'Reagan' star Lesley-Anne Down recalls three near-fatal encounters

Lesley-Anne Down, who plays Margaret Thatcher opposite Dennis Quaid in the film "Reagan," has recounted three specific instances in which she believes she narrowly escaped being killed. The actress, now 72, told Fox News Digital that these experiences range from a childhood incident involving the Moors murders to a recent escape from a moving vehicle.

Down's first encounter with danger occurred when she was 10 years old, coinciding with the public revelation of the Moors murders in northern England. At that time, five children had been murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between 1963 and 1965, with their bodies buried on Saddleworth Moor. One of the victims, Leslie Ann Downey, was described as having dark hair and blue eyes and was approximately six months younger than Down. Down noted that her mother received phone calls after the victim's identity was announced, creating a sense of fear for the family despite the victim not being Down herself.

A year later, Down described an incident where she separated from her mother after leaving a launderette. While running over a footbridge, a man stopped her and told her he needed a babysitter and would contact her parents upon arrival at his house. Down stated she had one foot in the car before seeing her mother, which she said broke the situation. The man then left, but Down recalled the intense fear she experienced during the brief moment before her mother appeared.

The third incident happened when Down was 18 years old. She ordered a taxi in the countryside and climbed into a vehicle that pulled up to her location. Once the car began moving, Down noticed it lacked standard taxi features such as radios. When she asked the driver to pull over, he refused, stating they would be there soon. Down decided to jump from the moving car while it was traveling at 25 miles per hour. She fell onto a curb in a puddle and was covered in blood, but no one else was nearby. The driver closed the door and drove away at top speed. Down said she did not freeze because the feeling of danger was familiar to her from previous experiences.

Down has used these experiences to advise women pursuing careers in Hollywood to never go anywhere alone. She recommends always having an agent or publicist present, even if they are only on the phone or waiting in a lobby. She stated she made the decision to leave Hollywood around 2012, moving from California to Georgia because she was in a comfortable financial position and wanted to choose her own path.

Down also discussed her decision to turn down two opportunities to become a Bond girl. She explained that the role did not resonate with her because it involved skimpy clothing, limited dialogue, and no significant acting involvement. She feared that accepting such a role would define her career permanently. Instead, she accepted the role of Margaret Thatcher in "Reagan," which she said came unexpectedly. Down expressed gratitude for the experience, noting that both Thatcher and Ronald Reagan believed in their respective nations and worked for their longevity and success.

The film "Reagan" is currently available to rent or buy on digital platforms.