Every Major Actress to Play Miss Marple Before New Reboot, Ranked
She is sweet, petite, and the ultimate cozy sleuth. Equipped with all the crime-fighting accoutrements one could need, including a sensible hat, hand-knit cardigans, and practical shoes, Agatha Christie‘s Miss Jane Marple has been solving mysteries for generations.
Beneath her kindly demeanor and grandmotherly charm lies a razor-sharp mind capable of spotting clues, uncovering secrets, and catching deadly killers that others overlook. Whether investigating suspicious deaths in the quiet village of St. Mary Mead or untangling crimes far beyond its borders, Miss Marple has earned her place as one of fiction’s most beloved and enduring detectives.
According to the Radio Times, Agatha Christie’s great-grandson James Pritchard has been attempting to bring the detective back, and a possible revival is in the works.
So, that opens up the question: Who will play the legendary detective?
Over the years, the marvelous Miss Marple has been portrayed by a number of talented actresses, each bringing her own unique charm and interpretation to Agatha Christie’s iconic amateur detective. From beloved television adaptations to feature films and radio productions, these performers have helped keep the darling detective alive for generations of mystery fans.
8. Elsa Lanchester
This was mostly thrown in for good fun, as this parody of Agatha Christie’s detective is more amusing than sleuthing. Elsa Lanchester‘s “Miss Marbles” was one of the many well-known detectives spoofed in Neil Simon‘s comedy-mystery Murder by Death.
7. Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields portrayed Miss Marple in 1956’s Goodyear Television Playhouse: A Murder is Announced, and she had the honor of being the first actress to portray Agatha Christie’s famous detective. Despite starring with a young Roger Moore and Jessica Tandy, Fields wasn’t it wasn’t well received in the role and seemed ill at ease.
6. Helen Hayes
Legendary stage and screen actress Helen Hayes portrayed Agatha Christie’s amateur sleuth in two American television films in the 1980s: 1983’s A Caribbean Mystery and 1985’s Murder with Mirrors. She was generally well-received by audiences for her charming and sharp performance, but Hayes drew mixed reactions from purists who didn’t care for her odd accent choice.
5. Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury starred as Miss Jane Marple in the 1980 mystery film The Mirror Crack’d. Her poised and observant portrayal served as a direct inspiration for her later iconic role as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.
4. Julia McKenzie
Julia McKenzie took over the role of Miss Marple from Geraldine McEwan in the ITV series Agatha Christie’s Marple and delivered a consistently strong performance. Starring in 11 feature-length episodes, she played Marple as a woman who utilized her unassuming presence to trick suspects into dropping their guard.
3. Geraldine McEwan
A hugely popular modern interpretation, Geraldine McEwan‘s witty, inquisitive, slightly mischievous Marple introduced the character to a new generation of viewers through ITV and PBS’s Agatha Christie’s Marple. She appeared in 12 episodes across three series before announcing her retirement from the role.
2. Dame Margaret Rutherford
The most famous film Marple — legendary character Margaret Rutherford starred as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple in four highly successful comedy films in the early 1960s, starting with Murder, She Said. She went on to star in 1963’s Murder at the Gallop, 1964’s Murder Most Foul, and 1964’s Murder Ahoy!.
1. Joan Hickson
For many Agatha Christie fans, Joan Hickson is the definitive Miss Marple. Her BBC version is the benchmark against which every other portrayal is judged. She starred in the BBC television series Miss Marple from 1984 until 1992, and her portrayal of the sharp-minded, unassuming silver-haired sleuth is widely regarded as the most faithful and authentic adaptation of the character.
Conversation59 Comments
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J
Joan Hickson is the best Miss Marple in my view. Just perfect!
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M
Joan Hickson was always my Favourite
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C
Joan Hickson was the best Miss Marple! I read somewhere that Agatha Christie wanted her to play her.
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C
Yes she did!
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H
Joan Hickson is the quintessential Miss Marple - all others come up wanting!
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S
So I've never seen Helen Hayes or Gracie Fields as Marple. But I think that Julia McKenzie should be a bit lower on the list. I really did not like her portrayal of Marple at all. I absolutely adore Geraldine McEwan's performance as Marple. She was the best for me.
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M
She was my favourite one
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A
I agree definitely the absolute best
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D
My favorite as well.
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G
Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan are the two best in my opinion.
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R
Joan Hickson, followed by Julie Mckensie
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L
Agatha Christie actually met Joan Hickson after seeing her perform in a play, and said to her that she must play her Marple
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N
Yes! This is true! Joan turned out to the definitive Marple
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N
Dame Margot was not the serious Miss Marple. More comedic. Geraldine McEwen played it similarly..with some humour thrown in. Angela Lansbury was terrible. Great actor but not Miss Marple. Julia Mckenzie was very good. Much more serious. But, you can't beat Joan Hickson. She was Miss Marple. Just as David Suchet will always be Poirot.
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W
Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan are the two best Miss Marples in that order.
Margaret Rutherford totally wrong. She is nothing like Christie's description of Jane Marple.
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J
Geraldine and Joan every time. She's exactly as Christie describes. Rutherford and McKenzie don't fit the bill, not in the least can they be described as petite.
