Trivia

Agatha Christie saw Ms. Hickson in the 1946 play of the Christie novel "Appointment With Death." Christie sent Ms. Hickson a note that read, "I hope one day you will play my dear Miss Marple."

After appearing in the play "Appointment with Death", Agatha Christie wrote Joan a letter telling her she hoped that she would one day play "Miss Marple". Nearly 40 years later, Joan did just that, and ended up being considered the closest to the character, Christie created, in her portrayal.

Vice President of The Agatha Christie Society, with David Suchet, until her death.

Vowed not to do another film after Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery (1989), but was persuaded to return for the final two films in 1991 and 1992. She then retired from the role, believing that she should stop while the programme was still at the peak of its popularity.

Lived in Rose Lane, Wivenhoe along the River Colne in Essex. A plaque now marks the house where she lived for 40 years.

Appeared as Mrs Kidder with Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple in Agatha Christie's Murder She Said (1961). She later remade the same film as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington (1987), playing Miss Marple.

As of 2009, she is the oldest actress to play the Agatha Christie character "Miss Marple" being 86 years old when Miss Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (1992) premiered on 27th December 1992. Her closest rival is Helen Hayes who was 85 years old when she played the role in Murder with Mirrors (1985) .

Received 2 BAFTA nominations as Best TV actress for playing Miss Marple.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.

Interred at Sidbury Cemetery under her married name, Joan Bogle Butler, in Sidbury, Devon.

Trained for three years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and made her stage debut aged 20.

She had two children with her husband Eric Butler - a son, Nicholas (born 1936) and a daughter, Caroline (born 1939).

Won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "Bedroom Farce."

Made her professional debut in 1927.

She got the part in Carry on Girls (1973) after original actress Renee Houston was taken ill.

Born on exactly the same date as John Huston.

She's played little old spinster ladies since she was 22.

She also had a daughter.

Made her West End debut in 1928.