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.”

Last week was a rough outing for the Saints, and fantasy owners felt it from several players as well. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave had the best days of all against the Eagles, but this week is a completely different story. New Orleans is currently dealing with a lot of injuries, which makes some games this week risky. Here’s my advice for the Week 4 fantasy football approach.

Be sure to stop by Fantasy coverage from Sports Illustrated with Michael Fabiano for all your needs this football season.

Alvin Kamara (Probable 14.24 points)

Despite how difficult it was to run the ball last week, Kamara’s extended touches ended up scoring double-digit points for fantasy owners. Because of the hip and rib injuries, I don’t expect him to have 29 touches this week, but he will play and compete. He’s a must watch every week until you see him out of the lineup.

Rashid Shaheed (expected 11.71 points)

Shaheed was hidden last week and fantasy owners weren’t expecting it. He’s probably the safest receiver playing this week (see Olave advice shortly) and has a chance to rebound in a nice way. It will be fascinating to see how New Orleans approaches this game offensively, and Shaheed could see increased targets as one of Carr’s main targets.

I wouldn’t start a Saints tight end this week. I think they can get more work, but given the deficiencies on the offensive line, they could be used more for blocking against the Falcons.

There is no Demario Davis this week as he will miss his first career game with a hamstring injury. Pete Werner is the top player this week if you’re looking for a linebacker but are also considering Willie Gay Jr. D’Marco Jackson is a free agent available and he wants to take Davis’ snaps. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are also among your top players on the defensive line, as they will often be trying to beat Kirk Cousins ​​on the day. Bryan Bresee is also sneaky with his production early in the season.

The Saints have been able to force some turnovers in all of their games this season and hopefully that trend should continue. Tyrann Mathieu and Alontae Taylor would be the two best bets for the secondary.

Taysom Hill (expected 2.47 points)

I know. I know. Taysom Hill hasn’t been successful this season, but this feels like the week that changes. Why? Take these two things into account. First of all, Alvin Kamara is injured, as I mentioned earlier. They don’t want him to get 29 touches of the ball again. The other thing would be that the offensive line would also be in disarray. New Orleans would be wise to give Hill the ball in both the running and passing games, and he has had some success against Atlanta in the past. Here he can create a variety of looks and be successful with them. Put it this way. The Saints need him to beat.

ATLANTA – In honor of former President Jimmy Carter‘S To mark the 100th anniversary, Trees Atlanta will plant 100 trees at the Carter Center and another at a second symbolic location.

On October 1, Carter will join the Centennial Club. But Georgia has been celebrating humanity for weeks.

A star-studded music gala took place at the Fox Theater in mid-September. Just a few days later he received a lifetime achievement award Dayton Literary Peace Prize Founded in Ohio.

RELATED:

100 trees for Jimmy Carter

The first tree will be planted at 10 a.m. at the Georgia State Capitol next to the Jimmy Carter statue. The second will be planted at noon in the Carter Center at the campus entrance.

Bronze statue of President Jimmy Carter, State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The other 99 will be planted around the Carter Center between October 2024 and March 2025.

Each tree will be a live oak tree, the official state tree of Georgia. Live oak, known as a strong and hard wood, was also once used for shipbuilding. It serves as a nod to former President Carter’s service in the U.S. Navy as well as his own fortitude and resilience.

RELATED: Jimmy Carter celebrates his first year of hospice care | How he did it

This is the second time Trees Atlanta has gifted Mother Nature to the 39th President. He received a Georgia Oak for his 80th birthday.

Greg Levine, the executive director of Trees Atlanta, noted Carter’s love of nature, which was shaped by the time he spent working on his family farm.

“We hope he will like this gift,” he said.

“From the Carters’ founding of a tree farm in the 1950s near Plains to their interest in the trees on the grounds of the Carter Presidential Center, we see that their values ​​have always been greater than themselves,” said Dr. Meredith Evans, the director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. “They understood that simple gestures like planting and caring for trees help our environment, community and spirit. Among other things, trees keep the air and water clean and our minds calm. This extends the longevity of a healthy life, as President Carter showed us.”

DALLAS – This week’s Florida State football availability report shows some turnover.

Offensive tackles Jeremiah Byers and Robert Scott, both absent from last week’s win over Cal, will try out Saturday at SMU (8 p.m. on ACC Network). Another offensive lineman, Richie Leonard IV, will miss the game against the Mustangs, an FSU spokesman told Osceola.

