Jenny Agutter, 70, loved fighting Robert Redford in Captain America and says ‘age is just a number’

Jenny Agutter has revealed her delight at ‘stepping out of her comfort zone’ after swapping Call The Midwife to appear in Marvel’s 2014 Captain America: Winter Soldier.

The actress, 70, who has played Sister Julienne in the BBC drama since 2012, said she ‘couldn’t think of anything better’ than beating up co-star Robert Redford in the action flick.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping, Jenny also reflected on age after turning 70 earlier this month and said: ‘Do you know what? Age really doesn’t count – it’s just a number.’

Loving life: Jenny Agutter has revealed her delight at ‘stepping out of her comfort zone’ after swapping Call The Midwife to appear in Marvel’s 2014 Captain America: Winter Soldier

The actress looked sensational in the shoot for the glossy magazine, modelling a green pussy-bow blouse which she teamed with graphic printed pedal pushers.  

Jenny accentuated her age-defying features with make-up and wore her locks in a chic bob.

Speaking about her Marvel appearance she said: ‘When I was asked to do the Marvel film, I couldn’t think of anything better than stepping out of to work with a stunt team and beat up Robert Redford.’

Action packed: The actress, 70, who has played Sister Julienne in the BBC drama since 2012, said she ‘couldn’t think of anything better’ than beating up co-star Robert Redford in the action flick (Jenny pictured in the movie) 

‘Although admittedly, they wouldn’t let me stunt-punch him. They were worried I’d actually hit him, instead of missing him!’. 

Jenny played Council woman Pamela Hawley in the film and saw her take on Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce in an epic fight scene. 

Pamela waved a gun and fought her foe, though little did the audience realise it was actually Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in a state-of-the-art disguise. 

On sale: Read the full interview with Jenny Agutter in the February 2023 issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale the December 29

Battle: Jenny played Council woman Pamela Hawley in the film and saw her take on Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce in an epic fight scene

Jenny went on to tell the publication that she ‘wasn’t sure’ how she reached 70 and said when she turned 60 seemed like a milestone that suddenly made a person ‘much older’.

‘I thought [when turning 60] ‘is it enough of a reward to have a Freedom Pass?’ Well, actually, yes, it was! Now I’ve got to a point where I think, ‘Do you know what? Age really doesn’t count – it’s just a number.’

Despite being one of Call The Midwife’s most recognisable stars, Jenny admitted in that she never thought the beloved show become such a hit with viewers. 

Stylish: The actress looked sensational in the shoot for the glossy mag, modelling a chic red velvet co-ord 

‘I didn’t see [the show lasting a decade] happening. I thought we’d do six episodes and that would be it’. 

She continued: ”I was sat on a bus once when the woman next to me said, ‘I didn’t want to disturb you, but I have to say, I watch Call The Midwife  and I have a particular interest in it because I was a nun for seven years.’ I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, I’ve been a nun longer than her.’

Elsewhere in the chat Jenny, who was catapulted to fame in the 1970 classic The Railway Children, went on to discussed the importance of being ‘present’ in life. 

Back in the habit: Jenny continues to be one of Call The Midwife’s most recognisable stars however she admitted in the chat that she never thought it become such a hit with viewers 

‘When my father was dying, it was very different to when I lost my mother many years earlier’. 

Jenny’s father Derek was an entertainments manager in the British Army and sadly died in 2018. 

‘I was much less concerned with making plans and more focused on just being with him – and that was a very good thing. Now, it’s about turning off the switch every so often. I’ll go, ‘Okay, you can’t plan this out completely. Just do what you have to do.’

Young buck: Jenny went on to tell the publication that she ‘wasn’t sure’ how she reached 70 and said when she turned 60 seemed like a milestone that suddenly made a person ‘much older’ (Jenny pictured in 1970s the Railway Children)

It comes after Jenny revealed Tom Cruise has impeded Call The Midwife filming with his helicopter trips.

Speaking to The Sun at the TV Choice Awards in November, Jenny said: ‘Tom Cruise keeps ruining our filming by landing his helicopter. Right where we’re shooting.

‘I don’t know what he’s doing! At Longcross where we film Call the Midwife. Tom.. get out of here!’

Tom has been seen piloting the helicopter to Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, where he has been filming on and off for the past two years. 

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Annoying: It comes after Jenny revealed Tom Cruise has impeded Call The Midwife filming with his helicopter trips

Jenny even threatened to scare off the action hero in her nun costume, saying: ‘I should go across in my habit.

‘Imagine. “Excuse me Tom but look we’re trying to film. I don’t know about you, but just get your helicopter out of here quickly!”‘

Read the full interview with Jenny Agutter in the February 2023 issue of Good Housekeeping, now on sale.

Disruptive: Tom (left) is currently filming the eighth instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise in Surrey, at the same time that Call The Midwife shot its eleventh series