|
|
Post by Rikki on Jun 12, 2005 10:56:56 GMT -5
Hi folks,
I guess you remember the poll I held a couple of weeks ago. It seems our dear headmistress deleted the whole thing but it's over anyway.
The intention behind the poll was to send the chosen questions to Dame Maggie, hoping she'd answer them. Well, I did send those but - as you might guess - she didn't answer.
I got a short note from her assistant saying that Dame Maggie doesn't answer questions concerning herself or her work but that she sends her regards to all who took part in the poll.
As you might guess, I find this rather disappointing but then again there's nothing we can do about it anyway.
Jus wanted to let you know, and thanks again to everyone who took part.
Hugs, Rikki
|
|
|
|
Post by Sola on Jun 12, 2005 11:09:56 GMT -5
Well, was a great idea anyway.  |
|
|
|
Post by angharad on Jun 12, 2005 13:53:50 GMT -5
If you haven't done so already, I would suggest you read her biography, "Maggie Smith - A Bright Particular Star" by Michael Coveney, published around 1991. I finished it recently, and one of the things that struck me is how utterly unpretentious she is. When talking about people's interest in her she said something like, "I have nothing to offer except the work that I do." She comes from a time when actors weren't huge celebrities, when Lawrence Olivier could walk out of the stage door and blend into a crowd unnoticed. She doesn't think she's terribly interesting, and truly cannot understand why others would. In fact, she thought the biography was a dreadful idea, and only agreed to it because her husband insisted. That was fourteen years ago, before the Harry Potter films made her considerably more famous. Perhaps, if her husband was still alive, he would have given a "Maggie Smith FAQ" to the more tasteful fansites out there. Then again, perhaps not.
In any event, although I realize how disappointed you must be, please do not be angry with her, or attribute any sort of snobbery to her lack of direct response. Dame Maggie Smith owes her fans nothing more than her best performance, whatever the venue, and the kind of professionalism that makes directors and production companies seek to work with her again and again. Charles Dance, the director of "Ladies in Lavender" had this to say about Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench: "The joy of having people like this is that they don't arrive with an entourage and they come onto the set and do the job better than anybody else."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rikki on Jun 13, 2005 1:53:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I've read the biography. And I do know that she's a very private person which is perfectly alright with me. What struck me as rather weird is that she refuses to talk about her work. I mean... we may be just fans and she may be annoyed by us but when it comes down to who pays in order to see her movies and plays, then it's us. And where would she be without people who want to see her on stage or in movies?
But since her career went off rather *zoof* and she never had to worry about money, I guess she just doesn't see that aspect of fans or her profession.
Well, anyway, there's nothing I can do about it anyway. Yes, I'm disappointed but I'll get over it.
Hugs, Rikki
|
|
|
|
Post by Herzele on Jun 13, 2005 6:02:46 GMT -5
Rikki, may I ask you where you bought the biography ? Did you buy it in Germany ? Because I've looked everywhere I could think of and didn't find it ... Just on amazon - and it's unaffordable there ... And I'd love to read it ...
|
|
|
|
Post by mugglemin on Jun 13, 2005 7:32:44 GMT -5
I think, as Angharad has said above, that she owes her fans nothing other than her best performance. I'm sure she doesn't ignore her fans at all, nor take us for granted. The impression I get from the biography, again as Angharad has pointed out, is of a deeply humble actress who does what she NEEDS to do. If you read the biography more carefully, you'll find various instances where she has put the "paying public" before even her own family concerns, the death of her brother and mother for example. It's unfair of any fan to expect her to do what we want just because we pay to go to her movies/plays. She gives us her art, no more no less, and we have no right to demand anything else from her.
mugs.x
|
|
|
|
Post by Rikki on Jun 13, 2005 12:52:49 GMT -5
Rikki, may I ask you where you bought the biography ? Did you buy it in Germany ? Because I've looked everywhere I could think of and didn't find it ... Just on amazon - and it's unaffordable there ... And I'd love to read it ... I didn't buy it, I got it for Xmas last year. Wouldn't have bought it, way too expensive, plus I'm not that much into biography-reading anyway. Hugs, Rikki |
|
|
|
Post by Herzele on Jun 13, 2005 13:08:33 GMT -5
Okay ... Thanks for the information !
|
|
|
|
Post by foci on Jun 13, 2005 13:12:57 GMT -5
When I registered, the poll was long over... and deep down I knew that she wasn't going to answer. On one hand, I regret that she chose not to answer, because I'm a curious person. On the other hand I respect and even admire her decision of separating her professional and private life. It's really only her art that we should care about...it's our problem if we think that she is awesome in private life too.  |
|
|
|
Post by angharad on Jun 13, 2005 14:14:15 GMT -5
We are her fans due to the exceptional quality of the work she does. We pay to see her plays and movies because we want to see her perform. Therefore, she owes us nothing more or less than the best performances she is able to give, and the kind of professional behavior on set or backstage that will ensure that she continues to be hired - thus ensuring that we will have more to enjoy. To think she owes us any more than that borders on unhealthy obsession, in my opinion.
