Dame Maggie Smith was a revered actress with multiple accolades to her name, but she never sought out the limelight. Despite being an acclaimed stage actress since the 1960s, she claimed to have led a “perfectly normal life” until her role in Downton Abbey. Although her performance in the ITV drama elevated her career to new heights and won her adoring fans around the world, she confessed that she regretted losing the ability to walk down the street without being mobbed by admirers.
While she relished young Harry Potter fans recognising her as the formidable Professor McGonagall, she bemoaned the fact that her newfound fame impeded her ability to visit places alone. Once asked for the most tormented experience of her acting career, Dame Maggie recalled spending a week stuck in a trailer covered in snow during the filming of Harry Potter, while waiting for a next scene. Nevertheless, those who worked with her said she was fun and down-to-earth and enjoyed playing word games with the cast of Downton Abbey during breaks.
Despite her immense success, Dame Maggie remained extremely private. She rarely gave interviews and didn’t like chat shows, although her wit made her a great guest. She famously skipped the Oscar awards ceremony on the night she won and avoided long speeches when she did show up to receive a Special Award Bafta in 1993. Her unease at the idea of stardom, however, didn’t prevent her from having a magic touch in comedy and a generosity of spirit that endeared her to everyone who met her.
In conclusion, while Dame Maggie Smith enjoyed immense success as an actress, she did not seek out the attention of the limelight, and at times found it difficult to manage. She often turned down opportunities to be in the public eye, including skipping an awards ceremony when she won her first Oscar. However, although she remained private, her personality shone through everything that she did, and she was known for her wit and generosity of spirit, which made her an endearing figure to those fortunate enough to have worked with her
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