20 January 2026
British studio owner reveals the surprising sides of Hollywood's elite.
A British film studio owner has lifted the lid on what it’s like to work with movie legends such as Anthony Hopkins, Renee Zellweger and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Frank Khalid OBE is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers. The 56-year-old, who runs the UK’s greenest production studio, has hosted a string of award-winning blockbusters and TV shows like Killing Eve, Ted Lasso and Bridget Jones’s Baby, to name but a few.
“Anthony Hopkins was a bit of a joker,” said the owner of West London Film Studios Parkside. “One day, he sneaked behind my receptionist and scared her by making the noises from his character in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.”
Speaking about the Bridget Jones star, he said: “Renee Zellweger has such a big heart.
“She was in the canteen one day, after the cast and crew had left, and noticed that they had made a bit of a mess – so she helped clean it up with our staff.”
The original West London Film Studios opened in 2014. Ten years later, the Parkside location opened just next door.
The latest site has been built with sustainability at its core and Frank spent a whopping £30m on his state-of-the art eco-focused production site.
It features a substation that contains 10 engines and can create up to three megawatts of power. Alongside the power plant is a one megawatt battery backup system, so the studio is protected from blackouts and energy spikes at all times.
“Benedict Cumberbatch loves how we’re the greenest studio in the UK,” Frank added, “and Idris Elba told me that he was really impressed that we source our own power.”
Many actors who have filmed at the impressive studio have scored awards – including coveted Oscars.
He said: “It’s an amazing feeling having [these big names] film at our studio. I’m hoping that we can attract Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio in the future.
“I think it’s only a matter of time.”
Frank is also angling for Marvel to snap up his studio after they expressed interest a few years ago. But right now, he’s focusing on being the leading production company with an eco-friendly approach.
He said: “I built this from scratch but my background is actually in cash and carry, restaurants and wedding halls.
"I bought the building as an investment and tried to change it into a hospitality venue – but the council refused and wanted it kept as a film studio. I realised that I had an opportunity to create something new that the industry needs.
"We left a big part of the land as green landscaping; wild plants, greenery, open space – because it all matters."
Frank recently featured on BBC News London, highlighting West London Film Studio’s commitment to a greener UK film and television industry.
Source: Express