Maggie Smith Quotes

Powerful Maggie Smith for Daily Growth

About Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith, Dame Margaret Natalie Smith to be precise, is an eminent British actress, born on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, England. Known for her versatility and depth in portraying a wide range of characters, she has left an indelible mark on the world of theatre, film, and television. Smith's acting career began at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, where she studied under Donald Wolfit, who significantly influenced her passion for acting. Her professional debut came in 1956 with a role in 'The Hiding Place,' followed by appearances on stage in plays such as 'A Taste of Honey' and 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.' In 1961, Smith made her film debut in 'The Yellow Rolls-Royce,' but it was her portrayal of Sister Julienne in the BBC series 'Call the Midwife' that brought her international fame in the 21st century. However, she is arguably best known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the 'Harry Potter' film series. Smith's career has spanned over six decades, earning her numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, five Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 for services to drama. Throughout her illustrious career, Smith has embodied characters that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide, making her one of the most respected and admired actresses of her generation. Her work continues to inspire and captivate, cementing her legacy as a timeless icon in the world of entertainment.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Being old is a very good thing, isn't it? You get out of it what you put into it."

This quote by Maggie Smith highlights the idea that growing older can be fulfilling if one actively engages in life and seizes opportunities for personal growth and experiences. Essentially, she suggests that our later years are not a time to simply retreat or coast, but rather to continue contributing and gaining from life. The sentiment is that aging can be rich with meaning and enjoyment if we remain active, curious, and open to new experiences.


"I'm not sure I approve of anything. I think it's a bit beneath me to approve or disapprove."

Maggie Smith, in this quote, seems to express an air of detachment from societal norms and expectations, where she neither approves nor disapproves of things. It suggests a level of superiority or indifference towards the judgement of actions, events, or people, as if they are not important enough to merit her approval or disapproval. This can be interpreted as a manifestation of her independent character and self-assuredness.


"I don't know why we have to shout at each other. It's so much more relaxing to simply whisper insults."

This quote suggests that while heated arguments or yelling may seem intense or confrontational, they often lead to tension and stress. Maggie Smith instead proposes a more subtle approach to expressing negative feelings by whispering insults, which she implies might be less stressful and potentially more effective in communication due to its understated nature. It's a humorous way of pointing out that conflicts can sometimes be managed more gracefully when we choose our words carefully, even if those words are unpleasant.


"I just love slipping gradually, unperceived, into an absence without leaving a trace."

This quote by Maggie Smith captures the essence of a subtle yet profound disappearance from people's lives or situations. It suggests a graceful exit where one fades away, almost unnoticed, leaving no indication or remorse behind. The phrase "absence without leaving a trace" underscores the idea that the person is gone but has made such little impact that their departure goes unnoticed and unmarked. This could symbolize a number of situations - from ending relationships to moving on from past experiences, all done with quiet dignity and minimal disturbance.


"It's all rather silly really, isn't it?"

Maggie Smith's quote "It's all rather silly really, isn't it?" suggests a feeling of absurdity or nonsensical nature in the given situation or circumstances. It implies that the person speaking finds the current predicament to be pointless, unimportant, or humorous due to its triviality. Overall, the quote reflects a sense of detachment and perspective.


I loved Robert Altman, so gentle yet naughty! And Julian Fellowes writes so beautifully.

- Maggie Smith

Loved, Naughty, Gentle, Robert

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.

- Maggie Smith

Voice, Mind, Even, Shakes

I've been playing old parts forever. I play 93 quite often. When you've done it more than once, you take the hint. I think it's a great burden if you're one of those fantastic stars who've always been beautiful; then I think it's hard.

- Maggie Smith

Play, Been, I Think, Fantastic

The chemotherapy was very peculiar, something that makes you feel much worse than the cancer itself, a very nasty thing. I used to go to treatment on my own, and nearly everybody else was with somebody. I wouldn't have liked that. Why would you want to make anybody sit in those places?

- Maggie Smith

Everybody, Very, Treatment, Nasty

I had been feeling a little rum. I didn't think it was anything serious because years ago I felt a lump and it was benign. I assumed this would be too. It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, and I don't know what the future holds, if anything.

