AN ACTRESS has paid tribute to Michael Winner, the film director who died last week.

Amber Bezer, 43, who grew up in Purton, first met the director and food critic in 1988 when she appeared in the film Appointment With Death.

She stayed in contact with him ever since and said she was sad to hear of his death on January 21.

“I first met Michael at the audition for Appointment with Death,” she said.

“I spent three months filming. There were moments, of course, when Michael used to rant and rave on set, but it was always done with a wry smile. I think he was just keeping everyone on their toes and reminding everyone who was the boss and who was paying their wages.”

Appointment With Death, based on the Agatha Christie whodunnit, featured an all-star cast, including Peter Ustinov, Sir John Gielgud, Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, David Soul, Jenny Seagrove and Hayley Mills.

“I was also privileged to witness the beginnings of a blossoming romance between Michael and Jenny Seagrove. We became friends, and when Jenny couldn’t attend the premiere of the film I went as her proxy accompanying Michael,” she said.

“After that Michael often used to ask me to attend functions, premieres and the like as a companion. The pictures were often published in magazines like Hello and others.

“He would sometimes telephone my boyfriend, now husband, to ask for permission to take me out, just proving that he was a perfect gentleman and that there was no impropriety.

“One such event, was the premiere of Jurassic Park where I met and sat next to Andrew Neil. Catherine Zeta-Jones was there, who I shared a flat with in London for a year, in my first West End musical Annie, and later Bugsy Malone.”

Mr Winner, who was born in Hampstead, London in 1935, directed more than 30 films, including Death Wish and Dirty Weekend.

He died of liver disease, and was given 18 months to live by experts last summer.

Mr Winner met his wife, Geraldine, in 1957, but married only in 2011 after a decades-long relationship.

Amber, who now lives in Devizes, said: “I stayed in contact with Michael for more than 20 years, and he always sent me his witty Christmas cards. He will be missed by myself and others who knew him.

“Now that I have been in show business for 30 years, I will always be eternally grateful for that wonderful start and the friendship that came of it.”