Dame Maggie Smith talks about being recognised in public | The Graham Norton Show - BBC

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Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer... Dame Maggie Smith discusses being recognised by Harry Potter and Downton Abbey fans.
The award-winning host continues his anarchic talk show. Expect the unexpected as top celebrity guests join in the fun with Graham and his irrepressible audience.
The Graham Norton Show | Series 18 Episode 6 | BBC
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[@HPLOTRGOTfan]

"Just pull yourself together!" - that's such a Professor McGonagall thing to say... classic Minerva!

[@rokaanalzeer]

I was always convinced in those films that Maggie smith didn’t know she was being filmed

[@zwarrior1983]

Absolute class even when roasting someone...

[@yevgeniyaleshchenko849]

Well it was a deliberate reference to her character, dummies

[@appleskum6520]

@@yevgeniyaleshchenko849 Yes, it was, but you should not addition "dummies", that is hurtful, even if it is not the worst thing that could be said of some people.

[@HuggiMa]

I thought she said "Just PURR yourself together".

[@amfortas1978]

I personally saw her in Paris outside of Opera, the most busy tourist site. Didnt want to interrupt her shopping so just smiled at her, and she kindly smiled back.

[@INeedYouToBreathe]

sweet

[@celinebaermannofficial]

OMG!!! This is so cute! 😍😍😍😍

[@mar-lizeklopper9874]

Adorable 😱😱

[@chanyeolpark2025]

Thats so sweet

[@sickeninglysweetlikehoney9917]

That's so nice!

[@MOoOM420]

As Alan Rickman used to say "She is the wittiest person alive"

[@garyhe5024]

Who was Alan Rickman? Oh right, Professor Snape

[@danivarius]

Gary He 🙄🤦🏼‍♂️

[@annie128h]

Rip Alan Rickman😭😭💔

[@EvanSawyer4]

Oh, rest his soul, man. What i would give to see the two of them being interviewed together.

[@mkaykaykayy]

must get it from the Glaswegian in her Mothers side as she was from Glasgow and Glaswegians are the wittiest. :)

[@rebekahcann2177]

My favourite Harry Potter moment was when she says: “I’ve always wanted to do that spell” it’s so cute haha

[@himaksshi9091]

Mine too 💞

[@RebeckaSarkozy]

same! xx

[@paulfreelife4111]

I just watched this scene (3 secs ago haha)

[@nareshchandra3760]

Mine one was when Mr.Filch rushes and says "STUDENTS OUT OF BED, STUDENTS IN THE CORRIDOR" and she replies "They're supposed to be out of bed you blithering idiot!!" 😂😂😂😂

[@rebekahcann2177]

@@nareshchandra3760 that’s a good one too 😂

[@wouhoulifeisamazing]

"Pull yourself together" XD I love her!

[@НикитаЖмырко-в9ф]

я

[@mairereier9723]

+Woohoo! Lifeisamazing ..isn't it "purr yourself together" that she uses? ...which for me is even more funny :)

[@johndavid39hotmail]

it doesn't get much british than that lol

[@albertusredygunadi8066]

Woohoo! Lifeisamazing reminds me of phoebe buffay

[@williamwolg]

Can anybody explain me that joke? I didn't kept it.

[@carsonwelch3521]

0:21 "A lot of very small people used to say hello to me and that was nice" :)

[@keeganwright1803]

Like professor flitwick 😂

[@Kazavop]

😂

[@-nightcore-2559]

as she then looks despairingly towards the floor

[@ASDWmusic]

I want her to be my grandma.

[@Cristinact]

I want her to be my mother in-law!

[@sadafaamer6356]

ASDW I'm sorry dear, it doesn't work that way

[@darymarkova]

Cristinact Same tho Toby is perfect

[@despairspreadslikeavirus9333]

She's a rather stern person though so, she'll be a hard person to impress.

[@mezmaniaa]

ASDW she looks like my grandma :D

[@misled1982]

I love the fact she doesnt give a crap about anything, she says it like it is

[@DarkWandererAU]

At that age, you'd be beyond giving a crap about a lot of things XD

[@LiveLoveLaugh102310]

Well, she's earned her way to say whatever shit she wants. Lol!

She's got nothing to prove, anymore. She's a national treasure!

