In conversation with Maggie Smith: "I led a perfectly normal life until Downton Abbey" | BFI 

I get the impression that she doesn't give a single shit.

true. I would only watch it for her appearances.

She is the best character, hands down.

I have a feeling that when shows work very well and they depend for their success on so many different things, it gives even the top actors relief from being a big reason for the success.

She's my favorite!

i see her as a drama queen lol,, just my input. i didn't say i didn't like her

I’m guessing that you’re not a big fan of Will Ferrell, are you? 😆 I agree with what you wrote, it doesn’t feel as if you’re watching an actress acting. When I watch her performances, I feel as if I’ve been given insight into someone else’s life. She really embraces the characters and their stories.

Yes and she did it all with hard work and no need to be on some talent show getting 15 mins of fame

exactly! her delivery is just superb.

A.C. Not a fan of him at all actually. He is one of my least favourite actors. How interesting 🤔 I think you nailed something.

That's because she didn't want you to know where she lived!😂

@@andiemorgan961 or she probably wants to remain self-sufficient as long as she can.

THE LUCK, no doubts she's so lovely

Now you know that when she said with smile she means something

Sure...

No, she simply said she used to be able to go out, go to museums alone, and that changed with DA, as that was TV (rather than theater or film).

Brits, especially middle class/upper class who go to theatre and watch artsy movies would never approach an actor. It's very American so I'd imagine it's mostly foreigners doing that now.. or TV watching masses. All of these dames and sirs actually live very normally. It's about being approached like that, not about knowing one's value.

@@nasevakurttu Oh I for sure agree! I wouldn't dream of going up to her or any other celebrity. I'd probably sneak a photo from afar, but thats it haha. It just surprised me since she was so very popular from the HP series and I've seen many clips where she was being "mobbed" by fans during those days, prior to Downtown.

Yes, a legend.

She is!! You’re spot on!

You must be young

She’s done soooo much more besides Harry Potter

@Emperor Charlemagne That was her. It's likely that was the first film I saw her in. Watching that as a child, her character transfixed me. I always felt like I was a hair's breadth away from making her yell at me for doing something stupid or having her impart to me a great spooky secret. Haha. Such are the workings of a child's mind!

@@ameliesayshola8854 True, of course. But that doesn't mean OP's sentiment is wrong. I completely agree with Spike here -- it couldn't have been anyone else!

I think my favorite role is in the Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Yes, which really does make you wonder exactly what they paid her for it. A well known actress like that, in a non adapted (ie Austen/Bronte) TV series? I'd say they probably paid her more than anyone else in the series that's for sure. Though for certain Hugh Bonneville got a huge boost from it, before that I only remember him as doing small bit parts like in Notting Hill.

Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

Half the time I was just waiting for the next Maggie scene to happen.

Shavin McCrotch Same! I love her dynamic with Mrs. Crawley.

I think the show would have still been successful without her.

Aggie D. *** Absolutely correct.

Agree, but Dame Judy Dench is right up there with her

Agree 💯

Totally agree. As hilarious and fun to watch as she is in Downton, the show hasn't really shown the depth and range of her dramatic talent. One of my favorite performances (along with the film The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne) was her 40-minute monologue filmed in the 1980s for the BBC, of Alan Bennett's Bed Among the Lentils, part of Bennett's Talking Heads series. It's here on RU-vid, luckily. She plays the sad alcoholic wife of an ambitious vicar, and she is both funny and heartbreakingly poignant. As she tells her story, she captures her own character, her husband's and a gallery of local churchgoers. I've seen other actors do it but nobody comes even close to what Maggie Smith does with it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MTgyYqY3XTE.html

We are one, this human race. She is our sister, always, you are to me. Peace 🙏🏼🕊☺️

@@WhirledPeace nice comment. Cheers from Santiago. Chile.

@@WhirledPeace nice comment... But I do envy the brits sometimes

@Orion Valentine being english means being british last time i checked.

@Orion Valentine how is that offensive? 😂😂Nowadays people get offended by everything

I've tried to look for that movie, and I don't see it. The line is accredited to Mark Twain, but I'd love to hear her deliver it. I just can't seem to find the movie you're saying she was in.

