She was a national treasure and won multiple awards. But what was somewhat surprising was that Dame Maggie Smith never loved the limelight.

“I’m never shy on stage, always shy away from it,” she once described herself to critic Nancy Banks Smith.

She never watched herself in Downton Abbey. It is known that she didn’t even show up to accept her first Oscar.

And in a rare interview for the British Film Institute in 2017, she lamented that she was no longer able to walk down the street without being stopped by adoring fans.

Despite being an acclaimed stage actress since the 1960s and having a varied and successful career on the big screen, she insisted she had led a “completely normal life” until her role in Downton Abbey.

The ITV drama, loved by viewers around the world, had elevated her to a new level of superstardom late in her life – and she revealed she regretted what she had lost as a result.

In the drama, which aired between 2010 and 2015, Dame Maggie played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at amazing one-liners.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said of the way public recognition changed during that time.

Recalling life before Downton, she said: “I went to the theater and galleries and things like that by myself.” And now I can’t. And that’s terrible.

She added that Fulham Road in south-west London was “dodgy” enough without her being seen walking along it.

That’s not to say she never liked being approached by fans.

Her role as the formidable Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films won her legions of younger fans – something she clearly enjoyed.

“A lot of very little people used to say hello to me and that was nice,” she said during an interview on The Graham Norton Show in 2015.

“It was completely different people,” she said, noting that for her it was as if she had never existed before.

“She loved that kids recognized her from Harry Potter,” added Nick Hytner, the stage and film director who directed Dame Maggie in “The Lady in the Van.” “She liked that.”

“She loved bananagrams.”

For those who have worked with her, given her enormous reputation, it is understandable that they were a bit apprehensive at first.

Lesley Nichol, who starred as Downton Abbey’s chef, said she was “terrible” when she first heard she would be working with Dame Maggie.

“I’ve never worked with anyone of this caliber before,” she told BBC Radio Ulster. “And I thought, I don’t know what to tell her, it’s going to be really difficult, God, she’s probably going to be really great.”

But Nichol said she quickly realized none of it was true.

“She didn’t want anyone to be afraid of her or in awe of her, she just wanted to be part of the gang.”

Nichol said it was always “lovely” spending time with Dame Maggie and said they would spend time playing the word game Bananagrams between takes.

“She was scary at it and really competitive and really good at it,” she said.

“But that’s just how she was, she was in the middle of the audience and just very happy to be part of it all.”

Dame Maggie was known for her sharp tongue on and off screen.

But that didn’t spoil their sense of fun, Hytner told BBC News.

“Everyone knows how funny she was, she had an exceptionally quick, super-intelligent, biting wit,” he said.

“But she was fun to be around, even if you were on the receiving end of her snarky joke, you couldn’t help but laugh.”

“She was so clever, she was also capable of extraordinary sweetness and was a wonderful companion at concerts, ballet and theater.”

“A touch of mischief”

Harry Potter stars also remembered how much fun Dame Maggie had on set.

On Saturday, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the film series, posted a picture of himself dancing awkwardly with Dame Maggie.

“She was so special, always hilarious and always kind,” he wrote.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her, and especially lucky to have shared a dance.”

Of course it wasn’t all fun and games.

Asked in her BFI interview to reflect on the most excruciating thing she’s ever done, Dame Maggie recalled a time during the filming of Harry Potter when she was stuck in a caravan in the snow for a week, “with that stupid hat on the head”. .

“And sit in that trailer day after day and not be used.” [while waiting for her next scene]That doesn’t make you so happy. “It was a terrible thing,” she said.

“But there were other people in the trailer who were moaning like Miriam Margolyes. You’re not alone if you moan.”

Margolyes, who also appeared on screen with Dame Maggie in Ladies in Lavender, said the actress always had a “touch of mischief”.

“I saw what a kind yet terrifying person she could be,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say I was a friend of hers, I was an acolyte and she allowed me to be one.”

Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the wizarding series, recalled a time when she was absent from filming because she had finished her role in the series.

“[Dame Maggie] said: “Nonsense! When I’m in a scene I want you there, so please come back. And she talked to the producer and got me back so I got some more money.