[@RRC879]

Typical Minerva

[@GuardianGrarl]

She comes from a different time after all.

[@Denis-89]

Maggie rarely does publicity. In fact I can't think when I last saw her on any show. What a treat for Graham! And for us! She was fantastic and never knew she was this funny. She's a a national treasure if there ever was one.

[@soxibear]

I read its the first time she agreed to do a show in 42 years! Thats a real celeb not the attention whores we get today.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

uh, she's done other shows within the past 15 years. She did a 60 MINUTES segment in 2013 and was a guest on CHARLIE ROSE in 2002 and 2005. She was also on THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW in 2001. These were all in the US, and I remember watching them. I don't know what else she has done in the UK, which is close to home for her, so she probably does more of these interviews.

[@535657]

Yes she has done other interviews, but this was her first appearance on a British chat show in 42 years (since Michael Parkinson in 1973), and compared to other notable British actresses (Dench, Mirren, Vanessa Redgrave etc), it is quite rare to see Smith give a TV interview, even in the UK.

[@Harry-bn5mp]

Maggie is a very shy and humble person so she feels awkward when people complement her and tell her she's talented. Her wittiness and cutting remarks are really a defence mechanism to try and hide the fact that she is shy. When she is comfortable though she is a lovely person, well read and confident when it came to pulling off a wonderful performance.

[@Smithjones12]

Murder by death 😀 😀

[@GenericUsername-qp1ww]

"didnt work, did it?"

[@hajerdoubbibounoua2481]

Hhhhh poname 😂😂😂😂

[@euanharrison7125]

No more beef stew

[@tiffanymoore1795]

Lmaooooo

[@gameXylinder]

Lvl58DeathKnight I read it in his voice doing her voice! The two of them are just the best!

[@euanharrison7125]

Such a classic episode

[@gracemacleod8890]

Maggie Smith is my Beyoncé

[@Domihork]

Now the age-old question "What's your favourite Beyoncé?" finally makes sense!

[@discotiq]

This just made so much go through my head at once

[@ahmetselimsavi2217]

Beyonce sucks

[@chiarasceusa7220]

She's beyonc-er than Beyoncé

[@codenomesailorv]

100%

[@mollyenfinger5150]

She will always be Minerva McGonagall to me.

[@julieta5375]

She will always be Minerva McGonagall for everyone ❤️

[@PhoenixPrime]

Same!

[@bigbenhebdomadarius6252]

Molly Enfinger Miss Jean Brodie, Dora Charleston, Aunt Augusta, . . . .

[@moomimi]

was she in home alone 2?

[@margarethhoughton6782]

BigBen Hebdomadarius yes, aunt Augusta was the first role. And film I've seen with her. I love this film. 😍

[@monarchgirl62]

She is so fantastic!!!!! Her humour is so dry!!!!!!

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

She's hilarious. She did the Carol Burnett Show in the late 60s-early 70s where they did a skit where Carol played the Queen christening a ship named after a solider (Tim Conway). Maggie plays the soldier's girlfriend in a Cockney accent and nearly cracked up Harvey Korman (who played either Prince Phillip or the King) by saying "Hello, Sailor"

[@donrane]

What a legend she is. Her comedic timing is outstanding. "I got the box-set" after milking the silence.

[@sarahjones8396]

“It’ll come to me in a minute”!!! Priceless...

[@ruhidina9489]

I didn't understand this part

[@selmahare]

@@ruhidina9489The kid recognized her face but didn’t remember where from.

[@rymaracabre2479]

Dame Maggie Smith is one brilliant, brilliant woman.

[@youtubecommentscritic6058]

She cannot be an anger management counselor. She would only improve the sarcasm and wit of everyone attending.

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

KZbin Comments Critic I have developed a sarcastic sense of humor since I first read the Harry Potter books. The movies helped, too. But especially the books.

[@jonathancineus6424]

She’ll always be “Mother Superior” from Sister Act to me. Quite an amazing and diversified acting career come to think of it.

[@ohwhatworld5851]

Same. Two of my fav movies

[@barryschwarz]

She's been a legend in the UK for decades, and known in the English speaking theatre world for as long. The blockbusters that gave her wider fame really are small patches on the body of her work.