@@reneebobenrieth501 try searching this way . the love letter 1999 it also starred ellen degeneres

@@jodie4609 thank you!

@@reneebobenrieth501 😀

😂😂😂

A class act to be sure !

That scene is so heavy. It made the awfulness of it all strike home in a way, not even Sybil's death scene did. Emmy worthy, indeed.

Was that in Downton Abbey? I only got to see the first season…

WHAT?! she looks older than that.

I think she's had at least one round with cancer: & she's one of the Old Guard of British actors who don't do plastic surgery.

@@KL-ng4qm how old are you?

@@mattstevens7601 for what?

@@mattstevens7601 24

She is a walking masterclass

What's a weekend? I was sold after that line

It was not a matter of wealth, weekends are rather a modern invention. People used to get some time off on only religious festivities, or to go to church on Sundays. For what I remember from history books, labourers were just begining to fight for rights such as a FULL DAY off( there was this case of an anarchist so involded in the cause that wanted to name his son "Sunday Rest", so go figure).

It goes the other way, weekends do not happen in certain professions and many are too poor to have a weekend. I forget that weekends exist a lot of the time until someone mentions it.

Classy lady

@@anona2017 But still, you know what they are. And rich people today also know what is a weekend even if they’ve never worked a day in their lives, because they’ll likely employ people and these people are entitled to their day off (in most countries). It has more to do with labour rights than wealth. We see in downton abbey, those people had half a day off at most, if someone allowed them. I remember an episode were the footmen asked for some time off because the family was away and the butler was offended by it because the family was still paying them, so how could they possibly ask that. It was just unimaginable the idea of someone having a day off or two and still be payed for it, so of course rich people didn’t even know what a weekend was

Yes it is interesting how we all forget that The Weekend, and indeed being a Teenager are modern inventions - 20th century inventions. Before this point people would be working every day (except for some time off for church on Sunday) -- and if that would be from the ages of 12 or younger unless their family could afford a private education. So The Dowager's comments are not so much a matter of class, wealth and status as a matter of The Dowager being a person of Victorian or 19th century sensibilities unaware or perhaps pretending to be unaware of the changing times.

Yes!

Toby Maggie Smiths son

Films met Maggi smith

Femmegine De Looze I do not understand your comment. Mainly because it makes no sense.

albert hammerslag I think he means "films made Maggie".

How about The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, saw it it in the drive in with my family. She was so good in that and thought she was great ever since. She was hysterical in Downton Abbey, and is priceless.

That made me laugh out loud. I relate so hard. 😂

Because he didn't had the proper closed :D

melhor cena kkkkkkkkk

I don’t remember that story, but it sounds hilarious!

@@sarahjones8396 it was when her son lost his footman and had to be dressed by a trainee.

@@Zalyplants no, it was when the at that the black tie dinner suit (the tuxedo for Americans) became a fashion. In earlier years / seasons they suited up in a white tie evening dress worthy of a state dinner, even if the only persons at the dinner were close family. Black tie is VERY unformal compared to white tie. ___ Edit: found it. I forgot it happened because Thomas had to take over for some time, though one should not consider him a „trainee“, he was in service for a long time prior to the war. We were both right to a degree :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-paP1RFjgElg.html

Wonderfully quick witted yet natural responses. 🥰

I KNOW i Want to see "Abbey" but never have! I just have seen all of her great movies and she WAS hilarious in Jean Brodie but not intended to be.

I'm sure she has her moments 😊

@@Dinckelburg as we all do.

Diego Meneses that’s one thing I never cared for about the later Harry Potter films how little McGonagall was seen. Maggie Smith is too good an actress to leave sitting in a trailer.

She filled up the scenes so perfectly that I never really noticed just how little she is in the movies!!

Jordan Hamilton Same. Now it kinda upsets me 😔

Mc Gonagal had a major role in many, but especially in the later books, such as book 5 where she wrangled with Umbridge. But instead they decided to make Harry's romance dramatic. I would have preferred each book to have two movies, but have it all done justice to.

@@ausmurray9437 I believe it's because she had been battling cancer.

