When producers need an extra-special present for their leading man or lady, they turn to The Uptown GiftBox Company in Vancouver.

Since setting up shop 18 months ago, owner Gabrielle Durning has developed a stellar reputation in Hollywood North (and Hollywood) for her luxurious gift service that has been lavished on stars shooting in Vancouver, including Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck, Richard Dreyfus, Marcia Gay Harden and Peter O’Toole.

‘It’s all about the personal touch. I always research the people who are getting the gifts in order to personalize the items I choose,’ Durning explains.

When a gift basket of gourmet snacks and chocolate was ordered to welcome Peter O’Toole to Vancouver for the April feature shoot of The Christmas Cottage, a quick Internet search revealed that he was diabetic. So his ‘basket’ included high-end sugar-free candy from Britain and gourmet snacks from B.C., such as antipasto made on Saltspring Island, Raincoast Crisps from Vancouver and maple-glazed smoked salmon, all placed inside a brown leather hat box. Research also revealed that O’Toole was working on his third autobiography, so a leather-bound journal was included, and that ‘he wears a bit of green every day to recognize his Irish roots,’ so green silk trimmings and a matching ribbon completed the wrapping.

Durning has delivered gifts to stars and studio execs across Canada, the U.S, and internationally.