[@K0m30ng]

And she's the oldest person in the cast member of the Harry Potter franchise and yet she's still alive. Please, we already lost Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, better protect Maggie at all cost

[@jjdecani]

"Just pull yourself together." Never mind star-struck kids; there's a hell of a lot of so-called adults need to hear that these days.

[@sugarlove]

I ve got the box set ahahahahahahaha, so cute!

[@24isobel]

What does she mean by that?

[@dehro]

she owns the dvds but hasn't watched them

[@stephanemignot100]

"Pull yourself together" Isobel! :)

[@minniemcgonagall139]

@@24isobel it means she own the DVDS but doesn’t watch it

[@andrewwells6323]

Haha she's so awesome in real life.

[@blurdreamer]

"I always want to use that spell" is my favourite scene XD

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

blurdreamer mine too. To me, Dame Maggie is Dame Maggie Minerva McGonagall Smith.

[@bobbi-leighstorey7882]

blurdreamer piertotum locomotor 😍

[@giuliat1443]

mine too!

[@Celtic_Amy]

"she must have been 110 by the time we finished the show" ... she've amazing in all her movies

[@americanreject42]

LOVE HER! I was literally laughing out loud the whole time!

[@arnoldrivas4590]

She is a great actress. She is always two characters to me: Medlock from The Secret Garden and Professor McGonagell from Harry Potter! As the Dowager in Downton Abbey, yeah she's boss :D

[@julieta5375]

McGonagall*

[@lemonade17]

She plays a small but fantastic role in The First Wives Club, you should check her out there.

[@deathnoteagario2336]

yes!! She was a brilliant Medlock....and McGonagell of course. Secret Garden & harry potter = childhood right there

[@arnoldrivas4590]

Oh, that's right! She was in that movie!

[@revinaque1342]

Arnold Rivas Yes! I remember her most from those exact same roles!

[@tanyalake9152]

I love Dame Maggie Smith! she is classy, sassy, funny, smart, beautiful, and many other good qualities about her. what a woman!

[@pedrocarrazana1157]

I'm obsessed with her

[@adrian_gv77]

Pedro Carrazana yo también wey

[@adrian_gv77]

Pedro Carrazana I mean, she's amazing ❤️

[@lemorab1]

Just pull yourself together!

[@pavledrakulic9456]

Why?

[@carriedowns3176]

I will always remember her from Hook and The Secret Garden. She sure has had an impressive career!

[@rachelsolomons3228]

Carrie Downs oh I loved the secret garden !

[@ZannaZatanna1]

oh my gosh, that's right! as Old Wendy!

[@16taysia]

Carrie Downs WAIT, was she Wendy freaking Darling in HOOK?! Oh My God...

[@vokasimid5330]

Sister Act and Rush Hour 3

[@vokasimid5330]

Homealone 3

[@missthang4982]

She was everything in Downton Abbey! My absolute favourite character on the show. She had me cracking up and spitting my drink...constantly. I'd rewind it sometimes, thinking? 'Wtf did she just say!!?' 🤣🤣Gawd I loved her. Loved this series. I literally mourned it for weeks when it was over. Thank you so much for bringing it to life for us all. Bravo 👏 Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦✌️

[@williamnealy827]

Maggie Smith is an inspiration, she’s filmed many shows/movies while battling through health issues. She has my utmost respect and admiration. The movie I first noticed her in was “Sister Act” she definitely hides her accent well in movies lol!

[@EveChelios]

I adore her. Ever since Sister Act. Just love her.

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

Eve Chelios I agree.👍👏

[@greenmachine6853]

Gosford Park. Nobody does snooty sophistication better than dame Maggie!

[@debbielundberg9379]

One of the best actress ever. Brilliant in the prime of miss Jean Brody.

[@JohnDoe-1956]

No matter what she does or has done, she will always be Jean Brodie to me. Her perfomance was brilliant, theatrical, funny, heartbreaking, sad, sexy, just everything. Her delivery of dialogue is unmatched. "Six inches is perfectly adequate. More is vulgar." That line always cracks me up and all she was referring to was how open a window should be. ROFL

[@salt_cots]

I am in full agreement with you - whenever the name Maggie Smith is mentioned, that’s what I think of. Whenever I read the novel, I cannot help but hear her voice. And indeed, as I learned on a recent re-reading some of the greatest lines from the film are not in the book, though Muriel Spark did write the play?/ screenplay, so it’s still her

[@1258-Eckhart]

If I watched that now, no doubt I'd agree with you. But at the time, I was a schoolboy surrounded by Jean Brodies as teachers and couldn't see the fuss.