She admitted that she was sometimes afraid of her. “But you can forgive someone for being the best of the best, right, if they have a bit of a temper.”

From the small stage to the big screen, Dame Maggie’s moving performances have always been a showstopper.

But she was also extremely committed. Even later in life, she was known for never showing up on set without having her lines perfectly memorized.

“I never saw her on set with a little script, she knew it before she came here,” Lady Carnarvon, who lives in Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed, told BBC Breakfast.

“She worked so hard to get up every morning … and wear corsets for hours,” she said, adding that she continued to work until the end of her life.

“I think deep down there was a desire to do everything right,” Margoyles said. “But she always did.”

Throughout, she remained famously private.

She rarely gave interviews. And Margolyes notes that Dame Maggie “didn’t like being on chat shows,” even though she was good at them.

When she won her first Oscar in 1970 for her performance in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” she skipped the awards ceremony.

At that time she was acting in a play in London. Many other actors would have had the understudy take over for the evening, but not Dame Maggie.

She actually appeared to accept her Special Award Bafta in 1993, but her speech only lasted 30 seconds.

“If it is possible to act in films without taking off your clothes or killing people with machine guns. I actually seem to have succeeded,” she said.

It all paints a picture of an actress who found the whole idea of ​​being a star a little embarrassing, even though there’s an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the number of awards she’s won.

“She was a very private person,” Lady Carnarvon added.

“I always wanted to respect that and not cross any boundaries. And I think she was like that, just like her character on TV.”

But despite Dame Maggie’s determination to stay under the radar whenever possible, she left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Perhaps her old friend, the late actor Kenneth Williams, said it best in his diary entry about Dame Maggie in December 1962.

“The weather was cold and dreary and the crowd was mediocre [Dame Maggie’s] Finish monotonous and not very exciting. I didn’t say goodbye or anything because I would have cried.

“But this girl has a magic and a comedic flair that makes you really grateful, and she’s capable of a generosity that’s beautiful.”

“She is one of those rare people who suddenly makes things and places wonderful just by her presence. She’s adorable.”

Looking for the latest Mini crossword puzzle solution? Click here for today’s mini crossword puzzle tips, as well as our daily answers and clues for the New York Times Word, Strand, and Connect puzzles.

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The New York Times crossword puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the mini crossword puzzle is a fun substitute. The mini crossword is much easier than the old-fashioned NYT crossword, and you can probably solve it in a few minutes. But if you’re stuck, we have the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword Puzzle Tips.

The mini crossword puzzle is far from the only game in the Times games collection. If you are looking for today’s answers to words, compounds and strands, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle clues page.

Read more: Tips and tricks for solving the New York Times mini crossword puzzle

Let’s move on to the mini crossword puzzle clues and answers.

Mini about hints and answers

1A Note: Politician Whose Last Name Sounds Like 1-Down (And Not Dance!)
Answer: WALZ

5A note: ___ Hawkins dances
Answer: SADIE

6A note: The person I used to describe myself as
Answer: OLDME

7A hint: bungling
Answer: FLUBS

8One clue: Egyptian snakes
Answer: ASPS

Minimize hints and responses

1D Note: See 1-Across
Answer: WALLS

2D note: Kind of makes sense
Answer: ADDUP

3D Clue: Arms or legs…or branches
Answer: LIMBS

4D Note: Features of puzzles, snowstorms and jazz
Answer: ZEES

5D Note: Sleeping place when in the doghouse
Answer: SOFA

How to play more mini crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free to play for everyone. You can play the current day’s mini crossword for free, but you will need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

According to the White House, President Joe Biden was briefed on Saturday by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the impacts of Hurricane Helene in states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

“The President directed them to remain focused on how the Biden-Harris Administration can accelerate support for affected survivors and accelerate recovery efforts, including immediately deploying additional search and rescue teams to North Carolina,” the White House said .

This comes as Criswell is visiting affected communities in Florida “at the request of the President,” according to the White House.

FEMA says that during her visit to the state, Criswell will “investigate the damage and assess the need for federal funding to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.” The White House adds that she will also travel to Georgia and North Carolina in the coming days.

