Maggie Smith: the magisterial star of Harry Potter and Downton had the courage and talent to do absolutely everything

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 ]

Other news stories related to: "Maggie Smith: the magisterial star of Harry Potter and Downton had the courage and talent to do absolutely everything"


Lily Allen correctly answers the question “Which book do you wish you’d written?”

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 ]
More news stories like this


Falling In and Out of Love with HARRY POTTER

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 ]
More news stories like this


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child behind the scenes book cover revealed

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 ]
More news stories like this


15 Magically Whimsical Harry Potter Planters and Accessories for Your Windowsill

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 ]
More news stories like this


80 Matching Harry Potter Couple Tattoos: Critical Linking, July 16, 2019

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-16 10:30:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Quiz: Which Marauder from Harry Potter Are You?

After Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the most famous friendship from Hogwarts is certainly the four Marauders. Take this Harry Potter ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-12 10:38:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Perfect Fragrances for Harry Potter Characters

Your favorite Harry Potter characters got matched up with a perfect-for-them fragrance. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-03 10:34:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Harry Potter Prequel Series Coming to Television

Warner Brothers is in the very early stages of developing a Harry Potter prequel television series. Find out what we know so far. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-02 18:58:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' Isn’t the Next 'Pokémon Go.' Good

'Wizards Unite' is bloated and overly complex—but at least it's something different. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2019-06-25 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Morning After: iPadOS is the upgrade Apple's tablet needs

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Hey, there! Bill Gates regrets that he didn't beat Android in mobile, we give our mixed verdict on the new Harry Potter mobile game and review Apple's new iPad OS. Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-25 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A weekend with 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite'

Mat Smith and Dan Cooper grew up in the UK at the right age to witness the birth of Pottermania. The Harry Potter novels are firmly encoded in their very British psyches, and both are fans of augmented reality, GPS-connected mobile games. So it made... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-24 17:28:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The stories behind big Cannes Lion winners and the riskiest advertising moves of the year

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Ad Age sat down with some of the brightest minds in advertising and marketing to discuss some of the bravest and most talked about ideas of this year, some of which also scored big Lions last week.  One of the most celebrated campaigns... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-24 17:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Final takeaways and confessions from Cannes. Plus, America's Hottest Brands: Monday Wake-Up Call

Welcome to Ad Age’s Wake-Up Call, our daily roundup of advertising, marketing, media and digital news. You can get an audio version of this briefing on your Alexa device; sign up here.   What people are talking about today: Cannes Lions is finished for another year and most of the industry is... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-24 10:25:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' rolls out to 25 more countries

If you were disappointed at being left out of the initial Harry Potter: Wizards Unite launch, don't worry -- there's a good chance you can play now. Niantic's augmented reality sorcery is now available on Android and iOS in 25 more countries. This... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-22 20:26:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


AT&T casts sponsorship spell over new 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' game

AT&T is now part of Harry Potter lore as the first brand to ink a sponsorship deal with the new augmented reality game about the wizarding world. AT&T stores are incorporated into the landscape of the game, called “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” which is by Niantic, the creator of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-21 21:00:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Pokemon Go creators release Harry Potter mobile game Wizards Unite

The creators of mobile gaming phenomenon Pokemon Go unleashed a new game on Thursday that features Harry Potter and other characters from the wizarding world made famous in best-selling books and blockbuster movies. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-06-21 12:31:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' is available to play a day early

Niantic's Harry Potter: Wizards Unite officially debuts on June 21st, but you won't have to wait until then to play if you live in the right country. The location-based game is already available for would-be Android and iOS spellcasters in the US an... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-20 16:42:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' worldwide launch begins on June 21st

You'll be able to save Muggles from rogue magical creatures and misbehaving objects very soon: Niantic will finally start rolling out Harry Potter: Wizards Unite on June 21st. The company has announced the much-awaited mobile game's launch date outsi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-19 01:16:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Niantic sues group of alleged 'Pokémon Go' cheaters

It's not just multi-platform gaming giants suing cheaters. Niantic has sued members of Global++ for allegedly offering "unauthorized derivative" (read: hacked) versions of Pokémon Go, Ingress and even the still-in-beta Harry Potter: Wizards U... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-06-16 23:04:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright joins kids' plastic toy push

Actress Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, meets children who are upcycling their toys. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2019-06-14 00:00:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this