Debbie Harry wants Florence Pugh to play her in the Blondie biopic

Debbie told The Times newspaper's Saturday Review magazine: "If it were somebody like Florence Pugh, I would be in heaven.

"I just think she's a great actor, and she could do anything."

As a sideline to Blondie - which sold over 40 million records and bagged six UK number ones, including Call Me and The Tide Is High - Debbie dabbled in acting in the 1980s.

She played a radio presenter in the 1983 horror-Sci-fi film Videodrome, and starred in the 1989 comedy-romance anthology film New York Stories directed by 82 year old Martin Scorsese.

Filmmaker Ridley Scott, 87, offered Debbie the role of an android called Pris in the 1982 Sci-fi-action film Blade Runner, but she declined because her record label did not want the music legend to take time off.

Debbie - whose character offer went to 64-year-old actress Daryl Hannah - admitted turning down Blade Runner was her "biggest regret", and she thinks acting could have been a bigger part of her career if she had agreed to do the film.

Debbie's ex-husband-and-Blondie guitarist Chris Stein - who entered a relationship with Debbie in 1973, split from her in 1985, but has remained close friends with the star ever since - said: "You should have done it. You got bad advice, basically."

Asked if acting would have become a "bigger part" of Debbie's career if she agreed to Ridley's offer to star in Blade Runner, Debbie said: "Yeah, I think so."

Debbie - who still performs - turned 80 on July 1, and she has no plans of retiring.

The Heart of Glass hitmaker said: "Sometimes when I walk out on stage and there's such a terrific response, I feel like I'd better stop while I'm ahead.

"But no, it's still joyful."