A statement from FEMA on Saturday said the federal government deployed “more than 2,300 federal personnel and volunteer organizations to six states.” They add that they have “deployed 1,270 personnel and Swift Water Rescue Capabilities to affected states” to continue rescue efforts.

–ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart

While there wasn’t the best slate of games in Week 5 of the 2024 college football season at 12:00 p.m. ET, we did see an upset, two close calls, and essentially an elimination from the College Football Playoff. No. 6 Ole Miss lost at home to unranked Kentucky. Michigan held on against Minnesota. BYU almost let Baylor get back into the game. And Kansas State handed Oklahoma its second loss of the season.

With the results of these four games final, this will all impact how the Associated Press thinks about the top 25 teams in the country next week. We know for sure that Ole Miss will fall. Michigan could fall, and so could BYU. While it remains to be seen whether Kansas State will move up in the poll, we also know that Oklahoma State will not finish in the rankings and is therefore out of the picture.

So what I’m going to do today is evaluate these four important early afternoon games and see how the AP might vote. Here too, we still have a lot of games ahead of us. We won’t know these results until late, just what we’ve seen so far. As the day progresses, we’ll get a better sense of how the Associated Press will officially announce its top 25 teams for next week.

Here we get a glimpse into what voters might be thinking as they head into the late afternoon voting window.

So for now, the four games we just saw could impact the next AP Top 25 poll.

1. Texas Longhorns
2. Georgia Bulldogs
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Tennessee Volunteers
6. Miami Hurricanes
7. Oregon Ducks
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
9. Utah Utes
10. Missouri Tigers
11. Ole Miss Rebels
12. Michigan Wolverines
13. USC Trojans
14. LSU Tigers
15. Louisville Cardinals
16. Notre Dame fights against Irish
17. Clemson Tigers
18. Cyclones in the state of Iowa
19. Illinois battles Illinois
20. Oklahoma Sooners
21. BYU Cougars
22. Kansas State Wildcats
23. Texas A&M Aggies
24. Boise State Broncos
25. Washington State Cougars

Ole Miss will fall, but I can’t place the Rebels any further behind Michigan. Although their only loss is worse than Michigan’s loss to Texas, the Wolverines haven’t been as impressive in their wins, aside from last weekend’s win over USC, of ​​course. This means the Wolverines remain in 12th place for the time being. With Oklahoma State losing, BYU and Kansas State also move up one spot each.

And although they have a tough game against Boise State tonight, Washington State would have to move up one spot and into the top 25 for now. Of course, there will be a lot more movement as Alabama hosts Georgia, Notre Dame hosts Louisville and Penn State hosts Illinois. There will be three winners of these games and three losers who are on downtick.

Ultimately, the big problem with the loss to Ole Miss is that the Rebels go from a College Football Playoff lock to an incredible borderline. I don’t know if they’ll finish in the top 12 in my playoff predictions this week. That may be the case, but the Rebels may need to go 11-1 to secure it. If they lose to Georgia, they have to win. Even then, how good will the win be if they beat LSU later?

Ole Miss could fall back into the teens with this shocking home loss to Kentucky on Saturday.

Red Flags: 5 CFB teams on alert in Week 5. Red Flags: 5 CFB teams on alert in Week 5. Darkness. Next

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The smart ring category is hot right now, but is Apple ready to get in on the action on its own?

In the last few months we’ve seen the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the RingConn Smart Ring, while the Oura Ring (now in its third generation) is the long-standing frontrunner in the race for the best smart rings. Rumors that Apple might be tempted to join the party have been circulating for a few years now, and it appears that Apple is at least somewhat in the planning stages of this form factor.

Here we have compiled everything we know and think we know about the so-called Apple Ring: the leaks and rumors that have surfaced, the predicted price, the possible release date and more. We’ve also added some of the features and specs we’d like to see from the Apple Ring.

Apple Ring: in a nutshell

• What is that? A supposed smart ring made by Apple

• When might it appear? TBC, but not before 2025

• How much could it cost? Expect to pay $399 / £399 / AU$750 or more

Apple Ring: price and release date predictions

We don’t have much indication of how much the Apple Ring might cost, but we can take a look at some of the other options on the market. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is available for $399 / £399 and up (Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed), while the Oura Ring 3 is available for $299 / £299 and up (and is not currently available in Australia).

