Dedications: My four late friends Rory, Stan, Bryan, Jeff - shine on you crazy diamonds, they would have blogged too. Then theres Garry from Brisbane, Franco in Milan, Mike now in S.F. / my '60s-'80s gang: Ned & Joseph in Ireland; in England: Frank, Des, Guy, Clive, Joe & Joe, Ian, Ivan, Nick, David, Les, Stewart, the 3 Michaels / Catriona, Sally, Monica, Jean, Ella, Anne, Candie / and now: Daryl in N.Y., Jerry, John, Colin, Martin and Donal.

Monday 2 November 2015

Dame Maggie does Norton ...

Dame Maggie Smith returned to the British chatshow circuit 42 years after her last appearance there. She was on the popular Graham Norton Show last weekend to promote her latest film THE LADY IN THE VAN. This is the film version of an Alan Bennett play she did on stage about 15 years ago. I've seen Dame Maggie in at least 5 plays (HEDDA GABLER, THE BEAU'S STRATAGEM - both seen twice in 1970! - LETTICE AND LOVAGE, PRIVATE LIVES, NIGHT AND DAY but did not see her in the VAN
Her last chatshow appearace was on the Michael Parkinson show in 1973, with her friend from her revue days, Kenneth Williams (left).  Here is a fragment of her with Graham (who certainly gets the A-listers on his couch every week) discussing HARRY POTTER and DOWNTON ABBEY (where she was on magnificent form last night; final episode coming up next week, before the Christmas special).

Great to see her still sharp as a tack at 80. The list of all her film, television and theatre roles on Wikipedia is simply astonishing. Lots more Dame Maggie at label.
The buzz is building about THE LADY IN THE VAN, opening here in a week, one of the films to see this season - could there be a final Oscar for Dame Maggie? .... she is sure to be nominated along with Cate, Rooney, Saoirse ... 

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