Joan Hickson

Miss Marple believes in justice and has very high standards. There is nothing you could say or do that would shock her.

I thought I was the wrong shape: that Miss Marple would be much fluffier than me, much more wearing shawls and things. But I was persuaded, and now, well - I can only do it my way.

I have never been a star; I'm just an old character bag.

Recently, I was in Bernalda, my dad's ancestral home town in Italy. He has just refurbished a palazzo and turned it into a hotel, so we had my sister's wedding there. It was beautiful.

If every time you engage in a sex act, you go into a confession box, you will never accept your own sexuality.

When I do my makeup, it kind of helps me get into the character that I'm trying to portray.