That gives you an idea of ​​the price points we’re talking about. Apple wants to stay competitive, but (as its best iPhones show) it’s not afraid to put a price premium on its products. If we had to guess, we’d say the Apple Ring will be slightly more expensive than its competitors from Samsung and Oura.

Also keep in mind that the best Oura Ring features require a monthly subscription ($5.99 / £5.99 per month). Apple already has the Fitness Plus program that you can sign up for if you own an Apple Watch ($9.99 / £9.99 / AU$14.99 per month). Therefore, it is quite possible that this is also an optional extra for the smart ring.

When it comes to a release date, 2024 and even 2025 seem unlikely given the frequency of leaks and rumors we’ve seen so far; It doesn’t appear that a launch is imminent. We didn’t see an Apple Ring alongside the Apple Watch 10 at the It’s Glowtime event in September 2024, but there’s a chance it could join the Apple Watch 11 in September 2025 if the device shows up as expected.

Apple Ring: Leaks and Rumors

The Apple Ring rumors go back a long way, at least to 2020. A patent filed by Apple this year showed that a smart ring would be used to control other devices – with the idea that you could potentially control the channels on your Apple TV could switch by tapping your ring. Of course, patents aren’t always a guarantee of future products, but they show what companies are thinking about and researching.

In 2023, Apple again filed smart ring patents that positioned its potential device as a type of controller for other devices. It seems that each Apple Ring that appears will not only focus on health and fitness, but will also give you new ways to control features on your other Apple devices.

It seems that Apple isn’t limiting itself to finger-mounted wearables either. Another patent from 2023 revealed plans for a type of apple anklet that could be worn around the ankle or around the neck. The success of the Apple Watch is obviously causing Apple to think about how you can track more fitness metrics.

Meanwhile, an industry report out of South Korea suggested in early 2024 that an Apple smart ring was on the way to take on the likes of Samsung and Oura. However, since nothing has emerged in the past few months, either the report’s sources were mistaken or Apple has changed its mind about the future product launch schedule.

We saw another sign that an Apple Ring could be on the way: an Apple survey sent to Apple Watch owners asking how many of them currently wear a smart ring alongside their smartwatch. It may be a bit of a stretch to use this as evidence of an Apple Ring, but it’s not nothing.

And that’s it for the Apple Ring rumors – no hint of pricing, specs, design or anything like that. The lack of details in the rumors suggests that a release could still be some way off, although there was enough excitement at this point to suggest that it is at least being considered.

Apple Ring: What we want to see

If an Apple Ring is indeed on the way, what will it look like – and how might it beat existing models? If Apple engineers are reading this, here’s what we want from an Apple Smart Ring.

1. Excellent battery life

Of course, this shows up on every wish list for every device, but decent battery life is a must – especially since the standard Apple Watch won’t last more than a day or two without a charge. In fact, that could be a major selling point for the Apple Ring: continue to track your steps and other activities while your Apple Watch is charging.

2. Premium sleep tracking

Speaking of charging the Apple Watch, many users charge their watch overnight. This means that the smartwatch often cannot be used for sleep tracking, and we hope the Apple Ring can do this very well. In addition, due to its smaller size and lighter weight, a smart ring is better suited for tracking movements while you sleep.

3. Lots of software features without a subscription

We’ve already mentioned Apple Fitness Plus, but we hope that many of the features of an Apple Ring are available without a subscription – like with the Apple Watch. And for those who want additional features like fitness videos, workout plan customizations, in-session metrics, and more, there could be an additional subscription option.

4. A superior design

There are really only so many ways to design a smart ring, but we hope Apple gives the Apple Ring the same aesthetic flavor as shown on the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. We’re thinking about a super slim and super light form factor, a choice of different colors and a smart ring that is one of the most comfortable on the market.

5. Seamless integration of the Apple ecosystem

Apple usually does this perfectly, with iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches constantly getting new integrations and connections – so we’re hoping this extends to Apple Ring too. It’s unlikely that Apple wants the Smart Ring to replace the Apple Watch, and in fact it could be a useful screen for it (remember, Oura also has an Apple Watch app).

