MAGGIE SMITH - SMITH STILL TERRIFIED OF THE STAGE

Veteran British actress DAME MAGGIE SMITH still suffers horrific stage fright, despite her 50 years experience treading the boards. The 72-year-old is about to star in new London play THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, but is currently recovering from a viral infection. And Smith, who made her stage debut in 1956, is convinced her friends and colleagues are waiting for her body to give up. She says, "I think they all think I'm going to die. And I might. "I'm very scared about the stage at the moment. I've always been scared actually, but I didn't know I'd be this scared. "Perhaps it will be alright on the night. Well, it won't be on the first night, but afterwards perhaps."