[@MillieonaVespa]

The prime of miss jean Brody ....how wonderful is she ...what a great actress

[@normadesmond6017]

The way she works up to: "I've got the box-set....." Yep. Maggi Smith can play the phonebook and win an academy award. This is the greatest actress alive. Forget Meryl Streep with all of her tricks and accents. maggi doesn't need them. She is great just the way she is.

[@TheatreofSymphony]

I love her :) I guess we all would love her as a grandmother

[@wiremuwiniata1216]

I loved how when Harry Potter is mentioned she smiles and brandishes an imaginary wand and then when Down town is mentioned at 1:12 she just rolls her eyes 😂

[@wildethree5167]

I love her face change at 1:06 'oh whats he saying now?'

[@da_great_mogul]

Sounds like she was struggling to breathe if I'm honest. God bless her.

[@lydsk-w345]

she's my role model

[@burkegreenwood9109]

I find it funny that all of a sudden everyone is surprised that she can be a comedian; I’ve watched her many skits in The Carol Burnett Show and she was hilarious decades ago!

[@Masterjedi688]

I don't go anywhere they can get at me. LMAOOO

[@johnmunro4952]

" I heard myself saying" LOVE IT

[@monicam7834]

We must protect Maggie Smith at all costs.

[@lilacosmanthus]

Lol Maggie Smith is hilarious.

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

Erin Indigo Osmanthus I like her comment "Old people are scary". I have two decades before I become scary, but I live in a life-care facility (due to my water on the brain and balance problem), so there's a lot scaring going around here.

[@galenstone9097]

I pity anyone who has not had the pleasure of watching Dame Maggie in character. My personal favorite is California Suite. If you have not seen her hilarious turn with Michael Caine, you don't know Maggie Smith. She literally steals the movie. A true actress and a treasure of stage and screen, there will never come another like her...

[@veetowanna1515]

Whenever I reread the books, she is the only person that I can clearly visualize as the actual character.

[@non-copyrightedmusic764]

Yesss definitely ❤️

[@Sam4G0d]

I adore her sense of humour!

[@andrewhuckle803]

This lovely lady is a national treasure. Anyone agree ? Dame Maggie rocks ♥️♥️♥️

[@misscleo378]

The Brits are so fortunate to have so many fine actors.

[@kjdnyhmghfvb]

"I've got the Box set."

[@tiktak3559]

I absolutely love her

[@aboyntheband]

An absolute treasure...cherish Dame Maggie

[@TheJavitxu97]

No dislikes...that says a lot about Maggie

[@v980513]

Protect this woman at all cost

[@haveanicegreenday]

and i am such fan of her son ^_ ^

[@AhamedImran]

you mean toby stephens?

[@haveanicegreenday]

Ahamed Imran yeeeeesssssssssss

[@RealTalkWithSSG]

Haha same; loved him in Jane Eyre!

[@LaurelAlyson]

He was excellent in that version!

[@hilmilblaemi]

Yesss black sails...

[@sankalpsankrityayan9240]

She is a very mature person and also quite composed. A typical example of a wise old woman

[@Athena-kl7oj]

She's so adorable oh my god. And when I say adorable I mean one bamf

[@adelaferreira4575]

Dame Maggie Smith is such a legend,and she only gets better every year we watch her !

[@bossgallery4988]

that wand flick gave me life...

[@edgeof1956]

I really liked Maggie Smith in California Suite(1978). Really fine performance.

[@QueenVee48]

Big fan of Maggie Smith, and never miss Downton.

[@schplengie1]

She'll always be Mother Superior in Sister Act.

[@talalahmed608]

She's so great that even her son, Toby Stephens, is one of finest, most underrated actors out there.

[@wandamundy1759]

I remember the first time I saw Dame Maggie Smith - when she played the lead in the movie, "The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie." It was 1969, and I was 20 yrs old. I had never seen a movie like that - and I was gob-smacked.

