Maggie Smith's feisty side comes out to play in resurfaced clip

by · Mail Online

Fans of the late Maggie Smith have been paying tribute to the star, who died today aged 89, by posting their favourite clips of her on social media, including one where she teams up with Joan Plowright to tease Judi Dench.

The Oscar-winning actress, best known for her roles in Downtown Abbey and Harry Potter, died in hospital this morning after an incredible 70-year acting career.

One grieving fan posted the heart warming video of the three actress's teasing each other over who lands the most roles with a caption that said: 'One of my favorite videos of Maggie Smith with Judi Dench and Joan Plowright. RIP Maggie.'

The clip is from Tea With The Dames, a 2018 AMC Theatres documentary celebrating the lives and careers of four of the most iconic actresses; Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright and Dame Maggie Smith.

In the footage, Maggie, Judi and Joan are asked if they will work forever, to which Judi replies: 'We're going to work forever if we're asked.'

(Left to right) Dame Joan Plowright, Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judie Dench during a photo-call for Tea With Mussolini in 1999
Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench arriving at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, where Judi received her Academy Fellowship on December 9, 2001
Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench attend the premiere of Ladies in Lavender in London on November 8, 2004
Maggie Smith beaming for the camera in a fashion campaign for Loewe in what would end up being her last photo
Dame Maggie Smith attends the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 15, 2023

Before Maggie quickly quips back: 'But you're always asked first, if I may say so.'

Judi jokingly accuses Maggie of 'turning' on her and she cheekily replies 'I'm turning on you. It's all coming out now.'

Joan chimes in and admits she doesn't know what they are talking about because her hearing aid stopped working. Maggie then asks: 'Do you want one of mine?', making them all laugh.

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After the women caught Joan up to speed, Joan shared a funny anecdote once her fellow Dames had caught her up to speed, telling them: 'Oh yeah, I tell you. My agent in America said to me one day, when they knew I couldn't do very much because of the eyesight going, and he said, "Well, if you do want to come over again, we'll look around for a nice little cameo that Judi Dench hasn't got her paws on.'

Judi calls them both 'rude' but they all laugh as they tell her, 'Well in America darling that's how they talk.'

Maggie's death has sparked an outpouring of grief from fellow thespians and Harry Potter fans around the world, with Huge Bonneville leading tributes to a 'true legend of her generation'.

The beloved star won over Harry Potter fans later in life, when she appeared in the blockbuster franchise as the quick-witted, kind and formidable Professor McGonagall.

And in 2010 she was central to the success of ITV series Downton Abbey, in her Emmy-award winning role as the acerbic Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, which she continued to play in the films.

Dame Maggie Smith appears in the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Dame Maggie Smith arrives for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in London on July 7, 2011
Dame Maggie Smith played the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey

Her heartbroken sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, announced her death 'with great sadness' in an emotional statement this afternoon.

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They paid tribute to their 'extraordinary' mother, an 'intensely private person' who was 'with friends and family at the end'.

Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, she was an internationally recognised actress for much of her life after playing the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

Her career of more than half a century brought her recognition almost from the beginning, and she received an early Bafta nod for promising newcomer in 1959 for the crime film Nowhere To Go.

This was followed by Bafta nominations for Young Cassidy in 1966, Death On The Nile in 1979, California Suite in 1980, Quartet in 1982, The Secret Garden in 1994, Tea With Mussolini in 2000, Gosford Park in 2002, and The Lady In The Van in 2016.

She also won best actress gongs for The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, A Private Function and The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne.

Dame Maggie Smith attending the 2022 Wimbledon Championships on July 9, 2022
Dame Maggie Smith attending the Royal and World Premiere of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London on February 17, 2015
Dame Maggie Smith in the 1976 film Murder By Death which also starred Alec Guinness
Maggie Smith alongside Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman in 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Maggie Smith on the stage of the Old Vic in London, on April 8, 1970, during an intermission of rehearsal of The Beaux' Stratagem
Make up and hair artists add the finishing touches to Maggie Smith before she faces the camera with Peter Ustinov in the comedy 'Hot Millions' being filmed in 1968

Her final roles included The Miracle Club, which follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, and 2022's Downton Abbey: A New Era, in which Violet dies.

Larkin and Stephens, her sons from her first marriage, said in their statement: 'It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

'An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.

'We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.

'We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.'