The famed British actor had a long and storied career. She initially found success as a theater actor before winning two Academy Awards in the 1970s. She first won Best Actress in 1970 for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie before winning Best Supporting Actress in 1979 for California Suite.
Over the course of her hallmark career, Maggie received four other Oscar nominations, as well as winning four Emmys and a Tony. Maggie enjoyed a later career high thanks to her notable performances as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and as Violet Crawley in the hit TV series Downton Abbey.
In 1990, she was also named a dame, one of Britain’s highest honors.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise that, among the outpouring of tributes for her on Friday, a popular clip of Maggie in conversation with fellow dames Judi Dench and Joan Plowright has gone viral once again.
The clip is from the 2018 documentary Tea With the Dames, which starred Maggie, Judi, Joan, and Eileen Atkins. However, Eileen isn’t featured in the viral clip, which sees the three other women seated around a table discussing how long they plan to continue working.
It’s then that Maggie displayed her signature wit, playfully poking fun at her friend Judi Dench’s own storied career. Judi herself has won an Oscar and Tony among other awards.
As Maggie made clear, Judi is “always asked first” for parts they’re all considered for.
Judi was taken aback by Maggie’s candor, prompting Maggie to playfully say, “I’m turning on you now. It’s all coming out now.”
However, Joan’s hearing aid had gone out, meaning she missed Maggie’s comment toward Judi. This prompted a humorous back-and-forth between her and Maggie in which the late actor offered Joan one of her hearing aids.
After Joan was brought up to speed, she immediately concurred with Maggie about Judi getting roles first. She even gave an example about her agent in America once telling her they’ll “look around for a nice little cameo that Judi Dench hasn’t got her paws on.”
Of course, Judi didn’t exactly appreciate the comment, though Maggie and Joan doubled-down.
It’s the exact type of loving yet jesting conversation only close friends could have, and people online are praising it again:
@foxgrove_/Twitter/Picturehouse Entertainment / Via Twitter: @foxgrove_
RIP Maggie Smith
Here being very amusing with Judi Dench & Joan Plowright.
She always made me laugh a hell of a lot on or off screen. Got to take my students to see her as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1993 & she was perfection itself. pic.twitter.com/k4Cpn0O4iL— Tom Reagan’s Hat (@RufusTSuperfly) September 27, 2024
@RufusTSuperfly/Twitter/Picturehouse Entertainment / Via Twitter: @RufusTSuperfly
This documentary, Nothing Like a Dame (2018) is stellar. Gathers four titans of stage and cinema — Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins — and takes us on a journey through their lives and careers. It’s hilarious, educational, and DAMN FUNNY. Watch it. https://t.co/2pSMsZIAtE
— ᴍᴀɢɴᴇᴛᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. (@griotDAMONE) September 27, 2024
@griotDAMONE/Twitter/PicturehouseEntertainment / Via Twitter: @griotDAMONE
