Actor Brian Cox filming Churchill on Edinburgh's Calton Hill

ACTOR Brian Cox has been pictured filming a new biopic of Sir Winston Churchill in Edinburgh.

Brian Cox dressed as Winston Churchill filming scenes in Edinburgh for a new biopic titled Churchill. Pictures: SWNS

Churchill, which along with the Trainspotting sequel has received £800,000 of Scottish Government funding, sees Dundee-born Cox playing the former Dundee MP who went on to lead Britain to victory in the Second World War.

The two movies received nearly half of Creative Scotland’s £1.75 million production growth fund, funded by the Scottish Government and National Lottery.

The fund aims to stimulate growth in film and TV drama production and encourage international productions to come to Scotland.

The Scottish Government said it has increased support to the screen sector by 30 percent to £21.6 million, compared to 2007/08 funding levels.

The Trainspotting sequel began shooting in locations around Edinburgh this month.

Natalie Usher, director of screen at Creative Scotland, said: “The response to the production growth fund has been brilliant and Creative Scotland’s Screen Commission has seen a huge increase in inquiries from UK and international productions.

“Since the fund’s launch in October last year, we have proved that the production growth fund has significantly increased production levels and provided significant opportunities for Scottish craft and technical talent.”