The 79-year-old is long way from Downton Abbey when she gets picked up by an ambulance in the show, based on Alan Bennett's West End play
What would the Dowager of the Grantham say if she could see her now? Dame Maggie Smith distances herself from gentrified Downton Abbey role in her latest project, Lady In The Van.
The veteran actress looked far from well after being transformed into the homeless Miss Mary Shepherd to film a new BBC drama based on Alan Bennett's autobiographical play of the same name.
With her scruffy grey locks worn down around her face, the 79-year-old is given a blanket to keep warm before being taken away by ambulance.
Her role sees her live in several dilapidated vans, hence the title, on the playwright's drive in Camden, which she calls home for more than fifteen years.
The man behind Talking Heads, who wrote about his experience and relationship with Miss Shepherd, in his diaries before sharing the story on stage, is played by Alex Jennings.
The moving tale, written by Bennett and directed by Nicholas Hytner, is their second collaboration since 2006's The History Boys.
Last month, the iconic film's breakout star James Corden was also spotted on the set filming a cameo role as a market stall vendor, the MailOnline reported.
The shoot comes just two days after the Downton Abbey series finale aired, in which Prince Kuragin's declared his love for old flame Violet Crawley - portrayed by Smith.
Fans however will have to wait until the Christmas special to see if the matriarch acts up on his proposition.
