Shes brilliant and funny as miss mary sheperd the homeless woman who moved her camper van into writer alan bennetts drive for three months, in. The pair showed a few early clips of the film, in one of which an imperious and determined maggie smith explains. Maggie smith interview the lady in the van premiere youtube. In the 1970s and 1980s outside alan bennetts own house in camden an old lady miss shepherd lived in a van in the street.
Smith stars in the new film the lady in the van, which is based on the true story of a homeless woman who lived in an immobile van parked for. She talks to jessamy calkin about downton, loneliness and her latest role in the lady in the van. Dame maggie smith is all through with corsets cbs news. Maggie smith is often seen as austere, but most often she plays comedy. Review of books, then later a short book, the lady in the van. In the film of the lady in the van, smith inhabits miss shepherd so.
Nov 08, 2014 maggie smith interview for my old lady. It was only recently i discovered that the actor, toby stephens, who plays in the tv series, black sails, is her son by actor robert stephens they. The lady in the van by nicholas hytner maggie smith, dominic. Maggie smith shifts from dowager to down and out for the lady. Dec 10, 2015 most fortunately for the late miss shepherd, shes played by dame maggie smith in the lady in the van, based on bennetts memoir, which became in 1999 a stage play starring smith and, now, the. The dialogues between the writerauthor and the everyday person alan bennett are superfluous, confusing and boring. The lady in the van had no friends, but she did have a neighbour. With over 60 years of acting to her name, dame maggie smith is a national treasure.
For her latest feat, smith rescues nicholas hytners film the lady in the van from the confectionery uplift that otherwise might have swallowed it. Smith has been promoting her newest movie, the lady in the van. Downton abbeys maggie smith fondly recalls leonardo dicaprio. Maggie smith, alan bennett, director nicholas hytner, alex jennings and producer kevin loader attend the london film festival press. Every bit as formidable as her character on downton abbey, dame maggie smith gives a rare and spiky interview to 60 minutes. Maggie smith is the lady in the van thats not my age. The golden globenominee talks about the finale of downton abbey and her new film, the lady in the van. Sunday read meet the real lady in the van and listen to an.
Based on the true story, miss shepherd was a woman of uncertain origins who. In the lady in the van, maggie smith homesteads in. Dec 27, 2015 the golden globenominee talks about the finale of downton abbey and her new film, the lady in the van. Beloved british cultural giants go headtohead well, bumpertobumper in new comedydrama the lady in the van. Maggie smith and alan bennett are the two spearheads of nicholas hytners. Actors alex jennings, left, and maggie smith pose with screen writer and author alan bennett during the photo call for the lady in the van, as part of the london film festival, at a central. More to maggie smiths lady in the van than meets eye, or. With over 60 years of acting to her name, dame maggie smith is a. For the american ceramist, see maggie smith ceramist. Jan 21, 2016 this photo provided by courtesy of sony pictures classics shows, maggie smith, left, as miss. Alex jennings and dame maggie smith on the graham norton show oct 2015, talking about the lady in the van. It has since become a book and play, and now it is about to be released as a film, the lady in. Feb 27, 2015 the lady in the van is the real life story of alans strained relationship with miss shepherd. Maggie smith cracks jokes at lady in the van premiere.
She talks to jessamy calkin about downton, loneliness and her latest role in the lady in the van this piece was. Over the course of her stay, the two form a unique friendship. The lady in the van, with maggie smith as its eccentric. The pic is an adaptation of alan bennetts west end hit. Based on a true story, the lady in the van tells the story of a woman who temporarily parks her van in a strangers driveway and stays there for 15 years. Sep 01, 2015 for someone whos been on the world stage since the late 1950s, we know surprisingly little about the marvelous actress, maggie smith, most recently of downton abbey and the lady in the van fame. Jan 12, 2016 it must be lovely to be beautiful, but thats a really difficult thing to lose, says smith, now 81. For someone whos been on the world stage since the late 1950s, we know surprisingly little about the marvelous actress, maggie smith, most recently of downton abbey and the lady in the van fame. Feb 24, 2016 smith has been promoting her newest movie, the lady in the van. Amazingly bennett allowed her to move her van into his garden and there she remained until she died. Maggie smith reflects the shades of life in a driveway writer alan bennett enables truth to become stranger than fiction. Smith stars in the new film the lady in the van, which is based on the true story of a homeless woman who lived in an immobile van parked for 15 years in the driveway of writer alan bennett. She doesnt court publicity, does few interviews, and never joined the. Maggie smith is the lady in the van trailer video dailymotion.
