Cynthia Payne through by standing for Parliament as a candidate for the Payne and Pleasure Party in the Kensington by-election in July 1988, followed by her standing in her own area of Streatham for the Rainbow Dream Ticket in the 1992 UK General Election. She did not gain a parliamentary seat. There are two films that are loosely based on her life, both released in 1987: "Wish You Were Here", about her adolescence, with Emily Lloyd in the lead role, and "Personal Services", about her adult life, starring Julie Walters. Both were written (and "Wish You Were Here" was directed) by David
Cynthia Payne party" she was hosting after shooting of the film of her life had been completed. Although she was acquitted on this occasion, the resulting court case in 1987 made headlines for several weeks with lurid tales, some details of which she aired on "The Dame Edna Experience" in 1987, with co-guests Sir John Mills and Rudolf Nureyev, on which she also launched her book, "Entertaining at Home". The court case ended Payne’s career as a party giver. On the programme, Payne expressed an interest in becoming a Member of Parliament in order to change Britain's sex laws, which she followed