Vindication Swim filming resumed in Brighton on Friday, with Victoria Summer joining the cast as the fictional swimmer Edith Grade.
The actress, 39, donned a modest swimsuit to film scenes on the chilly beaches for the period drama, which depicts the athlete’s fierce rivalry with Mercedes Gleitze in their quest to become the first British woman to swim the English Channel.
Saving Mr Banks actress Victoria was joined by a crew of extras as she filmed the iconic moment her character Edith sipped a glass of champagne after claiming to have beaten Mercedes with a record-breaking swim.
Attempt: Vindication Swim filming resumed in Brighton on Friday, with Victoria Summer joining the cast as the fictional swimmer Edith Grade
As she emerged from the ocean, Edith sported a red body suit with shorts and a matching cap and goggles after completing her 21 mile swim.
The scenes saw a crowd of supporters and photographers, dressed for the period, waiting to greet her, with Victoria wrapping herself in a towel before enjoying a glass of fizz in celebration.
It was an iconic moment in Edith’s rivalry with Mercedes as they both vied to hold the record of being the first female of British descent to swim the Channel.
Exciting: The actress donned a modest swimsuit to film scenes on the chilly beaches for the period drama
Iconic: Mercedes Gleitze (pictured) was the first British woman to swim the English Channel
Stylish: Victoria was also spotted filming scenes for the biopic in a classy grey coat and matching brown fur stole as she headed out in Brighton for filming
Dramatic: She and Kirsten Callaghan, who plays the film’s star Mercedes Gleitze were seen alongside a vintage car from the era during filming
Beaming: Kirsten also posed alongside the film’s director Elliott Hasler in the midst of filming
Here she is! Victoria was bombarded by photographers as part of the scene, as her character claims to have beaten Mercedes record time in swimming the English Channel
Victoria was also sporting a noticeably warmer ensemble as she took to the streets to film 1920s scenes.
The young actress sported a long grey coat with a matching brown fur stole, and sporting a chic hat as she filmed scenes next to a vintage car for the biopic.
Mercedes originally appeared to boast the record of being the first woman of swimming the Channel, when she came ashore at St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover, on October 7, 1927.
She did it! As she emerged from the ocean, Edith sported a red body suit with shorts and a matching cap and goggles after completing her 21 mile swim
Cheers! The scenes saw a crowd of supporters and photographers, dressed for the period, waiting to greet her, with Victoria wrapping herself in a towel before enjoying a glass of fizz
Competitive: Mercedes originally appeared to boast the record of being the first woman of swimming the Channel on October 7, 1927
The then-26-year-old typist, who had nearly been run down by a steamer, had been fed grapes, honey, cocoa and tea from the lone rowing boat accompanying her. She had little time to enjoy her fame, however.
Within four days another British woman, Edith, claimed she, too, had completed the swim – in a time more than two hours faster, and pictures even emerged of her enjoying champagne at the finish line.
So just two weeks later, Mercedes got back in the chilly Channel waters in a bid to reclaim her place in the history books.
No it’s me! Within four days another British woman, Edith, claimed she had completed the swim – in a time more than two hours faster
That’s not her! The character of Edith is based on Dorothy Cochrane Logan, whose ‘swim’ was eventually revealed as a hoax
The story of their rivalry is the subject of the film, Vindication Swim, being shot on the East Sussex coast.
The character of Edith is based on Dorothy Cochrane Logan, whose ‘swim’ was eventually revealed as a hoax.
Fearing her feat, which took eight attempts, would also be disbelieved, Mercedes later returned to Cap Gris-Nez in France. Her ‘vindication swim’, watched by boatloads of journalists, ended in failure.
Dramatic: The story of their rivalry is the subject of the film, Vindication Swim, being shot on the East Sussex coast
But it made her so famous that Rolex named a watch after her and she would later complete many endurance swims.
Kirsten trained in the sea for three months for the role. She told holiday firm Swim Trek: ‘When Mercedes decided she wanted to become an open water swimmer she wasn’t the ‘Muscle Mercedes’ she went on to be nicknamed… but a London typist who was struggling with bouts of bronchitis… [it] has taught me that whatever you choose to do, you must approach it with bravery, passion and perseverance.’
The film, directed by Elliott Hasler, 20, has just resumed shooting on Hove beach after two breaks due to the pandemic.
Tense: Fearing her feat, which took eight attempts, would also be disbelieved, Mercedes later returned to Cap Gris-Nez in France. Her ‘vindication swim’ ended in failure
Back to it! The film, directed by Elliott Hasler, 20, has just resumed shooting on Hove beach after two breaks due to the pandemic