Maggie Smith Wins Supporting Actress: 1979 Oscars

George Burns and Brooke Shields presenting Maggie Smith the Oscar® for Supporting Actress for "California Suite" at the 51st Academy Awards® in 1979. Hosted by Johnny Carson.

[@adarshtamang969]

In the muggle world she is a great actress.

[@JavierArveloCruzSantana]

This lady, Maggie Smith, won an Oscar against MERYL "FREAKING" STREEP--IN 1979!!! Two legends!

[@JamesHarris-hl2bm]

Well, this was before Meryl became the new Katherine Hepburn and before her first Oscar, which was the next year, I believe for Kramer Vs Kramer, and the rest is history. However, make no mistake, Maggie is every bit as good an actress as anyone and can do anything. The year that Liza won, Maggie did the wonderful Travels With My Aunt, which was a brilliant comic performance, but she had won four years before for Jean Brodie, beating Liza among others, who was up for The Steril Coco.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

James Harris Liza is not a great actress.Diana Ross👑 desevered the Oscar for LADY SINGS THE BLUES.She was PHENOMENAL. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@jaydefelice9887]

@@arnoldamaral7406 I just read the comment from James Harris and no where in it does he call Liza a great actress. Not sure why you would need to even type it instead of just having your say on Diana Ross. What value does it add to anything? Petty.

[@benjaminjackson9449]

Arnold Amaral it would have been Cicely Tyson in Sounder. But y’all ain’t ready for that conversation.

[@JMCNYC79]

Meryl wasn’t a legend at that time. She was just starting out.

[@conradschmidt251]

That woman should get so much more Oscars! She's the perfect actress!!!

[@charlyv.]

Totally agree. I lover her 😍😍😍😍

[@mckavitt]

Dark Angel She gets plenty of Baftas, so not to worry.

[@marlonchopaping1219]

I absolutely agree with you..

[@pppfan103]

She has two. Not a lot of people get two.

[@A.A_xv]

Jackson DeStefano should’ve been 3 for Gosford park

[@divogalindra9821]

Proffesor you look so damn beautiful

[@NB79032]

Divo Galindra She's beautiful no matter what age she is.

[@TheRedBaron12.8]

Silence Wood!

[@bheeshmarangu6361]

Bloody brilliant.

[@conserztasfia0078]

@@NB79032 agreed she is forever a queen for me

[@AlexLopez-kx7bc]

And you look so damn hot.. ups I saw it

[@sofianenasri3189]

she should've won an oscar for the lady in the van

[@mirrenfan2]

Agreed!

[@yaywhewclips242]

I just saw that movie, she is amazing. Her best role!!

[@iboundao3387]

She wasn't nominated for that movie and i'm always shoked about that. She was damn perfect in the lady in the van

[@storybellz]

I said it once, but I'll say it again---here, Maggie shows the most genuine modesty and humility I think I've ever seen by an actress accepting an award. It's positively adorable! She's positively adorable here!!

[@reinadegrillos]

AFterwards, we can count Olivia in that. She too is very humble and sweet.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Sincerity is the most important thing in an award acceptance speech. If you can fake that, you've got it made.

[@sophie-annew7743]

I just rewatched the whole film. Still in awe of how Maggie Smith and Michael Caine manage to gradually turn a comedy into a tragedy and do it so seamlessly and elegantly. It was heart wrenching when Maggie said “let it be me, tonight”. That’s really a great performance and so worth an Oscar.

[@yelyint5620]

Finally, this long-awaited video is uploaded by The Academy! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Dame Maggie Smith will always be one of the most incredible, most remarkable, most unforgettable legends in cinematic history! Thank you for your irreplaceable talent, m'lady! #Respects

[@paulmason1147]

I8 iui u hi

[@le2zruWtaR8DauQ3]

She ist the best and most talented actress in the world. Alone in Downton Abbey she steals everyone the scene

[@julieta5375]

Violet is certainly the best character in Downton

[@julieta5375]

+Julieta Díaz Lavisse Or ceirtanly? Sorry, i really dont know how to spell it rigth

[@leewhite344]

Julieta lol you had it right the first time!

[@julieta5375]

Thanks!

[@fadhilramadhani1847]

She played an Oscar loser in that movie only to win an Oscar for it!

[@bernardbeasley3742]

I have so much respect for this woman

[@blair4661]

One of the most magnificent actresses; she's a grest mentor for all women.. bless you, Maggie Smith!

[@fatima1009]

This is where it all started for Meryl.

[@Euroviking86]

Her first nomination. Who would've guessed she would go on to break all nomination records?