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D
Joan Hickson was the ultimate Miss Marple.
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T
Joan Hickson is my number one closely followed by Geraldine McEwan. Agatha Christie disliked Margaret Rutherford's portrayal of Miss Marple and wished she'd never sold the film rights as they didn't take the stories seriously. Not Margaret Rutherford's fault as she was told to play Miss Marple that way. I wouldn't put her at number 2, a great actress but not in those roles.
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W
Joan Hicks 100% the best actress to play Miss Marple no question.
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S
Joan Hickson was my lesser favourite whether she was the most like A C intended or not, she was so annoying. I loved Geraldine McEwan.
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D
Always Joan Hickson.
Others have their own style of interpretation.
Miss Marple audio book is really enjoyable but recently on one set of stories they replaced Joan Hickson with Julie Christie Big Mistake
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T
By far Geraldine McEwan
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J
I think Julia McKenzie was excellent as Marple. She brought her into the future..
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M
Geraldine mcewen ,Joan hickson both brilliant miss Marples
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M
Joan Hickson is Miss Marple
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Y
Joan Hickson brilliant. Julia Mackenzie very good. Some of the others - awful.
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G
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are wrong.
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R
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are wrong
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P
I affirm this list. However I would move Julia McKenzie down because her adaptations skew the original and she plays the part of Superintendent Battle in at least two of Agatha Christie’s stories. She slaughtered “The Secret of Chimneys” so Hadley. Of course it wasn’t McKinzie who did the rewrite but only played a role not created by Christie.
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D
Joan Hickson is the best, Geraldine Mc ewan is the worst , she over acts the old lady bit.
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P
Margaret Rutherford, superb! I remember watching her when I was little. 👍👏
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K
Dame Margaret, with Joan a close second 🩷
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E
Has to be Dame Margaret Rutherford, for me. I love her as Miss Marple and then Angela Lansbury, she did one of my favourite Agatha Christie novels and film, The Mirror Crack'd from side to side/ The Mirror Crack'd.
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M
Agree with your choices.Margaret Rutherford all the way.
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A
Joan Hickson was the best Marple I suggest actor,Georgie Glen as a future Miss Marple.
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E
Comments re: the past are opinions. What fascinates me us the possibility of a new portrayal by a current actress. How about Dame Helen? She can play everywoman. She slips into roles like changing her outfit.
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K
Joann Hickson is hands down my favorite. She is the quintessential Miss Marple, like David Suchet is the quintessential Hercule Poirot.
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S
Joan Hickson every time
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K
Joan Hickson absolutely!!!
But I loved Margaret Rutherford’s eccentric portrayal too - charmingly eccentrically hilarious! I was sad to hear that Agatha Christie didn’t like the four films with MR. The modern productions with Geraldine and Julia were good but I didn’t like either of their portrayals.
Please please get it right this time!!
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A
Joan Hickson IS Miss Marple, even Agatha Christie said so!
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S
Joan Hicksons got it hands down
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H
None of these actresses ever hit the 100% perfect portrayal of Miss Marple as did David Suchet for Hercule Poirot
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R
My all-time favourite portrayal of Jane Marple is Geraldine McEwan, with Joan Hickson following very closely behind. I am a great admirer of actress Julia McKenzie, but I never really liked her portrayal of Marple, she always came across as being rather pompous.
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A
I think Joan Hickson was nearly 80 when she began playing Miss Marple. This makes her achievement even more amazing.
She was easily the best, I think
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M
Everyone shown above are all great all but Juiia McKenzie she is too big miss marple is small and dainty
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M
Joan Hickson by a country mile. Geraldine McEwan was decent, but I'm grateful Angela Lansbury created Jessica Fletcher instead...
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W
Margaret Rutherford was a superb comedic actress & for my money the greatest Miss Marple there ever has been. Joan Hickson comes second but her character always seemed really grumpy
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H
Geraldine McEwen was just gorgeous as Miss Marple.
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S
Definitely Joan Hickson,loved her
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A
Absolutely Joan Hickson
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N
I really liked June Whitfield in the BBC radio adaptations.
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J
It has to be Margaret Rutherford in number one place followed by Geraldine McEwan for me, personally couldn't stand Joan Hickson in the role didn't even like her in the role of Murder She Said alongside Margaret Rutherford. Even though the films are black and white there was some great actors alongside her role as Jane Marple including Mr. Stringer and Sergeant Bacon.
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E
Dame Rutherford and Julia McKenzie 😊
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S
Geraldine always. Tiny but indomitable.
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P
Mariska Hargitay would be a great new miss Marple, she would need to look older of course.
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D
Joan hickson starred in one of the margaret rutherford marple films
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J
Angela Lansbury...a huge fan with what ever she did. Love her so much. ⚘️❤️☺️⚘️
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M
As much as I enjoyed watching the Rutherford movies. They weren't true to the storyline.
Hickson for me is the quintessential Miss Marple.
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F
Sorry, wrong. You throw out a few facts about Margaret Rutherford but you don’t explain why she was ranked number two. She was even further away from Agatha Christie‘s character than Elsa Lanchester.
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