ICONIC MARY

DICK Van Dyke has admitted he never expected to “live this long - or feel this good” as he turns 100 today.

- BY HILLARY MORGAN and SHELLEY SPADONI

Hollywood's senior star has played some of the last century's most iconic roles but the Mary Poppins actor has no intention of retiring.

“Retirement's the one thing I have never figured out how to do,’ said Dick. “I did actually officially retire at 75, but I've been busy ever since.”

The film most people associate the Missouri-born actor with is 1964's Mary Poppins, opposite Julie Andrews. And he cherishes the memories of playing Cockney chimney sweep Bert to this day.

He said, “It was the most fun I ever had on a film. It was also the hardest work. It was the perfect movie. I think we all knew we were making history.”

People still talk about his dubious Cockney accent.

Dick laughed: “The guy they sent to coach me was Irish so his accent was no better than mine!

“I knew I wasn't doing a good job but I was so into the dancing and singing I didn't pay enough attention to the talking.”

He added: “There's no excuse really, because I was working with Julie Andrews who, of course, spoke with a beautiful accent. You could tune a piano by her voice.”

A few years later, he starred in another classic, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which almost led to him setting up home in England.