I, for one, would much rather have thirty more years of Dame Maggie Smith performances to enjoy, than to have even one of my questions answered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nerweniel on Jun 13, 2005 14:54:21 GMT -5
Let's not start throwing around words like "unhealthy obsession", shall we? It's not that I, or Rikki for that matter, don't understand the fact that Maggie is a very private person- of course we do, of course it's her right to. It's just the fact that these were really not the most philosophic questions of the world, we merely wanted to know something about her work or anything. It's not that she *owes* this to us or anything, but we had just liked very much to get an answer. I don't think Maggie doesn't respect her fans or anything, because I am sure she does- but I do agree with the fact that she's always gotten a lot of parts (Mags-nificent talent tends to do that  ) and thus has maybe never (also because of the fact that she's such a humble person) seen that aspect of having fans. I don't know. Just my pointless two cents. Love, Lies PS: And no offence intended, to anyone . |
|
|
|
Post by angharad on Jun 13, 2005 17:06:49 GMT -5
Let's not allow our disappointment at not having our questions answered cloud our otherwise sound judgement, shall we? Although I stand by what I said, please note that I softened it with "...borders on..." and "...in my opinion." The wording of Rikki's response indicated to me that she, at least, feels she was owed a response. Until now, I was not commenting upon a post of yours on this subject since, until now, there hasn't been one on this thread. There is a really wonderful scene in Dame Maggie's biography, which I will quote now: "If a matinee was looming for which neither of them felt at concert pitch, she would gee up Moffatt and her other colleagues by invoking the showbiz motto at the end of Salinger's Franny and Zooey, 'Let's do it for the Fat Lady.' The Fat Lady is in every audience, the one person out there who is really waiting for the performance as the highlight of her day and a balm to all woes. Maggie never cheats on a matinee; she always does it for the Fat Lady." Thus, I submit that, in fact, she does understand "that aspect" of having fans. I will write no more on this subject. Not only do I suspect that my words are falling upon deaf ears, but in spending so much energy on these posts, I'll probably have to scold myself for an "unhealthy obsession" as well. |
|
|
|
Post by Rikki on Jun 14, 2005 1:37:41 GMT -5
first of all you should know that Lies and I chose the questions together, so if you say that I have an unhealthy obsession, then you say that about her too. Furthermore, who do you think you are to judge people from one or two posts? You don't know either me or my background or my experience in that field. (I know, I shouldn't get angry, Lies, but I just can't help it) Speaking of "responses falling on deaf ears" - I guess you just don't want to see my point or don't accept my point of view. I don't know where you're from but at least *I* do live in a country where we have freedom of speech. And I don't like to be called dumb or anything just for stating my opinion on a certain subject matter. You didn't actually say that but I think it was rather clear that you meant it. Of course Mags doesn't owe us anything. I know that. And I certainly didn't think that she owes me an answer. Again, you don't know me and you shouldn't jump to conclusions just because you don't like what I said. I'm sorry that I've started this thread at all. My intention was merely to inform you about the outcome of the poll. What I've learnt is that I shouldn't start stuff like that. Hugs, Rikki P.S. Herzele: You should keep an eye on amazon and ebay. Sometimes they sell copies of the biography for reasonable prices. |
|
|
|
Post by max on Jun 14, 2005 14:44:18 GMT -5
Congratulations, Rikki, it actually isn't easy, but you've managed it: By reading this I was for a moment at a loss of words. As rare as this condition is for me - it luckily never lasts long. After reading your rather rude answer to Angharad for the second time I find myself able and willing to send you a few words (or, as one could say, a good piece of my mind). first of all you should know that Lies and I chose the questions together, so if you say that I have an unhealthy obsession, then you say that about her too. You're mixing up something here, young lady. Angharad didn't criticize making up the questions. She critized (and in my humble opinion warrantable!) your reaction of Maggie Smit's refusal. Obviously you don't remember the exact words, so let me quote it for you again: This implies, that our "paying" to see her gives us a right to demand her to answer our questions. It doesn't. The only right our paying gives us is to see her in movies and plays. Period. And Angharad was just this telling to you. Where were you "judged"? Angharad said (and I'm entirely with her in that!) that "To think she owes us any more than that borders on unhealthy obsession, in my opinion". She didn't accuse you of an "unhealthy obsession" (actually: You're immediately jumping on this makes me wonder: Do you suffer from an unhealthy obsession?), but used her right to tell her opinion freely. Not more. Not less. Yes your reaction to it is a) inpolite b) rude and c) makes me wonder if it isn't time to leave this board for good. I heartily dislike being in the company of people who obviously aren't mature enough to bear with another opinion. And I also dislike when people I respect and appreciate become tread in such a way. I think you owe Angharad an apology. Yours Max |
|
|
|
Post by Kandice on Jun 14, 2005 15:19:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Catwoman99 on Jun 14, 2005 16:26:19 GMT -5
I leave to run errands and this is what I find when I return! Goodness!
I am locking this thread after I post, so that it doesn't get inflated any more than it already has. I think all parties involved should be mature enough to resolve this in private. I will keep my two cents on this issue to myself as it would help no one.
- April
|
|
) and thus has maybe never (also because of the fact that she's such a humble person) seen that aspect of having fans. 