Life imitates art in the lady in the van, the story of the itinerant miss shepherd, who lived in a van in alan bennetts driveway from the early 1970s until her death in 1989. In her new movie, the lady in the van, 80yearold maggie smith plays the part of the late miss shepherd who spent her later years living in a yellow van outside the london home of playwright alan. Maggie smith stars in lady in the van, reprising her role from the alan bennett and nicholas hytner stage production. Tom rothmans tristar productions has teamed with bbc films to greenlight the lady in the van starring downton abbeys maggie smith. Well, the fact is she excels at high drama and, as suzie mackenzie discovers in a rare interview, shes.
Dec 27, 2016 the telegraph interviewed the wonderful and wildly talented dame maggie smith our beloved professor mcgonnagall on her acting career, her personal life, and her role in the lady in the van. Sony classics the lady in the van has many virtues, but its principally a showcase for 80yearold star maggie smith, who couldshould earn yet another oscar nomination for her great. Tristar productions teams with bbc films on maggie smiths. One of the worlds most famous and distinguished actresses, dame maggie smith was born margaret natalie smith in essex. Alan bennett talks the lady in the van the telegraph. Oct 02, 2016 maggie smith is one of my favorite actresses, but i watched her last weekend in one of the slowest movies ever shot. Maggie smith, in london in december, has reprised the role of miss. Maggie smith interview the lady in the van premiere subscribe to red carpet news. The story of the lady in the van is very interesting and touching. The interview largely focused on maggie smiths comedic roll as homeless woman named mary shepherd, living in a van parked in. Nov 17, 2015 the film is inspired by the true story of the homeless woman who lived in a van in the driveway of the celebrated author alan bennett for 15 years. A postscript was added in 1994 alan bennett also adapted the lady in the van for the stage the lady in the van was made into a film in 2015, directed by nicholas hytner and starring maggie smith return to top of the page.
Watch her talk method acting, the secret to a long life, and downton abbey at. Nov 19, 2004 maggie smith is often seen as austere, but most often she plays comedy. Maggie smith in alan bennetts the lady in the van first. Mar 03, 2015 see more at the official trailer for the lady in the van, based on the alan bennetts true life, memoir and stage play, starring maggie smith, who reprises her role as miss shepherd. Maggie smith oscarworthy in lady in the van variety. In recent interview, he clearly stated that during the time the van was. In an interview with the telegraph for his 80th birthday, bennett. This photo provided by courtesy of sony pictures classics shows, maggie smith, left, as miss. Alex jennings and dame maggie smith interview on graham. Cbs news dame maggie smith is one of our most venerated performers. Jan 12, 2016 the unsinkable maggie smith plays the homeless lady in question.
The film by the same name, and with smith in the lead once again, was released in the united kingdom on november, and will come to south africa in december this year. Nov 06, 2015 sony classics the lady in the van has many virtues, but its principally a showcase for 80yearold star maggie smith, who couldshould earn yet another oscar nomination for her great. His work includes the talking heads television series, and the stage plays forty years on, the lady in the van, a question of attribution, and the madness of king george iii, since made into a major motion picture. During their 15 years together the writer observed miss shepherd, and in 1999 dame maggie smith portrayed her in the hit west end play, the lady in the van. If you havent seen this movie then youre seriously missing out. The favorite kissing couple, by all accounts, was leonardo dicaprio and downton abbey star dame maggie smith. Though the lady in the van is a detective story that gradually reveals why miss shepherd hates music, speaks french fluently, knows londons streets as well as any cabbie, and cannot maintain a fixed abode, its more involving character is bennett. Her scottish mother, margaret hutton, worked as a secretary, and her english father, nathaniel smith, was a teacher at oxford university. If you have been around long enough you are an icon more famous than ever thanks to downton abbey, the 79yearold actress tells elizabeth grice why she. What made the social setup funny, bennett writes in his book the lady in the van, was the. Maggie smith lady in the van charlotte henley babb. The good thing about watching a slow movie is that it gives me time to think. It was weird to film the lady in the van in my old house. Smiths downton abbey alter ego, violet crawley, dowager countess of.
