May Reilly Parker is an annoying, yet seemingly indestructible, old woman. She currently lives in Manhattan, New York, with her nephew, Peter, and his wife, Mary Jane, after living for many years in Queens, New York.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Before the destruction of my house, it was sitting out in the garden with my family.

What is your greatest fear?
Something bad happening to Peter.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Frailty.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Finding out that people had thought I had died, when it had been a genetically altered actress. What a mix-up that was.

Where would you like to live?
Queens.

What makes you depressed?
Thinking about dying again.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?
Rosemary Harris.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Putting my hand to my mouth and going ‘Oh!’

What is your favourite smell?
Home baking.

What is your fancy dress costume of choice?
Fancy dress is for young people and superheroes, dearie.

Radiator or air conditioning?
Radiator; I can never seem to stay warm.

Is it better to give or to receive?
What a silly question, of course it’s better to give than to receive. You’re not very clever, are you?

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Clinging onto the memory of my dead husband, even after 40 years.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
It will always be my Ben, even though he’s dead.

Which living person do you most despise and why?
It used to be Spider-Man, but now I think it’s that horrible little man, J Jonah Jameson.

Have you ever said ‘I love you’ without meaning it?
How dare you! You are so impertinent.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘Oh my!’

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Finding out that ‘death’ has no real meaning in the Marvel Universe, unless your name is Ben Parker.

What is your greatest regret?
Not having the chance to say goodbye to Ben.

When did you last cry, and why?
Oh, I cry all the time. You don’t get to my age and suffer all that I’ve been through without shedding a few tears.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
The eradication of all supervillains.

What keeps you awake at night?
Peter not being home yet.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a strong and independent woman, rather than an embarrassing anachronism kept around because some people mistakenly believe that I serve a point.

[Edit: to change the former Parker residence to Queens, thanks to Max.]