A lot of writing about being a mother is not so much writing about the kids themselves. They become placeholders for the shift that happens when you're suddenly in charge of other people.
Maggie SmithAn actor is somebody who communicates someone else's words and emotions to an audience. It's not me. It's what writers want me to be.
Maggie SmithI believe that I am past my prime. I had reckoned on my prime lasting till I was at least fifty.
Maggie SmithI had a very good English teacher who said to me that she thought I ought to do it. She - I don't know, she saw something thank goodness because I think if it hadn't been encouraged by somebody that serious, I'm not sure what would've happened to me.
Maggie SmithI had no idea that that was around in the family anywhere. Maybe it never was. But - so they broke the way for me, if you know what I mean. I have no idea where I got the idea from to do what I do. But I think they - Ian and Alistair, my brothers kind of opened a lot of doors for me onto the world - you know, made it seem to be a very, very interesting place.
Maggie Smith