Hollywood star Matt Damon has been filming at Sandown Park this week for his new movie about the Iraq war.

Damon was at Sandown from Sunday to Wednesday when the racecourse's Surrey Hall became Baghdad airport and Sandown View, which is the members' bar on race days, transformed into an air traffic control room.

Damon was joined by 250 extras - RAF members who had been brought in from RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.

Green Zone is a thriller about a pair of CIA agents on the trail of weapons of mass destruction and a foreign correspondent following their mission.

Written and directed by Cheam-born Paul Greengrass, the film is based on the 2006 book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran The film goes between art and life by using US soldiers, who have served time in the Middle East as actors.

It's not the first time Sandown Park has appeared on the big screen - it was also used for the Wisconsin airport scene with Kris Marshall in Love Actually.

David Mackinnon, Sandown managing director, said: "The production team for Green Zone approached our conference and events team last November as they were interested in sourcing a venue located close to London that had a large enough and appropriate space to create an airport scene.

"The filming was booked for a total of 12 days and the Surrey Hall and Sandown View were used for two scenes in which Matt Damon appeared.

"We were delighted to have the team here along with all the cast and crew and very much look forward to seeing the film next year."

Lucky security worker Joan Adams got a quick picture with the star.

"He was such a lovely guy and so approachable and friendly," she said.

"Matt introduced me to his photographer and I asked to get a photo of us and he was very obliging and allowed me to get two photos done.

"The following day I was working again and Matt walked in and immediately said hello to me.

"I can't wait to see the film when it's out next year."

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