Leonard, a transfer from Florida, started the first two games of the season at left guard, started the third game against Memphis at right guard and came off the bench in last week’s win over Cal. Alabama transfer TJ Ferguson is listed as the co-starter at right guard and could make his third straight start against SMU.

Leonard and running back Roydell Williams, who head coach Mike Norvell said will be out for an “extended period of time,” are the only two FSU players out for the SMU game.

Byers and Scott are listed as the top two options at right tackle on FSU’s depth chart. However, Byers has missed the last three games and Scott missed the Cal game.

Redshirt sophomore Jaylen Early made his first career start in the Cal win and was praised for his performance. If Byers and Scott are both available Saturday night, the pecking order at right tackle will be very interesting.

FSU-SMU live updates

Predictions, keys for FSU-SMU game

TUKWILA, Washington – Following Friday’s shooting at Southcenter Mall, KOMO News uncovered numbers that suggest violent crime in the mall and surrounding area is still near a record high.

On Friday afternoon, several shoppers took cover as more than a dozen shots were fired in the parking lot immediately outside the Nordstrom store.

Tukwila police said based on their initial investigation, the incident appears to be a targeted act of violence between two parties. Officers added that both parties involved fled the scene immediately after the incident. They also noted that no injuries were reported.

RELATED | Shots were fired in the parking lot of the Southcenter shopping center; No injuries were reported

Although there were few casualties, shoppers who witnessed the shooting told KOMO News they were outraged by the level of violence in broad daylight.

“It’s a public place where families and everyone comes out, so I don’t know why they would risk anyone’s life,” said shopper Sade Soliai.

Given that the shooting occurred in the middle of the day, KOMO News examined the magnitude of the violent crime problem in the mall and surrounding area.

Using the Tukwila Police Department’s crime mapping website, KOMO News uncovered numbers that suggest violent crime in the mall is still worse than in previous times, particularly when compared to pre-Covid years.

Data shows that year to date, from January 1, 2024 to September 28, 2024, there have been 30 violent crimes at the mall and within a half-mile radius of the mall property.

According to the figures, this is a slight decrease compared to 33 violent crimes in the same area in the corresponding period in 2023.

Nevertheless, KOMO News learned that the numbers for the current year 2024 are still higher than between 2019 and 2022.

During the same period of these years, there were 18 violent crimes in 2019, 15 cases in 2020, 27 cases in 2021 and 28 cases in 2022.

Several high-profile incidents have occurred at the mall over the past five years, including the November 2022 murder of a shopper in the Southcenter Mall parking lot. The murder occurred when a man and his wife interrupted three suspects who were trying to steal their car. Ultimately, all three suspects in this case pleaded guilty to murder.

A year earlier, in November 2021, a Rainier Beach High School graduate and her 18-year-old boyfriend were shot and killed at the mall the day before Thanksgiving. The 17-year-old victim later died in hospital and no suspects were ever arrested.

In January 2024, the body of a murdered taxi driver was found in the shopping center parking lot. Police said the victim was likely stabbed elsewhere and then dumped on mall property. An absent U.S. Army soldier was eventually arrested and charged with murder in the case.

Regarding Friday’s shooting, Tukwila police did not respond to KOMO’s requests for updates on the status of the investigation or the search for suspects in the case.

Schools in the Clinton system are facing a roofing need that administrators say is getting worse and more costly. Total repair costs are currently estimated at over $11 million.

That was the message John Lowe, executive director of technology and support services for Clinton City Schools, delivered to the Clinton City School Board last week.

Both the city and county school systems have had roofing issues for some time, and Lowe said the estimated cost for four of the five Clinton City schools for total roof repairs is about $11,299,600 supplied.

“Going back to the (state) Needs Based Capital Fund, that window opened Aug. 1 and the filing deadline was Sept. 13,” Lowe said. “We met that deadline and I filled out 14 different applications that Dr. (Linda) Brunson was able to sign together with our district representatives. These applications allocate over $6 million for roofing and I included approximately $2.5 million for HVAC needs.

“There is no guarantee that we will receive funding, but in 2021-22 I received almost $900,000, so we can hope for some support from the state in this area,” he continued prices change.”

The $11 million estimate accounts for every school in need, except the newer Clinton High. Among those numbers were cases, Lowe said, that he considered high priority based on their current condition.

“I needed those estimates to support the grant,” Lowe explained. “So you can see some of the updated numbers as well as places that are high priority for me right now. This is Building 300 at LC Kerr, where multiple leaks have occurred in four of the six classrooms. The next equally high priorities are Sampson Middle, both the academic wing and the gymnasium, and then there is the Sunset Avenue wall.

