Downton's Dame Maggie Smith, 80, jazzes up her look with a pretty scarf at photocall for new movie Lady In The Van

By Rebecca Davison for MailOnline

Published: 09:49 EDT, 13 October 2015 | Updated: 10:39 EDT, 13 October 2015

Academy Award winner Dame Maggie Smith looked worlds apart from her Downton Abbey counterpart when she attended a photocall for new movie Lady In The Van on Tuesday. 

The 80-year-old looked lovely at the event, held at iconic London venue, Claridge's as she posed for snaps on the red carpet. 

She jazzed up her grey jumper and trousers with a pretty leopard print scarf which had roses printed throughout.

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The star of the show: The Academy Award winner looked worlds apart from her Downton Abbey counterpart when she attended a photocall for her new film earlier on Tuesday

The star of the show: Academy Award winner Dame Maggie Smith looked worlds apart from her Downton Abbey counterpart when she attended a photocall for new movie Lady In The Van on Tuesday

Also present was writer Alan Bennett, as well as Alex Jennings, who plays Bennett in the film.

Maggie is set to be a box office sensation in new movie, The Lady In The Van, as a new poster and trailer is released.

She plays a transient woman who forms an unexpected bond with a man [played by Jennings] who lets her park in her van in his driveway.

New look: The 80-year-old looked lovely at the event, held at iconic London venue, Claridge's as she posed for snaps on the red carpet

New look: The 80-year-old looked lovely at the event, held at iconic London venue, Claridge's as she posed for snaps on the red carpet

Three's no crowd: She posed with writer smart duo Alan and Alex

Three's no crowd: She posed with writer Alan Bennett (right) and actor Alex Jennings (left) who plays him in the movie 

Real life: The movie, which stars James Corden, was created by Alan Bennett's own diary entries about the lady who lived in his own driveway, until her death in 1989

Real life: The movie, which stars James Corden, was created by Alan Bennett's own diary entries about the lady who lived in his own driveway, until her death in 1989

Having planned to only stay for three weeks, the protagonist Miss Shepherd, remains on his property for 15 years, as their friendship blossoms. 

The movie, which stars James Corden and was created by Alan Bennett's own diary entries about the lady who lived in his own driveway, until her death in 1989.

During the moving trailer, it becomes clear that Miss Shepherd is quite an extraordinary character, who is rather well educated and can speak French. 

She becomes so close to the family whose Gloucester Road driveway she lives on, that they even give her Christmas presents, which she haughtily receives. 

New look: Academy Award winner Dame Maggie Smith is set to be a box office sensation in new movie, The Lady In The Van, as a new poster is released

New look: Academy Award winner Dame Maggie Smith is set to be a box office sensation in new movie, The Lady In The Van, as a new poster is released

'Shut the door. I'm a very busy woman,' she exclaims, before shutting her curtains swiftly. 

She then can be seen painting her trusty grey van a bright shade of yellow, although it's not exactly done to perfection. 

'But it's all lumps, you have to mix it', says her landlord of sorts. 

'I have, I have mixed it,' she replies. 'Only I  got some Madeira cake in it.'

Sweet: The 80-year-old Downton Abbey star plays a transient woman who forms an unexpected bond with a man who lets her park in her van in his driveway

Sweet: The 80-year-old Downton Abbey star plays a transient woman who forms an unexpected bond with a man who lets her park in her van in his driveway

Odd jobs: She then can be seen painting her trusty grey van a bright shade of yellow, although it's not exactly done to perfection. 'But it's all lumps, you have to mix it', says her landlord of sorts

Odd jobs: She then can be seen painting her trusty grey van a bright shade of yellow, although it's not exactly done to perfection. 'But it's all lumps, you have to mix it', says her landlord of sorts

Why thank you! She becomes so close to the family whose Gloucester Road driveway she lives on, that they even give her Christmas presents, which she haughtily receives

Why thank you! She becomes so close to the family whose Gloucester Road driveway she lives on, that they even give her Christmas presents, which she haughtily receives

In an interview with the Telegraph , Alan said of the lady: 'Even I didn’t know her well. But I knew what she was like.'

In an interview with the Telegraph , Alan said of the lady: 'Even I didn’t know her well. But I knew what she was like.'

In an interview with the Telegraph, Alan said of the lady: 'Even I didn’t know her well. But I knew what she was like.'

He said that in real life, people were interested in Miss Shepherd's sanitary arrangements. 

Adding: 'It was really a question of plastic bags. Stout ones.' with the writer revealing that she would use his loo on occasion, leaving him disinfecting it for hours afterwards. 

The Lady In The Van is slated for release in November.  

Loved: Dame Maggie Smith is perhaps best known for playing the sharp-tongued Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey 

Loved: Dame Maggie Smith is perhaps best known for playing the sharp-tongued Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey 

 

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Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith at photocall for new movie Lady In The Van

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