[@alel3544]

@@Euroviking86 Actually she didn't ;) And to be honest, she is absolutely great and I love her, but in 2012 Glenn Close deserved to win.

[@catsarereallycool]

Brooke Shields is just so beautiful.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

If only they'd come on today and get off again in 30 seconds having genuinely deserved an award and been genuinely grateful, humble and gracious like this articulate lady. Maggie Smith shows how to do it.

[@lulugu3]

Wow! If anything ever indicated the transition in humour between 1979 and 2018, it is this dialogue between George Burns and Brooke Shields!

[@JaneDoe-ci3gj]

Yes, not everything was better in the good old days!

[@fucku9849]

@@JaneDoe-ci3gj everything sucks in the 70s lmao

[@TvShow-ks2fi]

I was so curious what Maggie would sound like as a young woman ... since her distinctive way of speaking is what I love her for

[@socaljarhead7670]

You and be both. Perfectly feminine.

[@bradbabelbibou9923]

she was already 45 in this though.

[@morley247]

Look at meryl streep at that time!

[@grandmalovesmebest]

Morley Meryl? Are you serious? In a comment about Dame Maggie Smith you bring up some mediocre "always the same, no range" actress? I MUST have misunderstood your intent.

[@Quynh1610]

Because Meryl Streep was also nominated. She was still very young.

[@davidmuller9938]

@@grandmalovesmebest Have u seen any movies by Meryl Streep? mediocre? lol you are crazy.

[@pandumiharja6769]

@@grandmalovesmebest shut up you know nothing about her

[@victoriajarvis2260]

@@pandumiharja6769 She's a great supporter of Roman Polanski and other Hollywood pedophiles. Say what you will about a good actress, being a good, decent person is another thing. Great actress. Fails the human being audition.

[@tribalpeacock]

I love that she paid tribute to Michael Caine...they're both the best of British!

[@jwelch5742]

Maggie Smith has great acting in California Suite.

[@Mandystesia]

She won for a film in which she's nominated for an Oscar but loses.. Ah so clever, she's a great actress

[@Euroviking86]

Her and Michael Caine made that movie worth watching.

[@TommyLellan]

She was actually fantastic in that film! Great comedic performance.

[@flipperdale51]

I've always loved Maggie Smith's eyes. Plus she's a great actress.

[@ShmelevJr]

Do you realise that putting the two statements in that order is a bit insulting?

[@socaljarhead7670]

Sheer elegance. Her voice I could listen to all day every day.

[@storybellz]

I love how humble and sweet she seems----and how conservative and maturely everyone is dressed! They all seem much more mature and adult than everyone these days!

[@ferdinandvasquez8133]

Apparently, Brooke is such a massive fan of Downton Abbey and seeing her presenting the Oscar to Dame Maggie Smith was so wonderful. I hope they work in a movie someday soon.

[@saurabhkabali5702]

After 42 year's I'm saying congrats Professor 😍 In 1968 you won best actress award then in 1979 supporting actress🙏legend😍🙏

[@agshinsanili505]

I think Maggie should’ve also been nominated and won for the Lady in the Van

[@mirrenfan2]

Thank you for this beautiful quality video!

[@Lele62able]

A great actress.......a great woman. I love her " Travels with my aunt " wonderful film.

[@AlexBlend]

Maggie deserved that but Veronica Cartwright should have been nominated for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"

[@kazzymoviefan]

Disagree. I recently watched "Invasion..." and thought some of Veronica's line deliveries were not great. "It's happening now" O.O not to say I don't like her. Love her in almost all she does especially "Alien" and "The Witches of Eastwick". She did well, but it's not Oscar worthy. IMO

[@AlexBlend]

That's ok. Opinions differ. I think she was brilliant in "Invasion...."

[@kazzymoviefan]

Well, I sort of take my comment back. I just rewatched the DVD this morning, and she's pretty good. Don't know what was wrong with my memory thinking she delivered her lines badly. I still don't feel Oscar nom worthy though. I liked her better in Alien, because she really was great at being terrified. I can endorse a nomination for that even though her character in that isn't super fleshed out, she was just more effective in that role.

[@paul2587]

What an incredible, underused talent Veronica Cartwright was. Absolutely, she should have been nominated in this category for "Invasion..." and also in the same category again a year later for her role in "Alien."

[@psychokarloff]

alex blend - AGREE AGREE AGREE!!! Finally, someone with a sharp eye and good sense! VC was memorably brilliant in that film, and Pauline Kael agreed as well.

[@minervaslovely2969]

Omg she deserved this so much!!!!! She would have much more oscars!❤

[@theastewart6721]

Maggie Smith is truly a class act. Eloquent, to the point and not political. An exceptional woman and actress.

