By Lacy Baugher for Actors and Actresses on February 15th, 2013

Rare Dame Maggie Smith Interview Set to Happen on 60 Minutes

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All Downton Abbey fans are probably going to want to make sure that they tune in to CBS news program 60 Minutes this weekend (February 17) because it’s going to be a rare opportunity to see an interview with the Dowager Countess herself, Dame Maggie Smith!

We all love Dame Maggie and her fantastic portrayal of Downton’s indomitable Dowager Countess, but it’s common knowledge that the star rarely makes public appearances like this. The two-time Oscar winner has a shelf full of awards for her portrayal of Violet Crawley , including multiple Golden Globes and Emmys, but the actress has never picked any of them up herself. Smith is notorious for never attending awards shows and the actress hardly ever does promotional appearances or interviews like this. (Read: Also pretty much never.)

Basically, I’m ridiculously excited for this interview – it’s like the celebrity version of a solar eclipse or something. Bring it on.

Get a sneak peek at Dame Maggie’s appearance below, in which 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft asks whether she’s proud of Downton Abbey. Her answer might surprise you:

What would the Dowager say if she knew that Dame Maggie Smith had never actually watched Downton? But of course, she can get away with that, basically because she’s Maggie Smith. The full interview this weekend should be fantastic!

By Lacy Baugher for Actors and Actresses on February 15th, 2013
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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