The Monica Lewinsky scandal happened while she made Primary Colors. “Poor Monica,” she said, explaining the atmosphere on set this way: “The thing that we’re making a film about is happening in real life. So that was very strange.”

Staying with the topic of U.S. politics, Thompson said, “It feels like a long time ago now, doesn’t it? Oh, if only we could just have a nice sex scandal and not all this stuff.“ The audience broke into laughter about the joke that wa understood as reference to U.S. President Donald Trump.

The star’s work in the Harry Potter films also came up. “This is not really an important part of my creative endeavor,” she said, highlighting that she would typically only come in for a few days of shoots rather than being part of the production. “I’m really sorry. I don’t mean to be rude to those of you who like Harry Potter, but you know, I really came in, did a bit with glasses and hair, and then left, having been quite well paid. I’m very grateful to them.”

Thompson recalled her comedy days, including her time doing stand-up. “I used to say that herpes and Margaret Thatcher were both very difficult to get rid of, which is a joke that still stands to this day,” she said.

After the British star received the honor, her new film, action-thriller Dead of Winter, directed by Brian Kirk, world premiered. Written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb, the film also stars Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Thompson’s daughter Gaia Wise, Lloyd Hutchinson, and Brían F. O’Byrne. Thompson is also an executive producer on it.

Thompson plays a widowed fisherwoman who travels alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupting the kidnap of teenage girl. “Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl’s only hope,” reads a synopsis.

“The one thing that really scared me, genuinely scared me, was not running about, although I did pull every single muscle in my body,” Thompson told a press conference. Her biggest fear had to do with going under water.

Thompson as this year’s recipient: She is the only person in the history of the Academy Awards to have won for both acting and screenwriting.

Thompson’s willingness to take risks with her roles has made her vital force on stage and screen for four decades, a testament to the depth of affection multiple generations of fans hold for her.

During her Leopard Club Award acceptance speech, Thompson was “a little bit overwhelmed” and charmed the crowd with her Italian, as you can see in the video below. Her daughter Gaia also shared some thoughts on her experience on Dead of Winter.

The Locarno festival runs through Aug. 16.