Jilll Scott Gets A Shock After Meeting Detective Agency Author

Mar 23 2008 Exclusive by Steve Hendry

WHEN Jill Scott won the role of Precious Ramotswe in the TV adaptation of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency she had to pinch herself.

But when she met author Alexander McCall Smith her jaw hit the floor.

The singer had convinced herself the books which so perfectly capture the heart of soul of Botswana must have been written by an African man.

They were...but she did not imagine that man would turn out to be a white law professor from Edinburgh.

McCall Smith was born and brought up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and spent several years teaching in Botswana. Jill said: "I really couldn't believe it when I met him, I was so shocked.

"I thanked him for being such a great writer, for being able to capture the soul of a place so completely."

American Jill, 35, stars in the first film on BBC1 tonight. A 13-part series based on the books will begin filming in the summer.

The pilot was adapted for the screen and directed by Oscar-winner Anthony Minghella, who died last week.

He flew from London to Philadelphia to see Jill for the leading role and she admits Sunday's screening will be tinged with sadness following his death.

She said: "My heart aches with grief. Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed or how deeply he was loved."

The film was made entirely on location in Botswana and it proved to be a real labour of love for Jill.

She had never been to the continent before and it fulfilled all her expectations.

Jill said: "Botswana is stunning - the most beautiful place I've ever been.

"As an African-American you dream about going home so for me to go to Africa was a very big deal. I've been praying for this since I was a child. I learned so much for Precious based on the women I met there - the way they walk, the way they hold their head, the way they laugh. It's a real, full laughter.

"They have bright eyes, high energy and a real level of respect. That's the way people treat each other in Botswana. That's what I've taken home with me."

McCall Smith's books, which focus on Precious setting up Botswana's first female detective agency, have helped put the country on the map.

For the locals, filming caused huge excitement and people were queuing up to get involved. Jill said: "So many people came to be extras we always had an abundance every day.

"That was just wonderful - meeting and talking to people every day, seeing the faces, listening to the stories, hearing the accent.

"I was most happy when people would walk up and speak to me thinking I was a Botswanian woman."

There were drawbacks though, not least Mopani Worms - sun-dried caterpillars, eaten as a delicacy.

Jill laughed: "They taste of what dog food smells like...with salt on them.

"People enjoy them like they are potato chips but I was like, 'Oh man, please no!' But Precious loves them so I had to eat them." Acting is a departure for Jill, who is better known as a three-time Grammy winning R&B, soul and jazz singer.

She is now on a year-long tour - on which she played Glasgow last November - before heading back to Botswana to film the series.

Next time Jill plays Scotland she hopes to meet up with McCall Smith.

She said: "I would very much hope to see him.

"I've had dinner with him several times and there's a different energy in Scotland, it's so beautiful."

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is on BBC1 tonight at 9pm.