Violet: "I'm so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I'm with her, I'm reminded of the virtues of the English." Matthew: "But isn't she American?" Violet: "Exactly."
+Merry Machiavelli So So classic... i really liked that eisode. Hahaha SHe goes on to say that atleast the English are in control of something. And she is right!!!
The Dowager Countess might be the best character in TV from the last five years, tied with Walter White. She is given so many amazing lines it's hard to believe the writers even thought of them all. And the acting is literally flawless. Watch her multiple times and you notice little tiny things Maggie Smith does. The way her voice will crack almost unintentionally. Her pronunciation of certain words give everything she says extra weight. The way her iconic eyes move slightly. Her simple little stutters and pacing of sentences. She is arguably the greatest actress in the world right now and Violet Crawley is the character she was always destined to play and she absolutely nailed it. .
alex hussey Absolutely dead on. She can do it all, broad comedy, deep tragedy and everything in between. She is indeed a consummate actress. Cheers Dame Maggie, you are the best.
You will have to work at your emotional state after menopause. Some women go through hell in that transitional period (my mom did). Talk to your mom about that, if you haven’t seen her mad as hell.
I swear she's the best thing that ever happened to this show. Her actions, expressions and one liners are priceless. "Don't be defeatist dear, it's very middle class" "But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother and a nastier woman never drew breath" "She's had enough banging for one night" " No Englishman would dream of Dying in someone elses house, specially somebody they did not know " She leaves me floored every episode. I love Maggie Smith
The Dowager will stay in our hearts always. Impeccable acting, incredible lines. I loved all her witty one liners but her gift as an actress was best illustrated on the day of Lady Sybil's funeral. Her controlled & understated emotion still cut through the heartstrings far more than a grandiose speech. Her limited exchange of words with Carson, steadying herself against the wall conveyed her grief so well.
My favorite dowager countess line - spoken, of course, about Isobel Crawley: Cora: "But she's such a martyr." Dowager Countess: "Then we must tempt her with a more enticing scaffold."
for me her best so far would be,,I wonder your halo doesn’t grow heavy, it must be like wearing a tiara round the clock.,, or, When you talk like that I am tempted to ring for nanny and have you sent to bed without any supper,,
Maggie Smith is HILLARIOUS beyond words! I mean! Its not just giving a person lines to repeat. She delivers them with such brilliance and her timing is off the charts! Seriously!
When her niece, Susan, welcomes her into Duneagle in the 3rd Christmas Special; Susan says that they feel privileged to have lured her so far north and the Dowager responds: "you flatter me... which is just how it should be". Her sarcasm is legendary!!
I reluctantly watched Season 1 episode 1 with my girlfriend. I then binge watched all 6 seasons over three days. One of the best English Drama's I have ever watched and I am so glad how they wrapped it up at the end of season 6. 6 seasons was JUST enough, any more than that and it would have gone from a treat to just in it for the money. My life is just a little more enriched for having watched Downton Abby.
Awww so many superb lines missed out from this video. Maggie Smith is a national treasure I love her work and her lines in Downton Abbey are pure comedy gold.
My favorite exchange is when Shirley McClain says: "Time has made an old lady of both of us"' Maggie Smith says: "Oh I wouldn't say so, but then again, I stay out of the sun"
My fave line was the one where Sybil got injured in a rally and she might miss her debut. Her granny tells her: "You can't be expected to curtsy for Their Majesties in June when you've been arrested at a riot in May".
Love this show and she's wonderful. I love how she delivers her lines. How she did it with a straight face I'll never know. I'm glad I don't have to worry about that when I hear her, I end up busting a gut laughing!
The best part of not discovering Downton Abbey until recently is… You can have a marathon. Which I did. Seen it twice. And soon to see it a third time. The most well written, well acted mini series Of all time. My opinion.
The Dame is without doubt the single most entertaining thing about Downton. The timing and facial expression are a dream and just to SEE her enter a room or a scene is to know that at SOME point, it will be stolen by the delivery of a fantastic line. Fellows may well write them, but Maggie Smith breaths the life into the lines that make them and her utterly Priceless.
OMG this is just classic loved every moment of it so cleverly done certainly made me smile. Maggie Smith is an amazing actress her timing is brilliant. The best of British television - JUST SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!
Donna DeMarino I think you can take it as Italians are more open and progressive than the English were back then. Italy have always been a mix of people from all over the region- thanks to the Roman Empire. So there’s a certain anti-nativism and ahead of their time that Italians have always displayed, that means not being as obsessed with “class” and “what people will think”... I think that’s a sign of being further along in civilization.
At that time, the economy.in Italy wasn't doing too well. There was a lot of nearly destitute Italian aristocracy who, for a price , would overlook tarnished virtue.
Maggie is a classic. I first noticed her back in ancient history in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". She has never disappointed me since. Another in the same class is Dame Judi Dench. I will watch any movie with their names on it on that recommendation alone.
"It always happens. When you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink." Best argument for monarchy and aristocracy I've ever heard.
