the greatest interviewer of all time." Many have noted that Drake's style of interviewing tended to be very matter-of-fact and blunt. Notable examples being telling Tim Curry that he "looks evil in many ways", prefacing Lee Remick with "You got to work with Richard Burton in The Tempest, and now he's dead" and telling Gene Hackman, "You've done some brilliant pictures, you've done some stinkers" with a bemused Hackman responding "Really?" Drake believed that the reason her interviews were popular was because she interviewed older celebrities. When she realized that it was because of her approach to interviewing, she stated "I'm not matter-of-fact; I do my homework... If I'm going to do an interview, I come in and look like I know what I'm talking about... And maybe that was it. Confidence will take you a long way, you know, it really will." Death She died on September 15, 2021. Awards and recognitions Friend of Nebraska Award, Seward Chamber of Commerce: grand marshal in Fourth of July parade, 1978 Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska Golden Grid Award from Trac Media for largest increase in ratings of any PBS station in country over a three-year period, 1997 PBS Development Award First Place for raising the greatest dollar percentage increase during year long pledge drives than any PBS station in the system, 1997 Mayor's Arts Award Sam Davidson Award in Theatre, May, 2001 Lady Vestey Gracious Lady Award, Superior, Nebraska, May 2001 Abe Lincoln Award Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission for Service to the Community, presented by Bob Hope Who's Who in American Women Salvation Army's Bonnet Award of distinction for service to others Television Bureau of Advertising: First Place Award for best locally produced TV commercial in the US Lincoln Advertising Federation: First Place Award for best locally produced TV commercial Best Actress award five times at University of Nebraska Theatre Elsie Award, Outstanding Performance Award six times at the Lincoln Community Playhouse Aldo Award Men's Fashion Association of America: First place seven times for the best local television coverage of men's fashions in the country All Women's Transcontinental Air Race Powder Puff Derby: Placed twice in the top ten and piloted a single engine aircraft across the US four times Life Membership Award Lincoln General Hospital Auxiliary, October, 2002 Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, August 2010 She was inducted into the NPW Marian