Smiths downton abbey alter ego, violet crawley, dowager countess of grantham. I cant think of anyone who could play the lady in the van better than maggie smith. Lady in the van is thin but maggie smith is better. The unsinkable maggie smith plays the homeless lady in question. Maggie smith is one of my favorite actresses, but i watched her last weekend in one of the slowest movies ever shot. During the show, smith discussed her appearance in the comedydrama film the lady in the van, which was directed by nicholas hytner. And in a new interview, the 81yearold oscar winner discussed what it was like to. The subject came up in a conversation with npr about her latest movie, the lady in the van. Jan 21, 2016 the lady in the van is based on bennetts memoir of their reallife relationship, as well as his own adaptation of the story for the stage. Alan bennett has been one of englands leading dramatists since the success of beyond the fringe in the 1960s. The film is inspired by the true story of the homeless woman who lived in a van in the driveway of the celebrated author alan bennett for 15 years. Smith is excellent as the homeless woman who parked her camper van in.
The dialogues between the writer author and the everyday person alan bennett are superfluous, confusing and boring. The lady in the van is the real life story of alans strained relationship with miss shepherd. Smith was quite candid in the interviewrevealing that. Downton abbeys dame maggie smith, a twotime oscar winner, recreates one of her most celebrated roles the. The lady in the van by nicholas hytner maggie smith. So is his complicated relationship with his mother.
He first encountered her in the late 1960s, when her van appeared in his street in camden town. Maggie smith accepts the critics circle award duration. Downton abbey fame spotlights maggie smith cbs news. Alan bennett the lady in the van interview duration. The telegraph interviewed the wonderful and wildly talented dame maggie smith our beloved professor mcgonnagall on her acting career, her personal life, and her role in. Maggie smith excels as the lady in the van playwright alan bennett tells the unlikely but true story of a the homeless woman who parked her van in his driveway and lived there for 15 years.
Wonderful maggie smith as the cranky homeless miss shepherd. During a multidecade career, she won academy awards for the prime of miss jean brodie 1969 and california suite 1978, and she. Mar 07, 2016 with nicholas hytner, alex jennings, maggie smith, roger allam. The lady in the van with maggie smith opened at the queens theatre, london, in december 1999. The lady in the van is the third film nicholas hytner has made from an alan bennett screenplay having first directed bennetts stage version. Lady in the van is thin but maggie smith is better than ever.
Unlike the madness of king george 94 and the history boys 06, its ostensible focus is a womanthe emotionally troubled, unwashed indigent with delusions of grandeur who. Review of books memoir about the haughty, cantankerous homeless woman. Feb 19, 2009 taking refuge with her van in his garden originally for three months, she ended up staying fifteen years. Truth is stranger than fiction in this comedydrama based on the reallife tale of a homeless woman named miss shepherd maggie smith, who parks her van in the driveway of a house owned by playwright alan bennett alex jennings and lives there for 15 years. In 1974 an elderly and eccentric miss mary shepherd parked her van in writer. Most fortunately for the late miss shepherd, shes played by dame maggie smith in the lady in the van, based on bennetts memoir, which became in 1999 a stage play starring smith and, now, the. Maggie smith earns oscar buzz for lady in the van, but. Maggie smiths remembrance of alan rickman in new npr. Dame maggie smith, who plays the dowager countess of grantham in itvs costume drama, talks to mark lawson about why her character should be killed off, forgetting which. Maggie smith interview the lady in the van premiere duration. By graham fuller in the novemberdecember 2015 issue. Shepherd and alex jennings as alan bennett in the film, the lady in the van.
With nicholas hytner, alex jennings, maggie smith, roger allam. One of the worlds most famous and distinguished actresses, dame maggie smith was born margaret natalie smith. Maggie smith one of todays most gifted and venerable actresses, she can turn the tiniest role into the most memorable corner of a movie. Nov 29, 2015 during their 15 years together the writer observed miss shepherd, and in 1999 dame maggie smith portrayed her in the hit west end play, the lady in the van. Maggie smith shines in the lady in the van theblaze. Funny, touching and unexpectedly spectacular, the lady in the van marked the return to the stage of one of our leading playwrights. Dame margaret natalie smith ch dbe born 28 december 1934 is an english actress. More to maggie smiths lady in the van than meets eye. Jan 22, 2016 for her latest feat, smith rescues nicholas hytners film the lady in the van from the confectionery uplift that otherwise might have swallowed it. After a time she could no longer stay on the street. New featurette for maggie smiths the lady in the van. Taking refuge with her van in his garden originally for three months, she ended up staying fifteen years. Downton abbeys maggie smith fondly recalls leonardo.
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