“That wall, I mean, I don’t sleep on it because we have that dividing brick facade,” Lowe confirmed. “If action is not taken, the brick facade above office wing 800 will eventually fall away, from the upper part to the lower part. We have to deal with it.”

The wall project alone, Lowe said, is estimated to cost about $280,000, money he noted is included in his capital expenditure plan. Although there are plans to make the repairs, Lowe said more help is needed.

“My capital expenditure plan for this school year is to bid and rehabilitate that wall, but we’re going to need some assistance from the Needs Base Public School Capital Funds or an infusion of some (money) from the County Commissioners Fund Balance will help us do that because it will be an expensive project,” emphasized Lowe.

The director also explained in detail how the contractors should repair the wall and when funds will be available for the project.

“The recommendation is to take the brick façade off, replace the windows and install vertical metal roof panels as we are getting water through the current brick façade,” he said. “We made every possible attempt to patch it; We replaced the edging on the bottom and coated the wall with a water repellent to try to contain the problem, but we are now at the point where we have no more paving.”

The Sunset wall isn’t the only place Lowe said she’s at her patch limit.

“We’re also running out of pavers for the 300 Hall at LC Kerr,” he said. “As you know, we keep going back up there and covering the shingles even more and now it looks like a patchwork quilt, but then new leaks keep popping up elsewhere. That’s why I’m sharing these estimates to show where we stand in terms of our roofing needs. This really helped me prepare our applications for the Needs Based Public Schools Capital Funds Grant.”

Regarding the scope of the total roofing needs, Lowe’s provided estimates detailing the estimated 2024 construction costs and the 2024 consulting fee, which were equal to the total cost of the project.

• Butler Avenue – (Building 300) construction $243,000, consulting $19,000; a total of $262,000

• LC Kerr – (gym wall) construction $27,000, consulting $4,000; total $31,000; (300 buildings) $148,500, $12,000; total $160,500; (Building 01.15-Kimbrough Road, end of 200 Hall) $196,500, $16,000; a total of $212,500.

• Sunset Avenue – (Elevation Wall) construction $259,000, consulting $21,000; total $280,000; (Triangular building on Kerr Street side) $636,000, $51,000; a total of $687,000; (Auditorium) $315,000, $25,000; a total of $340,000; (700 Hall at Finch Street) $423,000, $33,800; total $456,800; (Combined Auditorium and Finch Street Hall – not charged as a whole) $738,000, $58,800; a total of $796,800.

• Sampson Middle – (Total area of ​​Sampson Middle – not calculated as a whole) Construction $3,720,000, Consulting $335,000; total $4,055,000; (Academic Wing) Construction $2,025,000, Consulting $162,000; a total of $2,187,000; (Gym Wing) $1,695,000, $136,000; totaling $1,831,000.

Based on these figures, the estimated total construction cost is $10,426,000 with consulting fees at $873,600 for a total cost of $11,299,600. While it is a steep hill to overcome, and while plans are underway to address the worst problems, he stressed that urgent help from other sources continues to be needed.

“There is some good news on LC Kerr, as I mentioned, such as our 2021-22 needs-based funds that I just filed this summer, our recent final reports, and my numbers are exactly the same as theirs. The offers were only slightly below our proposal, which was around $57,000.”

While these funds are only intended for the projects listed on their applications, such as new construction, Lowe said the possibility of using these grants for roof repairs at LC Kerr is an option.

“You (NC DPI) immediately said that we would not like to refund these funds, and I responded that I did not want to refund them either, but according to your information, they can only be used to the extent that was suggested in the grant application.” he said. “They said that’s true, but let me discuss this with my boss Dennis Hilton. Dennis then comes back to me and asks: Are there any other roofing projects at the locations that were included?

Lowe continued: “I said, yes, sir, there is; We have an urgent need at LC Kerr Elementary. It’s far more than what we have left, but would that be eligible?” What ultimately came out of it, and I got this in writing from the Office of School Planning, was that we were going to use the $57,000 that we were awarded for can use the LC Kerr project.

“This is helping us tremendously and I had already budgeted a certain amount for this product,” he added. “I hope the project goes through and receives a fair bid so I can shift the rest of my budget toward the wall at Sunset and both of these issues can be resolved with this capital outlay. That is my intention and then we will tackle the others as best we can, hopefully with the help of the district commissioners.”

Reach Michael B. Hardison at 910-249-4231. Follow us on Twitter at @SamsponInd, like us on Facebook and check out our Instagram at @thesampsonindependent.