The real-life dame and on-screen dowager countess, who has died aged 89, earned fame in her 70s and 80s for blockbuster roles. But her early work at the National Theatre marked her out as a talent for the agesDame Maggie Smith’s trophy cabinet reflected her extraordinary achievements across theatre, film and television – and in the biggest arenas of British and US culture, from the BBC to Hollywood, the West End to Broadway. A measure of her versatility and durability is that, in the 1960s, she played nine major roles in the formative years of the National Theatre, but also, from the start of the 2000s, appeared in five series of Downton Abbey, the ITV Sunday night series that became one of the biggest popular hits of the new millennium.Her role in that show was Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, who lived in such a bubble of exclusive comfort that, in trademark one-liners, she would drawl in mystification, for example: “What is a ‘weekend’?” That acerbic superiority was a signature throughout Smith’s career, including the part that brought her first Academy award in 1970, against a shortlist also featuring Liza Minnelli and Jane Fonda, for the title role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, adapted from Muriel Spark’s novel about a maverick, arrogant schoolteacher in Edinburgh. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2024-09-27 13:37:47 UTC ]
Take this Triwizard champion quiz to find out which of the competitors from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-09-20 10:36:45 UTC ]
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Dark as the Harry Potter books may get, you can always count on a Weasley for a laugh. Here are some of the Weasley siblings' funniest moments. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-09-19 10:38:47 UTC ]
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We've seen people turn neural networks to almost everything from drafting pickup lines to a new Harry Potter chapter, but it turns out classic text adventure games may be one of the best fits for AI yet. This latest glimpse into what artificial intel... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-09-11 19:39:00 UTC ]
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Stacy Nethercoat Vice president, cloud solutions Tech Data Corp. Educational background: Bachelor's of Business Administration, University of Iowa What was your first ever paid job? I worked at a fast food place called "Pans & Irons" What is your favorite movie of all time? The Harry... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2019-09-11 10:40:59 UTC ]
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Pavilion Books has landed the first official Harry Potter knitting book which will allow fans to "cast on with needles and wands" to recreate Hogwarts’ house scarves and Mrs Weasley’s Christmas jumper. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-10 22:06:21 UTC ]
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The sneaker startup and the boxed water brand Just may seem like odd bedfellows, but the companies share goals and material technology. Sneaker brands are famous for their unusual collaborations. Take shoe startup Koio, which recently launch a croissant-inspired sneaker with baker Dominique... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-09-04 11:15:21 UTC ]
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J. K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter series is once again in the news after it was banned by the St. Edward Catholic School in Tennessee. The epic fantasy series focused on young wizard Harry Potter who battles against the forces of evil is, allegedly, not fantasy enough. Reverend Dan Reehil... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-03 16:05:18 UTC ]
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A Catholic school in Tennessee has removed the Harry Potter books from its library after the school's priest decided they could cause a reader to conjure evil spirits. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-09-03 12:14:12 UTC ]
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The Rev. Dan Reehil warned that reading the spells in the J.K. Rowling novels could conjure up actual evil spirits. Continue reading at HuffPost
[ HuffPost | 2019-09-02 19:47:12 UTC ]
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If you are an avid reader, there’s a good chance you’re also a Ravenclaw. But which one are you? Take our quiz to find out! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-21 10:32:47 UTC ]
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Obsessed with James, Sirius, Remus and Peter? Categorized by each member, here are 12 YA books for Marauders fans and fans of the Harry Potter books. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-20 10:35:27 UTC ]
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I was about 21, riding a scooter on my way home from work, when I noticed a shadow over my ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-16 10:35:41 UTC ]
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I was a passionate Harry Potter fan as a kid (and teenager…and adult). I obsessed over the plots and characters, ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-13 10:35:35 UTC ]
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TimesUp! Not all heroes wear capes—or carry wands. Emma Watson, the actress and activist who is still best known as resident Harry Potter smarty-pants Hermione Granger, is taking on a new role. She has launched a free legal-advice hotline with Time’s Up for women in England and Wales who are... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-08-05 12:57:34 UTC ]
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I am absolutely, 100% on the enamel pin bandwagon and I am showing no signs of stopping. Not that I ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-02 10:33:57 UTC ]
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I’m back with more fragrances and Harry Potter characters! If you missed round one, be sure to check it out. ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-20 10:31:12 UTC ]
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Lily Allen, who once wrote a song about what a loser her brother Theon Greyjoy was, took The Guardian‘s “Books That Made Me” questionnaire, and landed on the objectively correct answer to the question of which book she wishes she’d written: “All of the Harry Potter books, for obvious reasons.” I... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-19 14:57:05 UTC ]
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I was 11 years old when I fell in love with Harry Potter for the first time. It was the summer ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-19 10:39:01 UTC ]
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Little, Brown has revealed the cover for its behind the scenes book on hit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-17 22:49:55 UTC ]
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Whether you plan to grow some devil’s snare or just some garden variety tomatoes, these Harry Potter planters are sure to get you started on the right note. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-16 10:36:27 UTC ]
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