One of the last of those amazing actors of a certain age who seem to have been around for ever, astonishing us with their skill and versatility . Sadly not many left now.
I once sat at the next table to Dame Maggie in a cafe, she was telling an obviously scurrilous and hilarious story to her companion and I couldn’t hear a word of it! I wanted to lean over and remind her she could get every word to the back of the gods at the National when she wanted, so a bit of projection to the next table wasnt a reach for her. But I didn’t.