WHAT do Miss World, EastEnders' Dirty Den, perjurer Jeffrey Archer and the new Batman movie all have in common? Actress Alexandra Bastedo.

For young Worcester News readers, Bastedo's name may be unfamiliar, but the veteran actress was a screen siren in the 1960s, winning the hearts of many a male viewer who tuned in to watch her in the cult television series The Champions.

Since then, Bastedo, who is coming to Malvern Theatres from Tuesday, June 28, in Archer's play Beyond Reason-able Doubt, starring opposite Leslie Grantham, famous for his role as Dirty Den in BBC1 soap, has added many a string to her bow.

One she's particularly proud of at the moment is her role as Mrs Delaney in the Hollywood blockbuster Batman Begins, which was released at UK cinemas yesterday.

The film stars a host of A-list celebrities, including Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Katie Holmes.

But Bastedo is remaining humble about her role, which she describes as "barely significant".

"I play an American society hostess and millionairess," she says with a deep, sultry, well-spoken voice.

"I'm only in one scene where I'm hosting this amazingly glamourous party, which we filmed at a gorgeous stately home in Northampton."

She may describe her movie moment as insignificant, but in fact, her character plays an important part, introducing Batman (Bale) and his mentor (Neeson).

"Unfortunately, the scenes weren't shot in Hollywood, but on location in Northampton over two days," said Bastedo, who was also the ITV presenter for Miss World for three years.

"I was invited to audition for the part and was really excited at the opportunity.

"When I got on set it was like going from the sublime to the ridiculous.

"I had my own trailer, stylist, make-up artist, beautiful clothes - money was no object.

"It's a far cry from the theatre world I'm so used to nowadays where a lot of the dressing rooms are tatty and you do your own make-up."