RIP Maggie Smith

[couldileaveyou]

The great lady was 89

[frankubelik]

Great in every sense. Blessed to have seen her so often on stage.........

[Jon]

Sad but what a life and career. My favourite Dame Maggie Smith story was the one Ian McKellen told where he was at the Oscars for Lord of the Rings and she happened to be there and he had a New Zealand necklace which I can't remember the name and he told her what it was and how it was supposed to give him good luck. Later that night when he didn't win the Oscar, he was at the bar and she came up to him and said 'Didn't work, did it?'

[couldileaveyou]

Sept 27, 2024 13:33:11 GMT Jon said:

Sad but what a life and career. My favourite Dame Maggie Smith story was the one Ian McKellen told where he was at the Oscars for Lord of the Rings and she happened to be there and he had a New Zealand necklace which I can't remember the name and he told her what it was and how it was supposed to give him good luck. Later that night when he didn't win the Oscar, he was at the bar and she came up to him and said 'Didn't work, did it?'

[Deleted]

This one hurts. She could say so much with just a look or slight change in tone. Will really miss her, but what a career.

[peggysue]

A excellent all round actress. She was brilliant in the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. RIP Dame Maggie Smith

[hannechalk]

Oh no, what a loss!

But also, what a life!

I remember hearing some stories how she was receiving treatment for cancer whilst filming Harry Potter - and the children didn't realise until years later what she had been going through.

[oxfordsimon]

A true great of stage, screen and TV.

There are few who can or ever will rival her range, craft and talent.

[alece10]

Such sad news. I was lucky enough to see her in stage once in The Importsnce of Being Earnest many years ago innthe west end.
An absolute legend.

[Jon]

Another great Maggie Smith zinger was when she asked about Toby Stephen's performance in The Camomile Lawn and she said:'I hadn't see Toby's willy since he was two so you can imagine the terrible shock of it all!'

[couldileaveyou]

[d'James]

Catastrophising does have its upsides. I’ve been preparing for this day for a year or two. Still doesn’t make it easy. I quote her work all the time. Jean Brodie was magnificent. Ditto, Judith Hearne. But there are only two films that can cheer me up on a sad day. One of them is Evil Under The Sun. Not sure that’ll help today, though.

[amyja89]

Aside from the many great performances, I always remember this juicy Robert Stephens tidbit from a biography of hers I once read, true or not, a great story regardless!

"The married couple of British theatrical royalty continued the tradition of backstage fights. People magazine reported of one “dressing room fracas” that ended with Smith discovering Stephens with Vanessa Redgrave and in an attempt to hit her, knocking out two of his teeth. Stephens and Smith divorced in 1974, Smith came to Broadway with the play and a new leading man."

[crabtree]

a long life of theatre going began for me at the Queens, probably 1969, with Maggie as Amanda in Private lives - and what ecstatic bliss that was. And the gentleman chuckling quietly through it all next to me, the Director Sir John G himself.
Thank you Dame Maggie for being so glorious.

[amyja89]

And not forgetting California Suite. People (rightly) go on about The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, but her second Oscar winning performance was just as great!

[talkingheads]

So glad I saw her a few years ago in A German Life, astonishing - wasn't there going to be a film, had production finished?

Will watch her Talking Heads A Bed Among the Lentils and Nothing Like A Dame tomorrow.

[ceebee]

What a loss. What a great. Thanks Maggie for enriching our arts.

[joem]

One of the greatest of our time. She will be truly missed, such talent and wit, so much expression in a raised eyebrow or pursed lip.

First saw her in Stoppard's "Night and Day" (a play well ripe for a revival) when the original cast changed - the disappointment in missing Diana Rigg and John Thaw was mitigated by seeing her for the first. She was awesome in "Lady In The Van"; hilariously, side-splittingly funny but poignant as well. And even as recently as 2019 she was superb in the one-woman show "A German Life".

Numerous film and tv highlights but she was the definitive Miss Jean Brodie and of course Downton Abbey would have been much the poorer without her battle-axe performance.

RIP Ma'am and rest easy. We were the richer for having been witnesses to your art.

[lichtie]

Never saw her on stage sadly. But as well as Brodie, I'd also highlight her other Muriel Spark related work, Memento Mori on the BBC. (Currently still available on IPlayer).

[matttom0901]

She will never be forgotten!

Coincidentally, I am rewatching Downton Abbey at the moment. The Dowager Countess can only be described as the Dragon Lady, perfectly portrayed by Maggie. Rest in peace. ♥️

[amyja89]

I notice that her IMDb that her one remaining 'upcoming' credit is for A German Life, but is listed as 'In Production'. Hopefully enough was done to be able to give her a final screen farewell and that the film can be finished. Would be so fitting given it was also her final stage role too.

[BurlyBeaR]

“If scandal is to your taste Miss McKay I shall give you a feast!”

[marob]

Tremendous talent. Wish I’d been able to see her on stage more than just the once.

Even later in life, the best bits of Downton Abbey were easily her and Penelope Wilton sniping at each other. I love how in real life she openly had zero interest in ever watching it.

So many great performances but here she is as herself:





Her and Kenneth Williams on Parkinson, reading a John Betjeman poem to the man himself. Kind of thing that would never get made nowadays.

[anthony40]

Such a HUGE talent, on an international stage, in a league of her own.

Extremely sad.

[adamkinsey]

Beyond grateful to have seen her exceptional talent on stage. We won't see her like again.