IT has to rank as one of the more unlikely theatre appearances which sees a legendary figure of the stage and screen heading to the intimate surroundings of Darwen's Library Theatre.

Honor Blackman means something to people of all ages, from her role as Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger, to Cathy Gale in the first series of the Avengers through to further stage and screen success.

Now she is bringing her one-woman show, Wayward Women, to East Lancashire tomorrow -- appropriately enough on International Women's Day.

"Is it really? I had no idea -- how marvellous," she says in that distinctive, smoky voice which can still send shivers down the spine even by telephone from 300 miles away.

"That is most appropriate, isn't it?"

Wayward Women sees Honor Blackman bring to life a number of women from throughout history who have an interesting story to tell.

These range from Eleanor Roosevelt to Barbara Cartland, all accomplished with the style and wit you would expect from one of the country's leading actresses.

"The writer, director and I got together with our own ideas," she said. "It's a question of trying to get a balance. There are an awful lot of interesting women but a few had to go by the wayside."

For Ms Blackman, the research into the various characters she brings to life on stage is almost as fascinating as playing the roles.

"I get a great deal of pleasure from people coming up to me after a show and telling me how interesting they found a particular character or that they are going to find a book about one of them to discover more," she said.

Wayward Women is Honor Blackman's third one-woman show and features song as well as acting and she clearly loves the format.

"Perhaps I shouldn't say it it is rather nice to be in charge of everything. No-one can help you if you get it wrong but, then again, there isn't anyone else on stage with you to mess things up.

"It is a wonderful feeling when you develop a relationship with an audience and you can feel when a show is going well. It can be quiet fantastic.

"I am particularly looking forward to playing in intimate theatres such as Darwen where the audience are really with you from the start."

Although Wayward Women is currently touring the country, Honor Blackman has no definite long-term plans for the show.

"I don't book it for a certain time," she said. "It really is my pleasure. The last one-woman show I did lasted five years on and off. It's very good that I can go away and do other things and then come back to it.

"If, for instance, I do a TV series, it isn't long before I long to get back on the boards. Theatre is definitely my first love."

Wayward Women is at Darwen's Library Theatre on Saturday, March 8.