Keeley Hawes as Phillipa Haymes
In the novel A Murder is Announced, Phillipa Joan Haymes (née Stamfordis) is a young widow boarding at Little Paddocks. She works as an assistant gardener for Mrs Lucas at Dayas Hall, the gates of which are opposite Little Paddocks, but as the cottage there is occupied by the gardener and his wife, she stays at Little Paddocks.
Philippa has a son at boarding school.
She was born in 1922 and is tall and fair, and quite unemotional. She is described as "unemotional English, without a spark of mischief".
She said that she was very young when she was married, and that after her son was born, her husband went overseas, and was killed in Italy. It was later revealed that he was a deserter from his regiment, and had not been killed during the war. However, he was later killed in a traffic accident, while he saved a boy's life.
It turns out that Philippa is actually Pip, the child (that everyone assumed was a boy) of Sonia Goedler, and the twin sister of Emma.
Portrayals
In the BBC 1985 adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series, Phillipa Haymes is played by Nicola King. This portrayal is faithful to the original.
In the ITV 2005 adaptation of the novel, Phillipa Haymes is played by Keeley Hawes. Here, Pip is renamed Phil. The portrayal is mostly faithful to the original novel's.
In Murder Party, the TV film adaptation of the novel by France Télévisions, the parallel character is Philippine Leroy.