Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith, CH, DBE is an English actress. She has had an extensive, varied career in stage, film and television spanning over sixty years. Smith has appeared in over 50 films and is one of Britain's most recognisable actresses. She was appointed as Commander of the Order of the British Empirein 1970. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empirein the 1990 New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and Member...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionMovie Actress
Date of Birth28 December 1934
CityIlford, England
I wanted to be a serious actress, but of course that didn't really happen.
When I started acting almost 50 years ago, it wasn't about fame. It was about acting.
If you're lucky, I think you know what you want to do with your life. I think that's a greater gift that any of the gifts you might have when you do know, if you know what I mean. It must be awful to not know what to do.
I have many good friends, but I tend to keep to myself anyway. It's odd, doing things and having no one to share them with.
Athletically, they had a slight edge on us. We did what we could to put ourselves in a position to win.
Defensively, we stepped it up. Our post players were aggressive, and it led to a lot of points in transition.
I remember when he was diagnosed as hyper-manic asking what it meant and the doctor saying violent moods swings and indiscriminate sexual activity. And I thought 'that about covers it really'.
I know there is something out there and like most people, I tend to believe in it more when things go bad.
The thing is, often press people ask questions that are so personal that even your nearest and dearest wouldn't ask them.
The performances you have in your head are always much better than the performances on stage.
I said 'It can't go on' and he said 'No, it can't.' Honestly, I don't think I could have mattered less to him by then. But by then, nothing mattered to him.
Listen, I must be 110 by now. Granny is going to kick the bucket at some point.
It seems to me there is a change in what audiences want to see. I can only hope that's correct, because there's an awful lot of people of my age around now and we outnumber the others.
An actor is somebody who communicates someone else's words and emotions to an audience. It's not me. It's what writers want me to be.