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In honor of Dame Maggie Smith's recent Golden Globe win, we thought we'd take a look back at some of the best moments from our favorite dowager countess. From her one liners to her censuring glares to her fabulous hats, there's not much that we don't love about Maggie Smith's Violet Crawley.
watch the best Dowager Countess moments >> Posted 01.14.13 by Mandy -
This morning the Screen Actor's Guild announced its nominations for outstanding performances in five movie and eight primetime television categories, and Maggie Smith was the most nominated actor with a total of four nods. The 77-year-old actress was nominated for her work playing the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey as well as for her work in a supporting role in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and she was also nominated as a member of the ensembles of both projects. The most nominated movies were Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook, both of which garnered four noms each.
The full list of SAG nominees is below. Tune in to Hollywood Dailies for full coverage of the upcoming awards show, as well as the full red carpet season.
See the Complete List of Nominees >> Posted 12.12.12 by reelz -
"This isn't a retirement home. It's a madhouse."
Academy Award–winner Dustin Hoffman (Kramer vs. Kramer, Rain Man) is clearly an actor who has always had a desire to direct. He almost made his debut behind the camera with 1978's Straight Time, but opted instead to just act in the movie. Since then he has directed theater and produced television, and it shouldn't be too surprising that Hoffman is finally making his debut as a movie director with Quartet.
Based on the play of the same name Ronald Harwood (The Dresser, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Quartet stars Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter) and Billy Connolly (Brave) as denizens of a retirement home for musicians, which puts on an annual which is put in question when Jean (Smith) arrives at the home. The movie's first trailer has just arrived online, and reveals a light, comedic tone in what looks like a heartwarming story that is set to open in time for Oscar consideration. Fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (which also starred Smith) take note.
the latest in trailers Saturdays 10:00a ET / 7:00a PT
watch the trailer >> Posted 10.30.12 by Ryan -
Can't get enough of that sharp-tongued dowager countess.
What's New: Shirley MacLaine as Lady Grantham's mother is some of the best casting ever to happen ever. Ever.
Thumbs Up: The 1920s are on the verge of roaring in the upcoming season, and the dowdy looks of the 'teens are making way for flapper fashions.
Thumbs Down: The new season doesn't premiere until January 6, 2013? It looks like Christmas is coming late this year.
Trailers, Trailers & More Trailers Saturdays 10:00a ET / 7:00a PT
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This weekend the second invasion of American shores by the Crawley dynasty of North Yorkshire's Downton Abbey comes to an end. Leave it to Vulture to provide us with a delightful way to celebrate the second season finale of the wildly popular British period drama on PBS.
When we came across the pop culture site's Downton Abbey paper dolls (illustrated by Kyle Hilton), we were ecstatic — that is, until the slightly raised eyebrow and disdainful glare of the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) shamed us into a deathly silence. But we soon recovered and were madly expropriating printer ink and cutting out our own Matthew and Mary paper dolls, rapt in the satisfaction of re-creating our own peccadilloes and empire dramas. We urge you to do the same because after this weekend it will be a long wait before Series 3 arrives to entertain us.
watch a super cut of the dowager countess in action >> Posted 02.17.12 by Jud -
Wands at the ready, everybody. Warner Brothers has just released eleven new action banners for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Last time they teased us for two weeks, doling out the character posters one at a time, so it's good to get so much immediate gratification. While the character posters featured the biggest heroes and villains of the final movie, these action banners also include the Weasely twins (Oliver and James Phelps), Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), and (somewhat surprisingly) the rather cantankerous goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis).
These action banners are aptly named, they feature far more action than the earlier released character posters. There are curses and spells being cast left and right. Well, except for Griphook who's contemplating Godric Gryffindor's sword.
So what do you think of the new action banners? Are they better than the character posters? Does anybody else think that Alan Rickman's makeup is a little drag-ish?
Posted 06.08.11 by Mandy