She reached super stardom at forty having uttered some of the cinemas greatest one-liners.
A new play celebrating the life of Mae West opens in Leeds this week. Dirty Blonde tells the story of two New York loners turned lovers, who learn to accept themselves through their mutual obsession with the film and sex icon. Jenni talks to the lead, Claudia Shear, and asks Bill Lawrence from the National Museum of Photographic Film and TV, whether there's a difference between old and new stars. Dirty Blonde, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Quarry Hill, Leeds (Box Office: 0113-213 7700) Nominate your ultimate movie star on our message board How well do you know your movie stars? Test yourself with the Woman's Hour quiz