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Quinn Ewers was unable to return for the Texas Longhorns’ SEC debut in Week 5 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. That meant starting No. 2 for redshirt freshman Arch Manning, who posted a 51-3 win over UL Monroe the week before.

Texas entered Saturday’s SEC affair 4-0 and ranked first overall in the AP Poll. It was a dominant campaign for the Longhorns, highlighted by a Week 2 win over the reigning champions from Ann Arbor. There’s still a lot of football left to play, but if we’re going to pick the favorites to win it all now, Texas has to finish at the top of that list.

Before his injury, Ewers was on the short list of true Heisman candidates and was considered a potential No. 1 draft pick. He’s still the latter — Ewers could easily outdo his peers in pre-draft workouts — but Heisman feels out of reach after several weeks of inaction. However, that shouldn’t detract from the simple fact that Ewers is an exceptional football player. The senior is Texas’ starting quarterback for a reason and would start for the vast majority of college football teams.

Why is the “QB controversy” still being talked about in Austin? Well, because we keep seeing flashes like this from Arch Manning.

It couldn’t have been better for Arch Manning to go there and give him that TD pass 😳 pic.twitter.com/LIAgdFvP5U

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 28, 2024

The last few starts haven’t been perfect for Manning. He threw two interceptions against UL Monroe and looked shaky out of the gate before stabilizing as the game (and Texas’ lead) progressed. Mississippi State presented a much greater challenge that Manning met with flying colors. He’s still susceptible to the stumbles you’d expect from a freshman quarterback in a Power Five competition, but in terms of raw talent and long-term potential, there are few (if any) QBs in Manning’s realm. Perspectives.

He’ll be added to draft boards sooner or later, but right now Texas faces a difficult decision.

The Longhorns can hold on to Manning’s pretty hot and clearly effective hand and work toward a potentially successful future. Manning has said he wants to spend four years at Texas, meaning he will be the Longhorns’ starting QB for two full seasons – 2025 and 2026 – before turning pro. The more reps he gets now, the sharper Manning should be across the board.

Or Texas can reinstate Ewers once he gets back, which Steve Sarkisian almost certainly intends to do. Despite his talent, Arch is still a newbie learning the ropes. Ewers has been to the area several times. He has played in the postseason and competed at the highest levels of college football. We haven’t really seen Arch in a high-stakes environment yet. Mississippi State is fun, but it has SEC matchups on the schedule that will put this softball to shame early in the season.

Ewers is the safer, more experienced option and he is very talented in his own right. It’s fun to see Manning escape the pressure and throw bombs on the sideline, but he’s still waiting for his turn. The desire to make the case for Manning as QB1 is understandable, and Texas would still be at the top of college football if Manning was the full-time QB, but we can’t let enthusiasm override logic. Ewers is the man in Texas until the end of the season.

Still, we should appreciate Arch while he’s out there. Let it serve as a tantalizing preview of what next season has in store.

Paul Feig, director of the 2016 all-female reboot Ghostbustersblames Donald Trump in part for the racist and sexist criticism the film received from online trolls.

During a recent interview with The Guardianthe filmmaker looked back on all the hate the action comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones received after its debut.

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“The political climate of the time was really strange when Hillary Clinton was running for office in 2016,” he recalled. “There were a lot of guys looking for a fight. When I got harassed on Twitter, I went back and looked up who they were. So many were Trump supporters.”

But it didn’t stop there, because Feig said that Trump, the future US president, had only added fuel to the fire with his rhetoric.

“Then Trump spoke out against us,” he said Jackpot! said the director. “He was like, ‘They’re doing a remake.’ Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford. You can’t do that. And now they do it Ghostbusters only with women. “What’s going on?” and was completely upset.”

Feig continued: “Everyone became fucking cannibals. This made the film a political statement, as if to say, ‘If you’re pro-women, you’ll watch this.’ If not, then…’ I didn’t think it even mattered that the main characters were women , but people brought a lot of baggage with them.”

The Simple favor The filmmaker also explained why he chose a Ghostbusters more of a reboot than a sequel to the original 1984 and 1989 films starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts.

