Maggie Smith returns to work after cancer battle

Published on Sunday 18 October 2009 23:10

DAME Maggie Smith's return to work after being treated for cancer was praised yesterday by her colleagues.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes directed the actress in From Time to Time, filmed immediately after she was treated for breast cancer.

At the film's premiere in London yesterday, Fellowes and actor Timothy Spall congratulated "trouper" Dame Maggie's return to the film set.

Fellowes, who adapted the film from Lucy M Boston's Green Knowe stories, said: "I think she dealt with it with tremendous fortitude and strength, and it's that whole business of getting back in the saddle, isn't it?

"She was tremendously disciplined, we didn't lose an hour because of the illness. She just stuck to the schedule and it was a pretty tough schedule. I did admire her very much for not making it our problem."

He also praised her performance in the film.

"She's very, very funny but she's also tremendously touching, really very moving. She's got one scene that makes me cry every time I see it, I couldn't ask for any more than that," he said.

Spall, who stars alongside Dame Maggie, 74, in the film, said she held on to her sense of humour, despite the illness.

He said: "Maggie not only is one of our finest actresses, she's also what we call a trouper, she would just get on with her work and she just did it unflinchingly and marvellously and with her sharp wit that she retained throughout the whole shoot even though she hadn't been very well."