[@rgrndu]

Maggie was great in Evil Under The Sun. Hell, she’s great in everything.

[@thomasplinguidy4588]

And the best part is that she got the Oscar for the role of an actress who is on her way to the Academy Awards and then has to watch the Oscar go to a younger girl. It's so "meta" that it belongs in the history of film studies.

[@johnfulton4061]

Interestingly enough I read that Maggie stayed at the same exact hotel the night that she went to the Oscar's and won for California Suite that the nominated character she portrayed in the film stayed at and lost

[@MA-wm9vr]

one of my faves actress!!

[@TheCMLion]

Maggie is always wonderful.

[@technodroog]

an octogenerian making a (funny) joke about being romantically involved with the 14 year old...whoa, the 70's

[@sisila8]

more like the history of pedophilia satire in Hollywood

[@oscarfun100]

I was just thinking that this couldn't happen today. And it shouldn't.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

She was still 13 at the time. I bet Roman Polanski was pissed he could'nt be there.

[@b.w.g6871]

the world was just normal there... now you can’t make no jokes no more as everyone has PAIN IN THE ASS (mostly left tho)

[@annayelrose7070]

gabrielbwg you think that’s funny? Wow

[@fabiobattaglino4359]

Maggie Smith's performance was amazing!! A perfect couple with Michael Caine!

[@jimmyl324]

Loved her in California Suite.

[@julieta5375]

I just love this woman so, so much. She a Queen

[@jeffersonborges9932]

Minerva McGonagall! :D

[@FunGal1691]

Maggie Smith*

[@julieta5375]

Please, we all know that Maggie is more McGonagall that McGonagall herself 😂😂

[@FunGal1691]

Julieta Díaz Lavisse true

[@pennycrackwisethedancingcl6856]

Pissss off she is mcgonagall that's her real name who is Maggie Smith

[@itsme-sn5gi]

The dowager countess of Grantham

[@johnthegreek5836]

She is one of the best actress of all time

[@moniquelacosta5170]

There is nothing like a dame!!! Thank you for uploading the young and pretty Maggie Smith accepting her Oscar.

[@Noneya2023]

If you love & adore Dame Maggie Smith, you absolutely must see her brilliant, hilarious performance as Daphne Castle in Agatha Christie’s “Evil Under The Sun”. It’s a delicious performance in an incredibly dark, sexy, funny mystery & my favorite cast of all time!

[@caturaebenton2886]

100% agree. The whole movie is great.

[@TommyLellan]

I watched California Suite recently, and although I didn’t really like it, I thought Maggie’s character was HILARIOUS. Nice to see the Academy recognise a comedic performance for once.

[@NadrianATRS]

Whenever I watch that movie, I only watch the parts of Maggie Smith and fast forward the rest.

[@rizwangamer8945]

What a lovely woman she was huh!! When i was just an one year old infant.1979 .see time goes on n on n on.it nevver stops fr anyone.destined fortunate woman frm 75 till now.has won lots of awards nd nominations.an asset fr hollywood industry.may she get well soon.as is sick now adays.

[@elizabethsanchezschulz4949]

Maggie, who would have foreseen such a fantastic, remarkable and long successful career? You’re a warlock with your wonderful, enormous , beautiful eyes. Chapeau!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@manuellarodrigues]

She was wonderful in Downtown Abbey!

[@smichelle65]

Fun fact: Maggie Smith's win made her the first of four consecutive Supporting Actress winners with the initials "M.S." The next three were Meryl Streep (Kramer v Kramer), Maureen Stapleton (Reds), and Mary Steenbergen (Melvin and Howard)

[@editfazekas3854]

Now, that's class. She really is a lady and a great actress as well as a lovely person.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Edit Fazekas DAME MAGGIE SMITH is beyond a great ACTRESS.She has raised the bar so high they had to throw it away. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@graziettadigirolamo1224]

È BV bravissima. Fantastica. Quando appare in TV non riesco a togliere lo sguardo da lei recita stupendamente...

[@jeromejackson6111]

What an amazing actress! So, underrated.

[@djmotise]

You can't be serious. Underrated??? What planet are you from?

[@KAH5371]

What I love about actresses like Dame Maggie Smith, is that she was truly humble and gracious when accepting her Oscar. Not one vile or hateful comment about anything or anybody. No political garbage either. Plus, it was so wonderful to see Johnny Carson. A class act all wrapped up in a funny talented man. He was truly the last of the Great Oscar Hosts. Miss him.

[@cherrymustang9526]

Meryl’s first oscar nomination

[@johnclossick7034]

Maggie Smith wasn't kidding about Michael Caine being the most supporting Actor one could have since he would go on to win two supporting Actor Oscars himself.

