The Shining's Shelley Duvall appeared in BAFTA's In Memoriam tribute too after her death last year at the age of 75, alongside The Undoing's Donald Sutherland, Lone Star's Kris Kristofferson and theatre star Joan Plowright.
The show, along with presenter Fiona Bruce arrived on the set of EastEnders for a special episode celebrating the history of film, music, theatre and television, set against the backdrop of Albert Square at the BBC’s Elstree studios in north London.
Others getting a tribute included Lion King star James Earl Jones, who passed away in September aged 93, as well as director David Lynch after his death aged 78 last month.
It turns out more viewers tuned in to a repeat edition of Antiques Roadshow an hour before the BAFTA Film Awards aired on BBC One.
"Maggie Smith," one viewer wrote on Twitter/X alongside a number of crying emojis, while another tweeted: "Maggie Smith, watch me cry #BAFTAs.".
