The Late, Great Dame Maggie Smith’s Best Burns, Barbs and Comebacks on ‘Downton Abbey’
Smith passed away today at the age of 89 after a long life of ruthless witticisms
British theatre, film and television legend Dame Maggie Smith passed away this morning at the age of 89, but so many of her finest roasts are still searing.
With 72 years of acting experience, Smith had so many iconic performances that her millions of fans across the world can pick as their favorite to remember fondly on this solemn day. No doubt, Smith’s portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film franchise is getting the most attention on Twitter from American fans who best knew the bold, technical and deeply intelligent thespian for her most commercial cultural export, but Smith’s artistic effort to educate us Yanks on her people’s culture was arguably at its best during her time in the TV and film franchise Downton Abbey, a towering period piece about the aristocracy and serving classes of early 20th century England that included some of the most brutal burns of any century.
On Downton Abbey, Smith played the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley, an imposing matriarch whose mastery of cutting quips and underhanded verbal attacks made her the most formidable noblewoman in all the gentry.
To celebrate Smith’s immaculate and immortal performance in the series, here are her absolute best burns, barbs and flowery flamings throughout Downton Abbey…
‘I Thought You Didn’t Like Him’
‘So What? I Have Plenty of Friends I Don’t Like’
@brandons.sounds
‘Don’t Be Defeatist, Dear. It’s Very Middle-Class’
‘Does It Ever Get Cold on the Moral High Ground?’
‘I Take That As A Compliment’
‘I Must Have Said It Wrong’
‘When I’m With Her, I’m Reminded of the Virtues of the English’
‘But Isn’t She American?’
‘Exactly’
‘Servants Are Human Beings Too’
‘Yes, But Preferably Only on Their Days Off’
‘My Poor Niece Never Uses One Word When Twenty Will Do’
‘Do You Think I Might Have A Drink? Oh, I’m So Sorry, I Thought You Were A Waiter’
‘I’m Leaving in the Morning, Lady Grantham. I Doubt We’ll Meet Again’
‘Do You Promise?’
‘How You Hate to Be Wrong‘
‘I Wouldn‘t Know, I‘m Not Familiar With the Sensation‘
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