Get ready for a fun trip down memory lane as we revisit a surprising behind-the-scenes story about The Brady Bunch and the actress who played its most famous sister, Maureen McCormick.

Known to millions as Marcia Brady, McCormick became a television icon during the show’s run from 1969 to 1974, but life on set had more warmth and personality than fans often realized. According to stories she later shared in her memoir Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, the young actress—who was only 13 when the series began—developed a close bond with the crew. Rather than any scandal, the “little extra” people talk about simply referred to her kindness and upbeat energy.

Cast and crew members often remembered how she would bring homemade cookies, leave small thank-you notes, joke around between takes, and help lift everyone’s spirits during long filming days. Even during the famous 1973 episode “The Subject Was Noses,” where Marcia gets hit in the face with a football, McCormick reportedly kept the mood light by joking with the crew between scenes.