It's close to many people's hearts

Actress Jenny Agutter shares her joy at returning as Sister Julienne in the much-loved Call The Midwife this Christmas

- ALICE PENWILL

Thanks to her early appearances in the show The Newcomers and the much-loved movie The Railway Children, Jenny Agutter has been on our TV and cinema screens for almost 60 years. But these days she’s most famous for her role as Sister Julienne in Call The Midwife. What started out as a one-off series in 2012 has spanned over a decade.

In fact, Call The Midwife is so popular that the drama has been renewed for series 14 and 15, which will take the action into the 1970s, a decade when Jenny, who turns 71 this week, says she was doing things a lot differently to Sister Julienne.

“Characters in the show might be able to watch me on television in the 1970s,” Jenny tells OK!. “I was in The Railway Children in 1970, and Walkabout which I made in Australia. I went to the States in the mid-70s, so I can’t bring my experiences to bear on what I’m doing at in Call The Midwife, because they’re completely different.”

Jenny might have been growing her career in the 1970s, but for Helen George, who plays Trixie Franklin, it’s a different story.

“I tried to ask Helen [about her memories of the 1970s and, of course, she wasn’t born,” smiles Jenny. “My memories of the 70s are that there were a lot of strikes, there was rubbish on the streets, lots of problems, it wasn’t the easiest of times.”

So far, Call The Midwife has aired more than 100 episodes, including 11 specials with a 12th airing on Christmas Day, and a brand-new series in January.