“Invoice [Murray] had said publicly that he didn’t want to do it again Ghostbusters at that point,” Feig recalled. “Harold Ramis had died. Dan and Ernie were there, but half the team felt weird. It had been 30 years and Bill and the gang were so iconic; I didn’t want to do anything that would detract from the original films.”

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TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Tokyo government has launched a new dating app for smartphones that uses artificial intelligence to match people serious about marriage based on their values.

Tokyo Enmusubi, which means Tokyo dating agency, is available to people over the age of 18 who live in or commute to the Japanese capital. To ensure security on the platform, users are required to complete an online interview upon registration and also submit photo ID and documents proving their income and that they are legally single.

The move is part of a broader effort to boost Japan’s falling birth rate, and the Tokyo metropolitan government wants to support singles and families at different stages of their lives – from first meetings to marriage, childbirth and raising children.

Users can download the app on their smartphone or access the platform’s website via computer. Registration costs 11,000 yen (US$77) and membership is valid for two years.

The service’s AI technology suggests potential love interests to each other based on an assessment of 110 questions.

Users can also search for partners based on their desired characteristics.

“There are many people who want to get married but have not pursued an active relationship,” said a metropolitan government official. “We want to encourage them to take the first step.”

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure in western North Carolina appear to have been devastated by flooding after Hurricane Helene swept through the area. 2022 census data shows 220 people living in Chimney Rock, with about 1,300 living in Lake Lure.

Air rescue operations continued in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village on Saturday afternoon as family members desperately searched for details on their loved one’s whereabouts while phone lines were down and internet access was limited.

Rutherford County Emergency Management said crews rescued more than 100 people in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area Saturday and rescue efforts would continue into Saturday night.

Rutherford County Emergency Management provided air rescue resources to transport stranded individuals from the area. After evacuation, people will be transported to RS Central High School where they will receive further assistance.

“Please note that mobile and telephone communications in the region are currently extremely limited. We understand the concern and uncertainty this may cause and respectfully ask for your patience as these rescue efforts will take time,” officials said. “Once we receive the names of those rescued, we will make every effort to reach families and individuals who have inquired about their loved ones. Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated during this challenging time.”

Flooding in Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Social media posts show extensive flooding and damage:

She was a national treasure and won multiple awards. But what was somewhat surprising was that Dame Maggie Smith never loved the limelight.

“I’m never shy on stage, always shy away from it,” she once described herself to critic Nancy Banks Smith.

She never watched herself in Downton Abbey. It is known that she didn’t even show up to accept her first Oscar.

And in a rare interview for the British Film Institute in 2017, she lamented that she was no longer able to walk down the street without being stopped by adoring fans.

Despite being an acclaimed stage actress since the 1960s and having a varied and successful career on the big screen, she insisted she had led a “completely normal life” until her role in Downton Abbey.

The ITV drama, loved by viewers around the world, had elevated her to a new level of superstardom late in her life – and she revealed she regretted what she had lost as a result.

In the drama, which aired between 2010 and 2015, Dame Maggie played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at amazing one-liners.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said of the way public recognition changed during that time.

Recalling life before Downton, she said: “I went to the theater and galleries and things like that by myself.” And now I can’t. And that’s terrible.

She added that Fulham Road in south-west London was “dodgy” enough without her being seen walking along it.

That’s not to say she never liked being approached by fans.

Her role as the formidable Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films won her legions of younger fans – something she clearly enjoyed.

“A lot of very little people used to say hello to me and that was nice,” she said during an interview on The Graham Norton Show in 2015.

“It was completely different people,” she said, noting that for her it was as if she had never existed before.

“She loved that kids recognized her from Harry Potter,” added Nick Hytner, the stage and film director who directed Dame Maggie in “The Lady in the Van.” “She liked that.”

“She loved bananagrams.”

For those who have worked with her, given her enormous reputation, it is understandable that they were a bit apprehensive at first.

Lesley Nichol, who starred as Downton Abbey’s chef, said she was “terrible” when she first heard she would be working with Dame Maggie.

“I’ve never worked with anyone of this caliber before,” she told BBC Radio Ulster. “And I thought, I don’t know what to tell her, it’s going to be really difficult, God, she’s probably going to be really great.”

