I’ve never been a looker, but now I can be cast as an oldie
Life is sheer murder for Susie Blake who talks to MARION McMULLEN about playing legendary super-sleuth Miss Marple
Are you going to be ready with the clues to play Agatha Christie’s famous sleuth on tour?
The Mirror Crack’d is full of lots of delicious characters... and red herrings. To see the characters from the book come to life, and to see who did what to whom, is great.
I think this is very interesting production and a chance to spend a lot of time in the world of Agatha Christie. I spend time in a wheelchair in this because Miss Marple has hurt her ankle and so is not very active, but I’m managing to keep fit, even if I’m sitting down.
Playing Miss Marple is every actor’s dream over the age of 50. To play a bright, independent, older woman is surprising and exciting for the period it was written in, as well as in our society today.
I remember seeing Margaret Rutherford playing her. One of the reasons I started acting was Margaret Rutherford. I was a 1960s child and she was playing Miss Marple in films and she was fun and I always wanted to get into that character. I’ve never been a looker, I was never going to be cast on the way look, but now I can be cast as an oldie.
Are you a fan of whodunnits?
My mother loved detective stories. I remember these orange and cream-coloured books at home, piles of them. I read them all as a child growing up.
I don’t know why I read them at night though. It didn’t help me to sleep trying to work out the clues ... and there would be so many red herrings.
What else has been keeping you busy this year?
I’m on tour at the moment with Some Mother’s Do Have ‘Em and then I’m doing The Mirror Crack’d and will be working until December. (Laughs) I’m 72 and incredibly grateful. I think acting is in my DNA.
During Covid, I did enjoy the stillness sometimes. I’d go down to my allotment and I didn’t have to think about anything. It was wonderful in a weird way, but then I was antsy to get going again. I was very impressed by the amount of effort people made to do interesting things on Zoom and television programmes. I took my grandchildren to see Some Mothers and my 10-year-old granddaughter rang me after the show and was so proud. It’s pure farce. A good laugh.
How did you manage TV work under Covid restrictions?
I did a few shows. I did Not Going Out with Lee Mack and that was very interesting. We had to kiss and they put a big plastic screen up between us.
Lee was made up as an older man, to go out with me. It was a dating thing. He was making sure my character was not leading his father (Bobby Ball) up the garden path.
It was almost immediately after filming that we lost Bobby. He was such a lovely man and a very good actor.
His death brought Covid home. It was the closest I came to losing someone that I knew. On television and on tour, we were taking Covid tests every other day.
You’ve been a Buddhist for many years now. What was it like going to India for BBC’s The Real Marigold Hotel?
I’d never have gone on my own, but it was lovely going with everyone for the TV series and visiting the Buddhist monastery. People have told me it’s got them to start chanting which is wonderful.
I am fortunate, I have kept my head below the parapet. I’ve never been a star, I have never done any films, apart from little walk-on parts, but I’ve kept busy and people say ‘ask her, she can do that’.
I’m a good old-fashioned repertory, character actress.
I’m not political, I’m not educated, I spent my time growing up in ballet and drama schools, but I have the wisdom of age and I have become a much better listener than when I was younger. I really think that.
Your career has covered everything from the rude continuity announcer in Victoria Wood: As Seen, to Wicked in the West End. What do people recognise you for most?
I’ve got different audiences. Some people remember me from Coronation Street or have seen me on television in Mrs Brown’s Boys, But I love it when people say they saw me in the theatre. No-one claps on television except maybe the last day of filming when they say ‘that’s a wrap’ and that’s not the same.
There’s nothing like a curtain call. The audience are clapping, but we are saying thank you to them as well. It’s like a big hug.
What will you be taking on tour?
A sketch book but I’m not very good. My mother was an artist who worked on Muffin the Mule, as did my grandmother. I just got into the habit of sketching. I never learned how to do it and now I don’t have the time to learn properly.
I have pencils and pens and a tiny box of watercolours and I have my diary and also sketch on blank pages and my big pad.
(Laughs) I might need to brush up on my knitting for Miss Marple as well.
Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d tours the country from September 8. Go to originaltheatre. com for tour dates and ticket information