She was absolutely the best character in the show and that's mainly because of her delivery. She is absolutely amazing ❤

ONG I did not know she is a cancer survivor. She is wonderful, in spite of her troubles she has survived and continues to thrive.

What a wonderful accolade to Dame Maggie! I totally agree.

Yes ,she is a truly an amazing woman and an unsurpassed actress with tremendous spirit

I think that's what happens when you get old.

Many actors don't view their own work.

Why do people confuse inner beauty with outer beauty? 🙄

@@CK-dp6je Bit rude...

Did you mean natural beauty?

It’s her eyes

I think you’ve got a bit confused with your idioms. That’s not what beauty triumphs over age means. 🤔

Charlie Noah she is amazing! you can't help but love her :)

Charlie Noah I Love Miss Maggie!! She's Awesome!! Funny, So Talented!!! Kind of on the Same Caliber as Our Beloved Betty White!!! Most "Downton" Fans May Not Know She Won An Oscar,...In the Late '60s, I Think!!

S. T. Martin ahh Betty White!

Betty White is wonderful, but she could never do any of the work Maggie Smith does.

apples and oranges, but both great women

O0

I Know!! Brilliant portrayal of a Spinster all gone pear shaped...

YEP!

Oh…HELL to the YES! Won the Oscar and immediately established herself here in a role that hitherto had belonged (on stage) to Vanessa Redgrave.

100%

Yes she was.

Sorry...I called dibs on her before the end of season 1! :)

@@ivsbanks Sorry...I called dibs several years before Downton even started! ;)

she's my second cousin ahaha

sorry third cousin lol

me too :) En plus elle a le meme age que la mienne elle est géniale

Yes, she was.

The way she can make a simple, seemingly mundane line like “Please do not smoke in here” stand out with her tone, pacing, the thin line of her mouth, and the steely gaze of her eyes is testament to her genius.

Yes!! Completely forgot she was in that until recently! Such a legend

That’s the movie I was introduced to her. Always loved her since then

Yes Dame Maggie Smith and her relationship with Whoopi Goldberg's character in the first Sister Act was absolutely necessary or that film would have been atrocious

I was 12 and I’ve never forgotten it…was awestruck

One of my all time favorite films. I watch it about once a year and it surprises me every time.

Ah!!! She was absolutely brilliant in it!

I‘m pretty sure she realizes that she is an amazing artist as she has been throughout her life. its just that she is self-critical, as any good artist will be.

Those two shows made her more visible, but she has always had a career. I can't think of too many years where she hasn't had something on the go. Look at her list of movies and tell me when her career needed revving up. With very few exceptions, she's been in at least one show a year since 1955.

yoo toob "Is that a student??" I don't know why the way she delivered that line just cracked me up. I love her.

Loved her in Marigold Hotel too...oh heck I love all her work.

Please, spare me harry the potter and downton.

@@patriciayeiser6405 you can't watch an interview with someone and not have them mention some of their most iconic roles...

That VHS had such a nice case. Think I still have it around somewhere. I'm pretty sure I wore out the VHS itself. I'll have to ask my ayah.

The secret garden, thats a blast from the past yikes

Totally forgot about its existance

YES 👏🏽

The Secret Garden and Hook. I'll always remember her as Lady Wendy in Hook 🥰

One of my favourite films.

+Dan Cowan GRAND Dame Maggie.

+tiffsaver So true, like Anthony Hopkins in "the world's fastest Indian"

Micheal Caine is another great actor.

SHE IS THAT I would like to see her in something with her son TOBY STEPHENS he is grand as well something with humore

And so down to earth at the same time...

Particularly as a working class person. Veronica East ...

And wit!

@@gracielagibbon6046 absolument

Well, she did get all the funniest lines. Some great writing on that series!

Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

Awwww🥺 my greataunt is also exactly like Dame Maggie🥰

Aww

My grandmother was exactly like the Dowager Countess. Downton gave me PTSD.

Lucky you!