But Nichol said she quickly realized none of it was true.

“She didn’t want anyone to be afraid of her or in awe of her, she just wanted to be part of the gang.”

Nichol said it was always “lovely” spending time with Dame Maggie and said they would spend time playing the word game Bananagrams between takes.

“She was scary at it and really competitive and really good at it,” she said.

“But that’s just how she was, she was in the middle of the audience and just very happy to be part of it all.”

Dame Maggie was known for her sharp tongue on and off screen.

But that didn’t spoil their sense of fun, Hytner told BBC News.

“Everyone knows how funny she was, she had an exceptionally quick, super-intelligent, biting wit,” he said.

“But she was fun to be around, even if you were on the receiving end of her snarky joke, you couldn’t help but laugh.”

“She was so clever, she was also capable of extraordinary sweetness and was a wonderful companion at concerts, ballet and theater.”

“A touch of mischief”

Harry Potter stars also remembered how much fun Dame Maggie had on set.

On Saturday, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the film series, posted a picture of himself dancing awkwardly with Dame Maggie.

“She was so special, always hilarious and always kind,” he wrote.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her, and especially lucky to have shared a dance.”

Of course it wasn’t all fun and games.

Asked in her BFI interview to reflect on the most excruciating thing she’s ever done, Dame Maggie recalled a time during the filming of Harry Potter when she was stuck in a caravan in the snow for a week, “with that stupid hat on the head”. .

“And sit in that trailer day after day and not be used.” [while waiting for her next scene]That doesn’t make you so happy. “It was a terrible thing,” she said.

“But there were other people in the trailer who were moaning like Miriam Margolyes. You’re not alone if you moan.”

Margolyes, who also appeared on screen with Dame Maggie in Ladies in Lavender, said the actress always had a “touch of mischief”.

“I saw what a kind yet terrifying person she could be,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say I was a friend of hers, I was an acolyte and she allowed me to be one.”

Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the wizarding series, recalled a time when she was absent from filming because she had finished her role in the series.

“[Dame Maggie] said: “Nonsense! When I’m in a scene I want you there, so please come back. And she talked to the producer and got me back so I got some more money.

She admitted that she was sometimes afraid of her. “But you can forgive someone for being the best of the best, right, if they have a bit of a temper.”

From the small stage to the big screen, Dame Maggie’s moving performances have always been a showstopper.

But she was also extremely committed. Even later in life, she was known for never showing up on set without having her lines perfectly memorized.

“I never saw her on set with a little script, she knew it before she came here,” Lady Carnarvon, who lives in Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed, told BBC Breakfast.

“She worked so hard to get up every morning … and wear corsets for hours,” she said, adding that she continued to work until the end of her life.

“I think deep down there was a desire to do everything right,” Margoyles said. “But she always did.”

Throughout, she remained famously private.

She rarely gave interviews. And Margolyes notes that Dame Maggie “didn’t like being on chat shows,” even though she was good at them.

When she won her first Oscar in 1970 for her performance in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” she skipped the awards ceremony.

At that time she was acting in a play in London. Many other actors would have had the understudy take over for the evening, but not Dame Maggie.

She actually appeared to accept her Special Award Bafta in 1993, but her speech only lasted 30 seconds.

“If it is possible to act in films without taking off your clothes or killing people with machine guns. I actually seem to have succeeded,” she said.

It all paints a picture of an actress who found the whole idea of ​​being a star a little embarrassing, even though there’s an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the number of awards she’s won.

“She was a very private person,” Lady Carnarvon added.

“I always wanted to respect that and not cross any boundaries. And I think she was like that, just like her character on TV.”

But despite Dame Maggie’s determination to stay under the radar whenever possible, she left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Perhaps her old friend, the late actor Kenneth Williams, said it best in his diary entry about Dame Maggie in December 1962.

“The weather was cold and dreary and the crowd was mediocre [Dame Maggie’s] Finish monotonous and not very exciting. I didn’t say goodbye or anything because I would have cried.

“But this girl has a magic and a comedic flair that makes you really grateful, and she’s capable of a generosity that’s beautiful.”

“She is one of those rare people who suddenly makes things and places wonderful just by her presence. She’s adorable.”