Thursday Murder Club's Celia Imrie jokes how extra was 'sacked on the spot'

The Thursday Murder Club airs on Netflix on August 28 and it boasts a star-studded castwith the likes of Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and David Tennant.

Celia Imrie plays Joyce Meadowcroft, a kind-hearted retired nurse who is the latest recruit in the Thursday Murder Club, having just moved toCooper's Chase.

She is known for being an empathetic and bubbly character, with her fashion sense and home décor reflecting her sweet nature. During a talk at the British Library ahead of the film's release, Celia spoke out about embodying Joyce and admitted one element of Joyce's life was cut from the film.

"I love to play somebody as different to me as I can. But there's always a big chunk of yourself in whatever you do," she explained.

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"My [Joyce's] apartment, James Merrifield (set designer) - quite brilliant. I did have a cat at one point but it wouldn't behave so it was sacked on the spot.

"But I had homemade jam in my larder and my husband's photograph, little things like that were great to have."

It appears a cat had initially been brought in to help reflect Joyce's caring and selfless nature, but as the animal kept getting up to mischief, the idea was abandoned.

In a separate interview, Celia opened up on playing Joyce, saying: "Sir Laurence Olivier always said you’ve got to like the person you’re playing, and I really did.

"Joyce has an innocence about her, she’s unsure of herself, but fun, enthusiastic, and a good sport.

"At the beginning of the film she wants, very much, to be included, and is especially keen to make new friends."

She said the book played a huge influence when it came to her role, as Joyce is the narrator and diary keeper in the book.

"The first book is a constant, lovely reference," she said. "I was trying to find little snippets of exactly what Joyce got up to.

"Richard Osman wrote Joyce keeping a diary through her first few days at Coopers Chase. Every now and then in the book, I’d find marvellous little details about Joyce’s love of particular television programmes, using her napkin at the lunch table because she thinks it makes her look clever, or putting the chairs out at a meeting because she thinks people will like her better."

The Thursday Murder Club airs on Netflix on August 28