A HOLLYWOOD actress is swapping the silver screen for a village book festival.

Celia Imrie, who has starred in such films as Calendar Girls, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Bridget Jones’ Diary, will speak at Cuckfield Book Festival in Queen’s Hall, Cuckfield, on Saturday, October 7.

Sheila Mortimer, one of the organisers, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Celia Imrie to the festival. She’s very practised at book festivals.”

The event, the first of its kind in Cuckfield, takes place from October 6 to 8 and is the brainchild of Ms Mortimer, Sheila Chasser, Angela Magness and Sue Laing, who all live near the village,

Seasoned volunteers at book festivals across the country, the women used their contacts to bring in big names for the jam-packed weekend.

Ms Imrie is an award-wining actress known for her work in film, theatre and television.

She is also a Sunday Times bestselling novelist with her books Not Quite Nice and Nice Work (If You Can Get It).

Joining Ms Imrie in conversation will be Sue Stapely, a solicitor and communications consultant, who specialises in crisis and issues management.

Numerous talks and workshops are scheduled across the weekend, including sessions with columnist Damian Barr, political historian Sir Anthony Seldon and ghostwriter Andrew Crofts.

Authors Sue Cook and Martine McDonagh will be moderating discussions.

Themes are the Great Storm of 1987, the legacies of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen and, inevitably, Brexit – all topics of books written by authors at the festival.

There will also be events for children.

But book lovers will want to hurry to secure a ticket for the talks, as some have already sold out.

Ms Mortimer said: “The festival has evolved a lot over the year.

“We’ve been so encouraged by the response.”

Tickets cost £10 for adults. There will be tea and cakes available across the weekend.

For more information, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/cuckfieldbookfest