Celia Imrie has revealed how small but meaningful details helped her embody Joyce, one of the stars of Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club.
The Olivier Award-winning actress, 72, said she was given unusual freedom on set to personalise Joyce’s world, from stocking her kitchen with jam jars to selecting her character’s jewellery.
“Joanna Johnston, our costume designer, let me choose my brooches and my hankies every day — she let me join in,” Imrie explained.
“James Merrifield, who created all our apartments, absolutely pictured our personalities into the design and then allowed us to add little things. I put jams in the larder and little details like that. All of it was unusual but heavenly — it allowed us to create a life.”
One particularly touching flourish carried an extra layer of meaning. Imrie recalled how Sir Ben Kingsley, who also stars in the film, noticed she had chosen to wear two watches as Joyce.
She explained that the idea had stayed with her since childhood, when she once asked a family friend why she was wearing two watches shortly after her husband’s death. “Sir Ben said he noticed it and I never knew that,” she added.
Director Chris Columbus praised the way such details enriched the performances. “Sometimes it’s the tiniest thing that makes a difference,” he said. “Celia’s little handkerchief, or Ben Kingsley’s unseen props in his apartment — they may not always be visible on screen, but they help the actors feel in character.”
Imrie said stepping into Joyce’s shoes felt like a gift: “It’s beautifully written — a gem of a part. She changes like a marvellous rainbow from her first day until the end of it. Honestly, I can’t believe my luck. She’s a delight.”
Based on Richard Osman’s best-selling novel, The Thursday Murder Club follows four friends in a retirement community who solve cold cases for fun — until a real murder suddenly lands on their doorstep.
The film, which also stars Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Jonathan Pryce, will be availble to stream on Netflix from August 28.
Both were speaking to The Standard as Netflix launched a partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate the film.
From August 22, all five RHS gardens across the UK will host a week-long series of Thursday Murder Club events, including themed scavenger hunts, floral billboards and an immersive tearoom takeover at RHS Wisley, where fans can sample character-inspired treats such as Elizabeth’s Earl Grey (with a twist) and Ibrahim’s Calming Chamomile to Joyce’s famous lemon drizzle cake and Ron’s must-try sausage rolls.
Where to take part:
- RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
- RHS Garden Bridgewater, Greater Manchester
- RHS Garden Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire
- RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex
- RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon
“The idea of a treasure hunt appeals so much to people from four to 94,” Imrie said.
Columbus agreed: “You’ve combined the excitement of a murder mystery with these beautiful surroundings — the characters themselves would certainly enjoy solving it.”
The Thursday Murder Club trail is included in the RHS Garden entry. Tickets for the gardens vary and can be purchased online or on-site; visit www.rhs.org.uk/gardens for details.
