Maggie Smith With 'Stagger' Through Harry Potter

Dame Maggie Smith has revealed that she will 'stagger' through the final Harry Potter movie despite her poor health. She also admitted that she may leave her theatre work behind.

The veteran actress has starred in more than 50 stage shows in the U.K.and U.S. since the 1950s, even winning a Tony award for her role in 1990 play Lettice and Lovage.

But the actress underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 2008 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

In an interview with The Times the actress said: "I'm not sure I could go back to theatre work, although film work is more tiring. I'm frightened to work in theatre now.

"I feel very uncertain. I haven't done it for a while. I'm not quite sure if it's like getting back on a horse or a bike.

"Not that I'd do either, I'd fall off. It's one of those things you ought to keep on doing and I haven't for a bit. I would love to be able to because I do love it, but I feel a great lack of confidence."

"Being unwell and having withdrawn, I haven't been in London for so long, it's quite scary up here. There's a limit to what you can do.

"I'm not into that argument there aren't any parts for older women, though. Anyway, why should there be? If there's work I'll do it and if there isn't, I've still got to stagger through the last Potter."

Smith has taken on the role of Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series since the Philosopher's Stone back in 2001.

She is set to reprise that role for the final movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be splint into two films.