Annabelle Heath, who lives in Chanctonbury Drive, Shoreham, played Maudie in The Belles of St Trinian's – the first in the series – which was released in 1954.

She now works for Shoreham firm Anchor Mortgages, but has been making time for the visiting television crews keen to capture her story.

Annabelle's silver-screen career also saw her act as a driving and stunt double for Diana Rigg in television series The Avengers, as revealed in the Shoreham Herald in December, 2005.

Annabelle said: "When the Herald came out, my phone started ringing.

"A lot of people didn't know I had done all this.

"People saw the story in the paper and now I have done four talks.

"People like something that is a little bit different – I have got another two booked."

The film's latest incarnation, entitled St Trinian's, stars Rupert Everett and Colin Firth and gets its cinema release on Friday, December 28, and Annabelle was at the star-studded premiere, in London's Leicester Square.

"It was fabulous, absolutely wonderful," she said.

"We had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The after-show party was absolutely brilliant. I met Colin Firth and Rupert Everett."

Annabelle said the stars of the new film asked her what she thought of it, adding she was delighted the original's cheeky style hadn't been taken too far.

"You can take your children to see it," she said.

"There were some very funny touches in it. It was really good. I was really pleased with the end result – more than I thought I would be."