Real-life Philomena says film is ‘quite real’ and not anti-Catholic

The inspiration behind the Oscar-tipped film Philomena has defended it against a critic who labelled it anti-Catholic and “90 minutes of organised hate”.

The film, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, recounts the true story of Philomena Lee’s search for the son she was forced to put up for adoption through the Seán Ross Abbey mother and baby home in 1952 when she was aged 19.

A review in the New York Post by Kyle Smith said Coogan and director Stephen Frears had found “a true-life tale” that allowed them to “attack Catholics”.