Maggie Smith: The definitive biography of the iconic award-winning actor

The one and only

Good book on the remarkable Maggie Smith.

Bought this product which was reloved it was in great condition

This is a rather serious book, very factual. For me not at all entertaining and I could not stay with it past the first few chapters unfortunately.

I would say as a very great fan of Dame Maggie Smith the book is excellent. It charts her life from young girl to the very greatest actor that has ever lived. It tells of the beautiful lady that does not like the usual glamour of being a very famous person. She thinks the job she does is like anyone else going to work. The book is excellent and very enjoyable. I am only one person who thinks Dame Maggie Smith is a fabulous.

Apologies ..did not realise book was packed within main item box. All Good!. Thank you👌🏻😀

Very hard to get into but there are good chapters where you can read page after page and take everything in. But saying that, a wonderful incite into the actress who has given us many enjoyable films. She certainly is a star.

Although Michael Coveney fills this biography with lots of information about the legendary Maggie Smith, it is much more focused on her professional life, especially her early work in theatre. If you are looking for a deep and insightful investigation into Maggie Smith the woman - this is probably not it. After reading this book, there is a feeling of anti-climax, as all the ingredients were there at the start - an iconic double Oscar-winning British actress who has spanned the decades in theatre, TV and film. You could hardly name a British actress who would make a more appealing subject for a biography, possibly Judi Dench or Helen Mirren spring to mind. And when Maggie does her rare TV or DVD extras interviews, they are incredibly engaging and intriguing - you get a glimpse into her rich and complex personality. Sadly, this biography does not do the same. Maggie's journey into the acting world is detailed quite clearly, but Coveney does not really provide convincing reasons as to how and why she was so driven to be an actress. Maybe the author does not know the reason. Her rise to relative stardom at the Royal National Theatre in the 1960's is described, with her high point being her portrayal of Desdemona in "Othello" opposite Laurence Olivier. Her breakthrough into movies is mapped out, culminating in her Best Actress Oscar win for the 1969 movie "The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie". Coveney documents her rather unusual time acting in numerous productions at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario in the late 1970's. And her 1978 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Diana Barrie in "California Suite" is described. Coveney continues following her wide-ranging career in the 1980's included her performance in "A Room With A View", and in the 1990's with "Hook" and "Tea with Mussolini". Coveney goes into incredible detail with her more recent appearances in "Harry Potter" and "Downton Abbey", but blots his copybook by outrageously stating that appearing in these two money-making franchises late in her career "saved her from the retirement home". What an incredibly inaccurate statement - or was this the author's attempt at humour? The author's description Maggie's private life falls flat, as he clearly does not know the inside story, and he ends up making assumptions and innuendos as to why she made certain decisions and changed partners when she did. Overall, this is not a very satisfying biography. It lacks humour and pacing, and Coveney has fallen into the classic trap of simply documenting Maggie's career in a procedural way, but we learn very little about Maggie the person. I suspect the actress is quietly pleased about this!

Super bouquin

Coveney hasn't settled for one of those "and then I played......." bios. He gets to the soul of his subject, letting her background explain both her personality and her work ethic...and the difference between the person and the public persona. Smith's life, like the author's list of resources, reads like a Midsummer dream of 20th century theatre and film. Brilliant and totally engrossing.

Although I haven't yet read this biography, but it just has to be good ! A wonderful and admirable actress for so many years. Book in very good condition and very fast delivery - thank you.

This biography is a rich and vivid telling of the 'One and Only' English actress of stage and screen,Dame Maggie Smith, written by the esteemed author and theatre critic Michael Coveney .A great read especially following the mammoth success of the television series of Downton Abbey. This is Michael's second bio of Maggie Smith and he was able to access her archives to add more depth to the story of her life. I would encourage anyone truly interested in the English theatre, or film, to rush themselves a copy.

Great bio on a very great actress.