- Maggie Smith

Been, Had, Your, Rum

Old people are scary. And I have to face it. I am old and I am scary.

- Maggie Smith

I Am, Face, Old, Old People

There's this wonderful first assistant and he'll be saying, 'Now Harry goes down among the dragons.' You have to hold yourself together. Because if you lose it for a second then you're sunk.

- Maggie Smith

Goes, Assistant, Harry, Sunk

It's true I don't tolerate fools but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.

- Maggie Smith

Elderly, Why, Maybe, Tolerate

My career is chequered. Then I think I got pigeon-holed in humour; Shakespeare is not my thing.

- Maggie Smith

Career, Think, I Think, Pigeon-Holed

When you get into the granny era, you're lucky to get anything.

- Maggie Smith

Lucky, Get, Era, Granny

Listen, I must be 110 by now. Granny is going to kick the bucket at some point.

- Maggie Smith

Some, Bucket, Kick, Granny

I tend to head for what's amusing because a lot of things aren't happy. But usually you can find a funny side to practically anything.

- Maggie Smith

Happy, Side, Practically, Amusing

There's a difference between solitude and loneliness.

- Maggie Smith

Loneliness, Difference, Solitude

I longed to be bright and most certainly never was. I was rather hopeless, I suspect.

- Maggie Smith

Never, Most, Certainly, Suspect

I have many good friends, but I tend to keep to myself anyway. It's odd, doing things and having no one to share them with.

- Maggie Smith

Myself, Doing, Having, Good Friends

Some people say you have to fight cancer. But it was fighting me. The cure was worse than the disease, and it left me totally exhausted and depressed. I just hid myself away in my daughter-in-law's flat.

- Maggie Smith

Some, Away, Hid, Depressed

I like the ephemeral thing about theatre, every performance is like a ghost - it's there and then it's gone.

- Maggie Smith

Like, About, Ephemeral, Ghost

I fear that I won't work in the theatre again. I'm sad about that. But I won't retire.

- Maggie Smith

Work, Theatre, Again, Retire

I like being outside and working with the elements. The elemental aspects of it. The physicality of it.

- Maggie Smith

Outside, Like, Elements, Elemental

Chris and Toby are far too sane to be upset any more.

- Maggie Smith

Upset, Sane, Too, Chris

The thing is, often press people ask questions that are so personal that even your nearest and dearest wouldn't ask them.

- Maggie Smith

Questions, Often, Dearest, Press

If you're lucky, I think you know what you want to do with your life. I think that's a greater gift that any of the gifts you might have when you do know, if you know what I mean. It must be awful to not know what to do.

- Maggie Smith

Gift, Think, Lucky, Gifts

There is a kind of invisible thread between the actor and the audience, and when it's there it's stunning, and there is nothing to match that.

- Maggie Smith

Kind, Audience, Actor, Stunning

People think of you differently if you've been in their homes. They think they own you because they watched you while they were eating dinner, or they can turn you up or down, or even freeze you.

- Maggie Smith

Think, Own, Been, Freeze

It seems to me there is a change in what audiences want to see. I can only hope that's correct, because there's an awful lot of people of my age around now and we outnumber the others.

- Maggie Smith

Change, Awful Lot, Correct, Outnumber

I believe that I am past my prime. I had reckoned on my prime lasting till I was at least fifty.

- Maggie Smith

Past, Prime, Till, Reckoned

When I started acting almost 50 years ago, it wasn't about fame. It was about acting.

- Maggie Smith

Started, About, Almost, Years Ago

People say it gets better but it doesn't. It just gets different, that's all.

- Maggie Smith

Better, Say, Different, Gets

I don't think films about elderly people have been made very much.

- Maggie Smith

Think, Very, Films, Elderly

I said 'It can't go on' and he said 'No, it can't.' Honestly, I don't think I could have mattered less to him by then. But by then, nothing mattered to him.

- Maggie Smith

Think, Could, Honestly, Mattered

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