Call The Midwife's Jenny Agutter has said she couldn't think of "anything better than stepping out" of her usual role to beat up Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The 70-year-old actress played a member of the World Security Council, which oversees S.H.I.E.L.D in the 2014 sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger.
Agutter is seen attacking the Hollywood actor, 86, during a scene in the film, until she is revealed to be Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, in a virtual disguise.
She told Good Housekeeping UK: “When I was asked to do the Marvel film Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I couldn’t think of anything better than stepping out of Call The Midwife to work with a stunt team and beat up Robert Redford.
“Although admittedly, they wouldn’t let me stunt-punch him. They were worried I’d actually hit him, instead of missing him.”
The actress, who has played Sister Julienne since 2012 in Call The Midwife, said she thought the show would be over in six episodes.
She added: “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’.”
Jenny starred in the Christmas Day special of Call The Midwife which left fans in tears after Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) finally proposed to Trixie Franklin (Helen George).
Matthew had tried to get down on one knee on Christmas Day but had to be called away to help with a medical emergency.
"This programme has no right to make me as emotional as it does, I keep having to turn away to hide the tears in my eyes," one fan wrote.
"Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without me sobbing at Call The Midwife," another added.
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A third wrote: "About to do another unwritten Christmas tradition... sobbing crazily to the climax of the #callthemidwife special I am half-watching with my mum."
As well as the romantic moment, the midwives treated former patient Rhoda Mullucks (Liz White) from series six, whose child was born with limb defects as a result of Thalidomide.
There was also a festive talent show with the aim to raise money for those affected in the series 11 train crash.
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