"It was a pleasure to make - it was like being on holiday because we filmed in a very beautiful part of Dorset," he said.

The film's title character is played by British beauty Gemma Arterton, while Dominic Cooper, of Mama Mia!, and The Queen's Roger Allam also star.

Although Leicester-born Frears is known for his work across a variety of movie genres, this Brit rom-com appeals to a much younger audience than his previous Oscar-nominated projects.

"All young people I know love the film," explained Stephen, whose other works include The Queen, Dirty Pretty Things and Dangerous Liaisons.

"It's fresh and funny, but I think the love is mainly because of the two young girls in the film, Tamsin Greig and Jessica Barden, who audiences just adore."

Based on Posy Symmond's graphic novel series that featured in The Guardian, the film is wicked, witty and, at times, somewhat smutty.

Stephen, 69, said: "Posy is a most brilliant woman so it was a great honour to turn her comic into a film.

"I read the strip in The Guardian, but it never occurred to me to make a film of it.

"But when I read the script I thought it would be brilliant."

"What makes Tamara Drewe so funny is that Posy is so demure in real life yet her comics are so filthy."

'BRILLIANT SCRIPT': Gemma Arterton as Tamara Drewe

The film received an overwhelming reception at the Cannes Film Festival in May, although it wasn't entered in competition.

"The reviews did exceed my expectation - it's not often that you get a five minute standing ovation," smiled Stephen.

"The truth is there was nothing to compare it to, but it felt terrific."

Unlike the comic series, however, Stephen was not sure he would like Tamara Drewe to be turned into the next British blockbuster franchise.

He explained: "I think it's boring to make two or three of the same films.

"I like to challenge myself so I'd rather do something new."

The director said his life "didn't change an iota" when he discovered his Jewish roots in his 20s.

Frears discovered that his mother was Jewish when his brother said how pleased his grandmother was that he had married a Jewish girl (painter Anne Rothenstein).

He told the Los Angeles Jewish Journal nine years ago: "Of course I was surprised that something like this had been concealed from me for so long."

Frears revealed to the Jewish Telegraph that his next project will be in America, set in Las Vegas.

"I feel a Jewish connection to the entertainment industry more in America - when I went there I realised that Jews ran Hollywood," he said.

"I'm looking forward to filming there, I like to chop and change otherwise it gets boring for me, let alone everyone who watches my films."

Tamara Drewe is released nationwide on September 10.