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“Hello Steven... it’s Steven. Congratulations with your new movie!”

Birmingham filmmaker Steven Knight knew he had made a good job of the film that is closest to his heart when he took a phone call from Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg.

“When he calls, you answer the phone,” said the Birmingham-born Peaky Blinders’ creator.

“He just wanted me to know that he had watched it and really liked it.”

Steven revealed the story at Wednesday night's glittering UK premiere of Locke (15), the story of one ordinary man’s personal nightmare during a motorway journey that begins in Birmingham.

Star Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) was the main red carpet attraction at Cineworld Broad Street, garnering lots of attention from women swooning over his macho appeal.

But none of it would have happened without the writer-director wanting to open the film in his home town.

“I asked Tom if he would do it and he said ‘Yes’,” said Steven.

“Which is good because I think he’s the best young actor we’ve got right now.”

Hardy spends most of Locke strapped inside a BMW saloon – after Jaguar Land Rover declined to give Steven permission to use his favoured car of choice, a Land Rover.

“We could have got a Land Rover, of course, and I would have loved it to have been a Land Rover in the film,” said Steven.

“But they didn’t want to give us permission to use it.

Watch the Locke trailer

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“They had no idea about the film and, because it was low budget, we weren’t a priority like the films with $100 million budgets.

“It’s understandable.

“Even BMW were hesitant at first, until they agreed to loan us two cars for a fortnight.

“Now that the film is getting such rave reviews – and they really love it in the US – attitudes have changed!”

Steven, who was Oscar-nominated for Dirty Pretty Things in 2003, has written a film called The Hundred Foot Journey which Spielberg is producing.

Directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Helen Mirren, it’s due for September release this year.

“I’m also writing a script directly for Spielberg,” said Steven.

“I’ve met him a few times now and he’s a good bloke.

“He’s the one that everyone aspires to and who makes great quality films.”

Hardy’s appearance in Birmingham was extra special because he is only doing one other premiere for the film – and that will be in New York.

Steven Knight had flown in specially from Chicago to attend the Birmingham screening after also launching the film in Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and LA. After the New York premiere with Tom, Steven is then taking it to Boston, Washington, Dallas and Toronto.

But he said there’s nowhere better than home – Birmingham.

“It’s just great that we’ve been able to screen it here,” said Steven.

“I just thought ‘Why not?’.

“We need to do more things like this to help the city.

“The beginning of the film was shot from the top of a tower block near the Villa ground and it shows Spaghetti Junction and the M6.

“The landmark is very Birmingham, very functional – I remember being driven over it when it had opened and having it pointed out.

“I just wanted the film to make it look as beautiful as possible with soft focus on the lights.”