rumer caused a stir when she appeared in her birthday costume to celebrate her 34th birthday.

It seems Willis and Moore’s brood lacks imagination as Rumer’s sister Scout also shared a naked photo of herself in a swimming pool a few weeks ago on her 31st birthday.

Their mother made history in 1996 when she won £10million for starring as a stripper in the film Striptease. Rumer says apples don’t fall far from the tree.

Sweet words from Pattie’s “boyfriend” Ronnie

Ronnie Wood's foreword to the new memoir of

Ronnie Wood’s Foreword to New ‘Buddy’ Pattie Boyd Memoir Fails to Mention Their Affair

Model Pattie Boyd, who is about to publish her final memoir, proudly announces that Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones is writing the foreword to her tome My Life In Pictures.

“I am delighted that my lovely friend Ronnie Wood has written the foreword to my new book. It really is a beautiful wording and I am humbled. Thank you, Ronnie,” says Pattie, 78.

What George Harrison and Eric Clapton’s ex-wife doesn’t mention, however, is that she and Ronnie are former lovers, having had a passionate affair in 1973 when Pattie was still (unfortunately) married to the faithless Harrison and Ronnie to first wife Krissy.

Jurassic Park star Sam Neill says they don’t make them look like actor Peter O’Toole anymore: ‘The thing I learned from him more than anything was not all he told me but just looking at him.” Young actors these days mostly mumble their lines and the more indecipherable they are, the more realistic they are supposed to be. Peter never lost a word.

The Newsnight presenters might corner the glory, but it was BBC2 show driver Dave Murden who was the real unsung hero.

“He was bringing politicians home,” broadcaster Michael Crick recalled. “They didn’t think he was listening on the trip [the] phone going through their misfortunes. Gold dust the next day.

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