They give her the best lines. And often what she says is often true or half true. And it’s often what people probably really feel in those situations but never say. Often true and funny. It takes a strong persona to deliver the lines she is given as she does.
Dame Maggie Smith is an international treasure!! After sailing from Brooklyn, N.Y.C. to Southampton, England on the Queen Mary 2 I had the high honour and deep privilege of meeting her backstage at the Royal Haymarket Theatre in London in June of 2007 after seeing her perform in the play THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE. She was gracious, very casually dressed and down to earth and consented to have my photo taken with her before I left. I still have the picture and will never forget our encounter.
The one thing that absolutely captures the Dowager was actually a comment by Isobel, when she gave her a nutcracker for Christmas. Dowager: Oh, this is nice. This is... Wh-what is it? Isobel: What does it look like? Dowager: Something to get stones out of horses' hooves? Isobel: It's a nutcracker. We thought you'd like it. - Pause for dramatic effect - Isobel: To crack your nuts. The look on her face was priceless!
Was it after this when the Dowager said to Isobel that she was a tough nut cracker (Isobel said something about that one woman being a "tough nut"..Ms. Crookshank or whatever the name was). I find it funny..i'm wondering if all that was on purpose?
Ahhh, I can't do a recut. Bummer. If you upload a new version of the video it erases all your page view numbers! I actually did this as a surprise for a friend who was so sick of seeing the "Sh*t ___ Says" videos and he said "I wish someone would do a "Sh*t the Dowager Countess Says." So I did, as a fun surprise - I had no idea anyone else would see it. It originally only had about 20 hits. Anyhow, thanks for sharing it - hope you all got a kick out of it!
She has the best lines in the show. If not for her role I don't think the show would have been as successful, if they had someone else play Lady Grantham, Edith, Mary, Sybil, Mathew, Anna or Bates.. those parts could very well have been played by anyone and it would not have affected the popularity of the show. But Maggie Smith playing the Dowager was essential for the shows' success. I would also add Mrs. Hughes, Carson, Lord Grantham, and Isobel would all be difficultly substituted.
She just had some great lines in the last episode as well. I came here looking for them because I accidentally deleted it from my DVR. Thanks for this one though. I've loved Maggie Smith since The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
A great line was when Lady Grantham (Maggie Smith) says Isobel thrives on indignation, lol. So true. I know people like that, always championing something or someone, mostly NOT their family or friends as they tend to collect people as Isobel does in this show.
I love Violet Dowager...and I think that although England has some fantastic actresses such as Dame Judy Dench, for this role Dame Maggie Smith is absolutely THE PERFECTION!
@kerrymuzzey I can't believe some people actually complained about what you left out. This is a great video. Thank you so much for doing it and sharing it via YT so we can all enjoy these precious Downton moments. And I hope people will remember that, while Dame Maggie Smith delivers these lines with astonishing talent, they were written by Julian Fellowes, who deserves the credit for their wit, vivacity, and how much they add to this great British mini-series.
There was one scene where she doesn't say anything but her actions speak volumes. Its at the very beginning of the Christmas Special. She's examining someone gift card and when she finishes she puts it back in place and flicks her hand in a most aristocratically dismissive manner. I screamed with laughter!!!
Never have I witnessed more substance packed within 4 minutes and 49 seconds. I commend you, good sir. The Dowager is as wise as she is relentless. Not a moment feels wasted when she opens her mouth.
I love "well lets start with Mrs. Crawley and Lady Grantham" and the way her eyes settled made her look absolutely appalled to have it suggested to her that she should be called something different
she is priceless...maggie smith has always been the cat's meow in acting role but here she has found her calling...her one liners keep me rolling!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG you left out the absolute best scene of Dame Maggie Smith's... the dining scene where she mentions that Sybil is a woman and therefore has no opinions until she is married and her husband then tells her her opinions. That is the single best Dowager Countess line of the entire two seasons of show. Just perfect! Otherwise, I truly loved this. Great Job!
3:15, "You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look." Ha ha...ouch! Sliced off at the knees by a verbal sword, ninja-style.
Loved it her expressions are priceless and the things that come out of her mouth she doesn't even think that she's saying anything wrong of course that's the writer is doing that it's good but she's the one that pulls it up makes it happen I hope she goes on forever and ever I'm her same age I'll be 89 and May 7th maybe we have another 10 years I hope well thank you for the video
Dear Dame Maggie Smith, what a treasure. She said in an interview with Graham Norton that she's never actually watched Downton Abbey. I hope she does one day. It's quite possibly one of the best television dramas ever made and her performance as the dowager countess is a class act.
Was hoping to hear Mrs. Crawley say to Lady Grantham "Of course if you had had to sell Charlie to the butcher to be chopped up as stew. . ." and Lady Grantham says, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
" a nut cracker, you know, so you can crack or nuts..." I find it very hard to believe that Maggie didn't have a hard time trying hard to laugh! ;) I love her so much and she is such a fine actress and a true inspiration.
When the writers were told they would be creating stuff for her i think they peed theyre pants abd rubbed theyre hands together at the same time with a smile. I believe if memory serves, julian created the character with her in mind. Thats how it worked so well
