Bates Given Movie Portrait By Frears

Bates stars as a former courtesan in the period drama, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend.

And she was stunned when Frears surprised her with a unique piece of movie memorabilia to mark her milestone birthday last June (08).

She tells the New York Post's columnist Cindy Adams, "Towards the end, there is a scene where Rupert and I and his young wife are sitting in this glorious period drawing room. It was shot in an estate in Paris. On the mantel you see an oil painting. A wonderful portrait of me as a young courtesan.

"I now own it. Director Stephen Frears sent it to me for my birthday."