[@ruannsr]

Queen of England.

[@wimbyfan13]

Maureen Stapleton was the heart of Interiors. Her best performance on film, in my opinion. Glad she got one a few years later for Reds.

[@kdohertygizbur]

Agree 💯

[@pablofrank2466]

I wholeheartedly agree - I absolutely loved Maureen in Interiors. Her character of Pearl was a brilliant contrast to Geraldine Page's Eve.

[@thephoenixxy]

That's the true definition of classy.

[@lajas46]

The best actress at this moment, the Great Maggi Smith

[@jonathanmolina6095]

Maggie smith is amazing amazing actress and wow Broke Shieds in 14 years old presenting Osca®

[@ann7838]

That introduction tho 😆 “i’d be selling tickets”

[@tuhinsikdar7228]

Her voice was so calming

[@yurokasportboys9166]

Her voice ....so beauty!!

[@socaljarhead7670]

As smooth and velvety a voice there ever was.

[@wel.3098]

she's 45 here!!! and looking so fresh and glowing as hell❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 LOVE HER

[@joshmills5219]

Delightful speech. KZbin is really time travel. George Burns was 38 years older than Maggie Smith, and now she's almost 90.

[@37napa]

Meryl Streep is so gorgeous.

[@thanostsarbos1197]

She reminds me of Florence Welsh a bit o.O

[@mohamedkhaidirmohamedzaraa8070]

Professor McGonagall.... you look amazing!

[@LaReineBleue]

It's just like how Harry said in the Deathly Hallows: He just thought Dumbledore sprung about in his silver haired, aged self. He never imagined Dumbledore as a young man. I also find it weird to see Maggie Smith as young and youthful!! Amazing and gorgeous!

[@carmeloanthony6424]

It’s remarkable, looking at this, how much Natasha Richardson was like a Young Maggie Smith.

[@eoinMB3949]

My goodness maggie smith was quite the fox back in the day.

[@debbielundberg9379]

Maggie Smith great actress

[@gatewayski1]

Maureen Stapleton was never better than she was in INTERIORS. Maggie Smith displayed the positive and negative sides to her character in CALIFORNIA SUITE so an Oscar was not wasted on her at all.

[@tonyp5997]

Meryl streep first Oscar nomination and 21 more in the following years

[@maylee261]

I love her ❤

[@davehoward22]

The acting by the presenters is stunning..

[@Drake_Ice7]

I didn't know Professor McGonagall had won an Oscar over Meryl Strip!, so savage.

[@thejazzsinger7734]

Love her!

[@dfa3366]

From what I’ve read Maureen Stapleton was the favorite that year and she was great in that movie so it was a surprise that Maggie Smith won.

[@Euroviking86]

She's one of those people you just forget were young once, 'cause they've become so frozen in time for you at a particular point in their lives and onwards.

[@clinkxs7559]

Hello Idol...Your so beautiful when you were young but way cooler when your older...I love you Professor ...😍😍😘

[@romina2185]

she is a great actress (and professor ;)

[@inasillygoofymood]

I'm so late, but i love her so much!

[@johnivan2575]

My favorite professor!

[@Daen009]

Maggie es demasiado talentosa, se merece todos los premios ❤️

[@poetcomic1]

Bette Davis played with her in Death on the Nile and really admired and respected her.

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

RIP George Burns!

[@ericbana191]

Wow! Can I just say, she looks beautiful!

[@closetoyourheart]

Brooke shields just simply beautiful here

[@teurypotter1218]

Happy Birthday Maggie Smith (12/28/34)!🎂💖

[@whitesimurgh6363]

She was beautiful!

[@mckavitt13]

Ah, Maggie Gorgeous Smith. What a wonder she is!

[@nickstaffer5036]

Pure class

[@fatima1009]

I wish she'd accepted it for her best actress award in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."

[@pujitarao600]

She's so pretty...

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Pujita Rao British beauty like my British Grand👑 my Dear Mom👑 & My beautiful daughter👑.They all had beautiful Auburn hair skin like porcelain. British beauty is very special.That's what my Dad would say who was French,Portugese & Spanish.But he was partial because my Mom was British & beautiful just like Grand & Our Dear Daughter. 🙋🌹🌍🌎🌏💙. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@ania9421]

Maggie love it💕 🌺 💖

[@Vikram777ish]

Maggie! I love you forever ma'am.. 🤗💕👏🏼

[@brixterpesante7436]

I'm proud of you professor...

[@temitm7500]

MS MS MS... ❤️❤️❤️

[@bilaalbadurdeen2733]

Legend 😇🔥💯