Tilda Swinton stars alongside her pet springer spaniel Louie in new film

Tilda Swinton loves her Springer Spaniels, and one – Louie – is emerging as a movie star in his own right, thanks to a major role in her new movie, The Eternal Daughter.

Swinton plays both Julie and her mother Rosalind in the ghost story, and Louie (who plays Julie’s dog) apparently had the time of his life taking the picture, which is set in a haunted old hotel.

Three of Swinton’s other jumpers – Snowbear, Dora and Rosy – appeared with their mistress in The Souvenir Part II last year, but I’ve heard their roles were much smaller than Louie’s.

However, they were awarded Best Dog Achievement at the Cannes Film Festival last year with The Palm Dog honor awarded to puppies in Cannes since 2001.

Swinton said of the prize: ‘I have to tell you honestly, this is the prize to get.

‘We’ve been looking at it for years. I’ve been trying to get the dogs here, but they’re busy. I hear they’re on the beach in the Scottish Highlands.

A fifth dog, Dot, has yet to make her film debut.

In an interview with The Guardian, the actress explained that “Dot is a free radical. She is not inclined to take after taking anything.

“She is above all this. She’s far too evolved.’

The Eternal Daughter is directed by Joanna Hogg and stars Tilda, Joseph Mydell and Carly-Sophia Davies in untitled roles.

The film’s description reads: ‘In this ghost story by acclaimed filmmaker Joanna Hogg, a middle-aged daughter and her elderly mother must confront long-buried secrets when they return to their former childhood home, a once grand mansion that has become an almost empty hotel full of mystery.’