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 ]
Hungry for wands, stuffy spell books and elaborate magical alleys with complicated villain back stories? Never fear, the Harry Potter universe has returned with the new prequel film "Fantastic Beasts." Entertainment Weekly has debuted a collection of stills for the "Harry Potter" prequel,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Potter' fans now know what the upcoming play will be about and it involves more of the characters from the book series than they may have thought. The show is set to open in London in the summer of 2016. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new play will pick up the story of Harry Potter where the seventh and final volume of JK Rowling's saga left off, with a plot involving a grown-up Harry and his youngest son, Albus. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2015-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s a big week for old favorites, especially among children’s authors: Rick Riordan has the #1 book in the country, Harry Potter is back with a new look, and ‘Twilight'’s Bella and Edward are back with new genders. Plus two books delved into Kennedy Clan history, Patti Smith follows up ‘Just... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's been several years since the last book in the 'Potter' series was published, but judging by the fervor of fans, the boy wizard isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling’s 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone' knocked Andy Weir’s 'The Martian' from its #1 spot on the iBooks Bestsellers list for the week ended October 11. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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From the multi-coloured sorting hat, to the sinister Snape to the red glow of Ron’s hair, we revel in Jim Kay’s glorious pictures for the new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone• Win a copy of the new illustrated edition, plus a signed Jim Kay print and a Harry Potter... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Environmental Protection Agency should have listened to Ron Weasley’s dad. In the Harry Potter books and films, Arthur Weasley is a bureaucrat in the British magical world’s chief regulatory agency, the Ministry of Magic, where his job is to protect people from dangerous devices. He is known... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2015-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two publishing professionals have brought a production of Melanie Marnich’s 'These Shining Lives' to the Pleasance Theatre in London. Kate Moore, a former PRH editorial director who now works as a freelance writer and editor, is directing the play, while Anna Marx, commissioning editor at John... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the 'Potter' books, Hogwarts students always head back to school on Sept. 1. Many fans are celebrating today and 'Potter' fanatics have a new book (by Rowling although not set in the 'Potter' universe), a new theme park, and – a bit farther out – a new movie to look forward to. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling often interacts with fans on Twitter to share previously unknown facts about the characters from the wizarding world of her books, but a recent confession about Hagrid has left some people sad. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury will this November publish a deluxe edition of the illustrated Harry Potter, with artwork by Jim Kay, priced at £150. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – Deluxe Illustrated Edition will be published alongside the £30 version, also illustrated by Kay. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harper Lee’s unexpected companion novel to To Kill a Mockingbird has bookshops readying for huge salesRead the first chapterListen to an extract read by Reese WitherspoonFirst chapter review: A beguiling journey into the pastSix months ago, it was a book the literary world would have laughed off... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Personal Creations show how long it takes kids to read classic books, from Clifford the Big Red Dog to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The post How Long It Takes Kids to Read Popular Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Potter' author J.K. Rowling recently revealed more details about the new play about the boy wizard that's opening in London in 2016. What will the story of the new play be? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author J K Rowling has confirmed that a Harry Potter play, entitled "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", will open in the West End next year. Rowling broke the news today (26th June) on Twitter, saying the play “will tell a new story, which is the result of a collaboration between writer Jack... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The story of Greenpeace activists Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg by Ben Stewart will be made into a film buy Oscar-winner Lord Puttnam. The book, published by Guardian Faber last month, tells the story of the Arctic 30, a team of Greenpeace activists who were detained in a Russian jail... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 'Theory of Everything' actor has reportedly been offered the role of protagonist Newt Scamander. 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling is writing the screenplay for the movie, which is set in the world of 'Potter.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As the fictional anniversary of a 'Harry Potter' battle was celebrated, Rowling took to social media to apologize to fans for killing off a beloved character. More may be coming. 'I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary,' the author wrote. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As the fictional anniversary of a 'Harry Potter' battle was celebrated, Rowling took to social media to apologize to fans for killing off a beloved character. More may be coming. 'I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary,' the author wrote. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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