Nanny McPhee is a 2005 comedy fantasy film based on the Nurse Matilda character by Christianna Brand . It was directed by Kirk Jones , co-produced by StudioCanal , Working Title Films , Three Strange Angels, and Nanny McPhee Productions with music by Patrick Doyle and produced by Lindsay Doran , Tim Bevan , and Eric Fellner . Set in Victorian England, the film stars Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee, along with Colin Firth and Angela Lansbury . The film was theatrically released on 28 October 2005 in the UK by United International Pictures and on 27 January 2006 in the US by Universal Pictures . Thompson also scripted the film, which is adapted from Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books. A sequel, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang , was released in 2010 . The filming location was Penn House Estate, Penn Street, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. Movie Quotes::- Nanny McPhee: When you need me, but do not want me, then I must stay. When you wan