@@rebradroot 😂

I hope you'll permit me to suggest some other comic roles--Plaza Suite (her second Academy Award winning performance); Travels With My Aunt (sort of an English Auntie Mame); and Murder By Death (riffing on Nora Charles opposite David Niven as her Nick Charles stand-in.)

one of the most beautiful jokes in history

Yes

@I'LL BE BACK ! I am, and I do indeed!

Hahaha Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

@@downtoncatbey8596 Nobody cares about your stupid boring cat videos :)

Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

Love Maggie to bits.

mine too

,and so humble....despite being utterly magnificent!!!

@@violetwilliamson2570Dame Maggie and Judi together in*tea with Mussolini*

Meryl Streep has to be included. She would be a dame if she was english

And Don't forget Sister Act 1 and 2.

Same here :)

I loved that film!!

oh I loved the movie but reading the book ruined it a little bit for me because the book is much better

I think "The Secret Garden" was the first movie I really saw her in as well. She was an amazing Mrs. Medlock. Years later when I read the first Harry Potter book (before the movies were even announced) I thought to myself "I'm going to imagine Mrs. McGonagle as Maggie Smith"

So true

Yanin Arzola - Salleh totally unaffected by fame . A truest humble lady with bags of talent .

MyDecozo My idea of heaven

I saw a story this morning about Dick Van Dyke, Norman Lear, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks together and when I saw this, I thought how wonderful it would be to have Maggie Smith and Judy Dench in the same room with them, add Michael Caine and John Cleese...I wonder if I would ever catch my breath.

After seeing them together in 'Ladies in Lavender', I think it'll be totally exhilarating.

Love that show!!!

GhanaianFoundingFather'sDaughter just

Her amazing voice is the reason why I started to seriously learn English.

I feel that way about all the Harry Potter actors.

Me too

I'd forgotten about that! From my childhood I'm thinking Hook but I Totally forgot about that.

Also in wife’s club… she was great in that too

Mother Superior : Girl Groups? Boogie-Woogie On The Piano? What Were You Thinking? 😅 Sister Act • 1992

Oh dear, no comparison 🙄😣

Sibylle Leon this yes.

@@kathleenwagner3845 Loved her in Sister Act.

Her appearance in 'A Room With A View' was arguably one of my favourite of her appearances🥺🥰

Yes, I'm a Southern Californian born and bred and would chase this woman down the street after "A Room with a View". I have admired her ever since and she is delightful in Downton Abbey, although I'm new too it and have not gotten over Matthew yet.🙄 Plus, she was great in "Becoming Jane".

I LOVE that movie, yes!!

Can't remember name of film. It was hilarious.! She was a cheeky typist who with husband were involved in taking a million pounds out of the country .She was amazing as a young girl.!

Am in my ninetys but haven't as yet got dimentia!

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

Omg it's soooo good.

Yes so true!!! We modeled our kitty’s voice in our videos after her. She is a legend.

hi i understand everyword of this line , but i no idea what make this line remarkable ..?can explain to me , i m asian

@@NTLHK I'll just give my take on it. In this case, 'to moan' means 'to whine'. She had plenty of complaints, but at least she wasn't the only one.

@@NTLHK It may be because I am American so to moan in American English usually has a sexual implication rather than meaning to complain, so I thought of it initially as one is not immensely pleasured without someone else with them, and someone else hearing them make an embarassing noise. So, as you can imagine, I was terribly confused why this was the response.

@@NasikaSakura I think you're both right and it was a double meaning, which makes it even funnier, lol

I think there's very little difference between Maggie the woman and Maggie the actress. She has an edge that coming from someone else, people could be insulted, she just tells it as it is. It's brilliant, she's brilliant.

And because it was begat by Gosford Park where Maggie Smith established the character.

)) ! just decided to watch it now August 2021)))

Indeed.❤

Same here! Only discovered Downton in 2022, years later. Love it, but Maggie made the show!! Absolutely brilliant

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

Those are lines in the script, not impromptu quips.

Judi came to my mind immediately when he mentioned roles for order women. Was not surprised she said Judi always gets them first.

I'm not sorry to say that Judi Dench cannot hold a candle to Maggie

@@juliesmock7614 Mi

@@mimikiki9286 Maggie would have been perfect playing Frasier and Niles crane grandmother

I loved them together in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel