"I rather enjoy it, it's rather intriguing the way it fits into life."

Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft starred in the 1967 movie

She said she was also fascinated by the way a woman of Mrs Robinson's age would react to the changes in society which were occurring at the time the play is set, in 1964.

"She can see that the country is changing and she's going to miss the whole damn thing," said the actress.

Turner will be making her West End debut in the play, which will open at the Gielgud Theatre on 4 April.

Rising British actor Matthew Rhys will play temptress Mrs Robinson's young lover Benjamin Braddock - the role which shot Dustin Hoffman to Hollywood fame.

Rhys can be seen later this year playing Demetrius in the film Titus which stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange.

Stage star

Turner, who has starred in productions on Broadway, said she tries never to go more than three years without doing a play.

As a woman in her 40s, Turner said, it was difficult to find the right roles in Hollywood.

"It's a problem when you stop being the immediate sexual object. They have to write a character, and they are not very good at that," she added.

Douglas' delight

Turner added that she'd had not seen her former screen-co star Michael Douglas so happy since he got engaged to Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones.

The pair, who who teamed up in the smash hits Romancing the Stone and The War of the Roses, are old friends.

"We saw them at Christmas, my husband Jay and I," Turner said.

"I've known him all the years of his other marriage and I never thought he was happy, so I think this is great."