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 ]
“Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts” and “A Journey Through Potions and Herbology” are arriving in late June. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-05-31 18:46:34 UTC ]
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The theme of beauty shines brightly in Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o’s debut picture book, 'Sulwe' (S&S, Oct.), illustrated by Vashti Harrison, author and illustrator of 'Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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No invitation to Hogwarts required. When Harry Potter first comes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is stunned to see the portraits that line the school’s storied stone walls move and talk. Thanks to artificial intelligence, that just might be a reality some day.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-05-23 12:27:04 UTC ]
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There is always something magical to uncover in the world of Harry Potter, which is the ultimate premise behind “The Making of Harry Potter” on the Warner Bros. studio tour near London, an experience that continues to reveal new secrets from the film franchise. The tour’s latest — and largest —... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A rare first edition of a "Harry Potter" book featuring a misspelled title fetched about $90,000 at an auction last week, the Independent reported Friday. The copy of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (published in the U.S. as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"), the first book in... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An official behind-the-scenes book of the record-breaking play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two" will be published by Little, Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After successful collections for Harry Potter, Looney Tunes and Trolls, winter has come to the Danielle Nicole brand. Founder and Ellicott City native Danielle DiFerdinando has joined forces with HBO for GOT X DN, a collection inspired by the book and TV series “Game of Thrones.” In hues of red,... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun
[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s called “Crimes New Roman.” Harry Potter, the beloved children’s books by J.K. Rowling, is now a bona fide franchise, with books, theme parks, and countless movies. The latest? The Crimes of Grindelwald, a sequel to the spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s playing in movie... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," Virginia Woolf wrote in a famous 1929 essay. British businessman Arron Banks apparently disagrees, and he incurred the wrath of fans of "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling after mocking the author on Twitter for having... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Warner Bros.' "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" met expectations in winning the box office this weekend, opening in first place with $62.2 million, according to figures from measurement firm Comscore. The "Harry Potter" prequel, a follow-up to 2016's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The publishing industry might have to think back to Harry Potter’s heyday for a book that has garnered as much attention as the former first lady’s has. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poland-based kids’ publisher Ameet will release a series of books based on the Wizarding World franchise—encompassing the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films—after partnering with Warner Bros Consumer Products. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling once surprised readers by telling them that all along, without mention in her books, one of her "Harry Potter" characters was gay. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joyce Maynard, now 65, has published a new essay that asks if the #MeToo movement will allow her to tell her side of the storyJoyce Maynard, who was wooed as a teenager by the late JD Salinger, has spoken out about how the literary world condemned her as “a predator”.Maynard was 18 when an essay... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This October Audible will release an audiobook of Pottermore Publishing’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic, read by Natalie Dormer. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blockbuster sales of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' helped drive revenue to $1.74 billion in fiscal 2017, but without a comparable hit, sales fell 6% in the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018. Operating income dropped 38%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seven models of the spiders from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be unveiled across the UK at the end of the month to mark the novel’s 20th anniversary. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Revivals redeemed a lackluster Broadway year. But now that the Tony Awards have closed the book on the 2017-18 season, it will be easy for producers and press agents to spin a self-congratulatory narrative. “The Band’s Visit,” as arrestingly original a show as “Hamilton” and “Fun Home,” won the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can "Mean Girls" edge out "The Band's Visit" and "SpongeBob SquarePants"? Will "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" or "Angels in American" take home more trophies? Here's a quick rundown of key contenders from shows with the most nominations. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rooted in West African mythology, Tomi Adeyemi's YA debut is a colossal hit. She talks about activism, Harry Potter, and writerly perseverance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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