[@imvdat3698]

I genuinely cannot wait for this new Alan Bennett film to come out here in Australia (hopefully it does!)!! Love Dame Maggie, a truly wonderful human being !

[@ken62bob57]

this is the most amazing actor of this generation. I remember her in upstairs/downstairs, she left an inedible impression on me and everything she does is has a memory that i am proud to keep in my limited memory. Thank you Dame Maggie Smith

[@mwamwa3488]

When I saw Harry Potter the first time as a kid Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore just instantly crept into my heart and I've loved Maggie Smith ever since then, haven't watched Downton Abbey yet but I've seen Tea with Mussolini because I have a girl crush on Cher so obviously I didn't miss it hahaha but I saw Maggie and Judi Dench's names in the intro and I was literally jumping up and down of joy because it was Cher, Judi and Maggie all together in ONE FREAKING MOVIE.....one of my fave movies and such a legendary cast as well

[@ddylla85]

She will always be Mother Superior

[@danieljaffen]

I just love how real she keeps it!!!! Gotta love Maggie Smith. ❤

[@KatelynDawnVoiceover]

Love her... She really has the same look and similar mannerisms as my grandma... and I just noticed this now!! Love her even more now :)

[@Nagnullat]

Dame Maggie Smith seems like the spiritual twin of Morgan Freeman, in the best way possible.

[@a.w.3438]

Dame Maggie is still the queen of shade....with class!

[@cheeses45]

That right there is why Dame Maggie Smith is and always will be a BAMF!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)

[@calledmoe]

"Just pull yourself together" She knows how to play the meme-game

[@ReginadeiCristalli]

she's fantastic :)

[@spellhaus]

What a darling woman.

[@C1tyground5155]

The best actress of her generation in the world,without exception.

[@untamedcowgirl]

I love Maggie Smith, she's been my favorite actress since I saw Hook when I was 7

[@artemakimandy5475]

HOW can you not love this woman??!!!❤😊❤😊❤

[@beccareul]

Kudos on an amazing career Dame Maggie Smith, for all the years of great entertainment we thank you.

[@edwardkinsey5680]

Dame Maggie Smith is outstanding

[@ltljulian]

The Prime of Miss Jean Brody.

[@ltljulian]

Brodie

[@bpressler]

3:49 of pure magic

[@TrangPakbaby]

Damn! She looks FABULOUS! Love her!

[@elangelny2000]

She is amazing love her. Can't have enough of this show.

[@MyNLR]

She is just lovley!

[@davidharter8476]

I remembered her from The Secret Garden!!

[@KeiondraJohnson]

David Harter love that movie

[@angelabolton4478]

Fabulous, fabulous film.

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

Me too. I borrowed it from the library recently. It's one of my favorite movies.

[@Jake4211-]

What a treasure she is🤗

[@HeyLila78]

Absolutely adore her and her body of work. Brilliant, hilarious and so grounded.

[@denisaboomtown4199]

What a legend man!

[@olliehernandez3934]

"They're not shy, Americans." He's not wrong; we like to talk and ask a fuck ton of questions.

[@iloveforestgreenpipeorgans4465]

Ollie Hernandez As a talkative American Anglophile, if I met Dame Maggie, I would ask her if she likes pipe organ music, and particularly the hymn tunes of Rafe Vaughan Williams.

[@HarrisBrenEscabarte]

She is a world treasure.

[@leighjones44]

A very funny lady and very honest xx

[@Morgana888]

Dame Maggie is one of a kind. I love her in Sir Laurence Olivier's film production OTHELLO from 1968. Yes, she was very well known long before Harry Potter! Thanks!

[@charissetalle9622]

Graham: But that did sort of change your life in a way? Maggie: Well yes, a lot of small people kind of ... would say hello to me and that was...that was nice.

[@NelsonClick]

She's right about the American thing. Her strategy is wise. Many Americans would impulsively rush toward her and overwhelm her with praise and requests to say lines and forget she's a real human being. She's an icon and prolific; just in America alone, even before the early 70's which is when I started watching television and going to movies. I remember her as a special guest on the Carol Burnett Show.

[@gracet9]

What a legend.

[@2Bdiscovered]

SOMEONE I KNOW HAS WORKED WITH HER AND SAYS SHE'S THE MOST AMAZING LADY. I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT.