Bare privet

I cut my 10' privet down to managable size, but then i realized i've cut back further than the small bushes of branches where the leaves grow and it's all just the thick bare branches. Have i killed it? I sill has green growth on my neighbours side but she has not cut it as far back as me.
I have noticed in some gardens near by that some people have some sort of climbers running through their privet that flower and thicken it up, it looks lovely. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what plants would be suitable for this purpose? And any tips on the privet?
Many thanks

 

Persephony (and Shiney), when I got a delivery of gravel once, to get it into my garden, I got the privet hedge chain sawed. A couple of months later I lit a bonfire of the hedge bits which I didn't move very far and it burned the stumps. It is currently a perfectly healthy hedge. It's like buddleja - you can't kill it.

 

Thats great to know, thanks. I'm releaved now.