--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maggie Smith has a unique sense of…" description: "\"Maggie Smith has a unique sense of comedy, based on a somewhat ironic view of real life, making it both funnier and more sad. But perhaps her greatest ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/julian-fellowes-2981_ability_maggie-smith-has-a-unique-sense-of-comed_1640489.png" --- # Maggie Smith has a unique sense of comedy, based on a… ![“Maggie Smith has a unique sense of comedy, based on a somewhat ironic view of real life, making it both funnier and more sad. But perhaps her greatest ability, or at least the one that most intrigues me, is how she can convey deep and powerful emotion without a trace of sentimentality.” quote by Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/julian-fellowes-2981_ability_maggie-smith-has-a-unique-sense-of-comed_1640489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/julian-fellowes-2981_ability_maggie-smith-has-a-unique-sense-of-comed_1640489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/julian-fellowes-2981_ability_maggie-smith-has-a-unique-sense-of-comed_1640489.png) > “Maggie Smith has a unique sense of comedy, based on a somewhat ironic view of real life, making it both funnier and more sad. But perhaps her greatest ability, or at least the one that most intrigues me, is how she can convey deep and powerful emotion without a trace of sentimentality.” [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maggie Smith blends irony with deep emotion, avoiding sentimentality. **In simple terms:** Uses irony, deep feeling, no sentimentality. Key Takeaway Balance humor with authentic emotion. Themes comedy emotion acting Mood thoughtful appreciative Type artistic critical When to use this quote - stage roles - film casting - character study Key Concepts theatre performance art Questions to Reflect On - How does irony enhance storytelling? - When does sentimentality become detrimental? A Different Perspective Risk of misinterpretation of irony. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-based-563095/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Intrigue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrigue/) [Ironic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ironic/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Maggie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maggie/) [Maggie smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maggie-smith/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-emotion-334897/) [Powerful emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-emotions/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Sense Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-comedy-563094/) [Sentimentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimentality/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unique Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-sense-563093/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Without a trace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-a-trace/) ## Related quotes > [People need love. It’s the most powerful emotion in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/people-need-love-it-s-the-most-powerful-emotion-in-the-world/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Love is a very powerful emotion and when a break-up is unexpected, it's very hard to get over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/love-is-a-very-powerful-emotion-and-when-a-break-up-is-unexpected-it/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) > [I think this is interesting, us human creatures are capable of love, and it's a very powerful emotion. It also can go awfully wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-campion/i-think-this-is-interesting-us-human-creatures-are-capable-of-love/) [Jane Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-campion/) > [Shame, I do believe, is the most powerful emotion known to man; most discoveries and journeys of importance have been accomplished because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/shame-i-do-believe-is-the-most-powerful-emotion-known-to-man-most/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [The art which speaks to a universal audience concerns itself with the 'big' questions of life and death, and delivers its message with unrelenting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/the-art-which-speaks-to-a-universal-audience-concerns-itself-with-the/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [We often use strong language not to express a powerful emotion but to evoke it in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-often-use-strong-language-not-to-express-a-powerful-emotion-but-to/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Aquamen is unique in the sense that he does it without ego. He doesn't always have to be right. He's made a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/aquamen-is-unique-in-the-sense-that-he-does-it-without-ego-he-doesn-t/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [When playing music, it is possible to achieve a unique sense of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-barenboim/when-playing-music-it-is-possible-to-achieve-a-unique-sense-of-peace/) [Daniel Barenboim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-barenboim/) > [ \[Kubrick\] was unique in the sense that with each new film he redefined the medium and its possibilities. But he was more than just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/kubrick-was-unique-in-the-sense-that-with-each-new-film-he-redefined/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [When I look at my career, I think it's pretty unique in a sense that I'm the only guy who kind of looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/when-i-look-at-my-career-i-think-it-s-pretty-unique-in-a-sense-that-i/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [Comedy is unique in the sense that laughter is a palpable noise that everyone makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/comedy-is-unique-in-the-sense-that-laughter-is-a-palpable-noise-that/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [One of the things I'll always remember from my time with 'Black Mirror' is the sense of all the tongue and cheek, and very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lawther/one-of-the-things-i-ll-always-remember-from-my-time-with-black-mirror/) [Alex Lawther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lawther/) > [Rob and I both have this strange sense of comedy which always involves us being the butt of our own jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayda-field/rob-and-i-both-have-this-strange-sense-of-comedy-which-always/) [Ayda Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayda-field/) > [Working at the magic shop really gave me a sense of comedy because it was all jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/working-at-the-magic-shop-really-gave-me-a-sense-of-comedy-because-it/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I feel like I share a great relationship with my audience where they trust my judgment and choice of films and sense of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/i-feel-like-i-share-a-great-relationship-with-my-audience-where-they/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) ## More by Julian Fellowes > [You do get fond of your characters. Handing them on is like giving a child to a nanny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-do-get-fond-of-your-characters-handing-them-on-is-like-giving-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Well, you've got to be known for something. The danger of extreme versatility is that you don't spring to mind for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/well-you-ve-got-to-be-known-for-something-the-danger-of-extreme/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [“The freedom of growing older is that one is no longer obliged to dislike someone simply because they dislike you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/the-freedom-of-growing-older-is-that-one-is-no-longer-obliged-to/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [If you're supposed to be a 'personality,' then you might as well have a personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/if-you-re-supposed-to-be-a-personality-then-you-might-as-well-have-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [We don't really like rules. We think, in some way, they are an infringement of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/we-don-t-really-like-rules-we-think-in-some-way-they-are-an/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [You see, in America, it's quite standard for an actor to sign, at the beginning of a series, for five or seven years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-see-in-america-it-s-quite-standard-for-an-actor-to-sign-at-the/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [“Real unhappiness is ugly and wounding and scarring to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/real-unhappiness-is-ugly-and-wounding-and-scarring-to-the-soul/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [“The longer one knows people the less relevant it becomes whether or not one liked them initially.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/the-longer-one-knows-people-the-less-relevant-it-becomes-whether-or/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Sometimes the weekend gets hijacked by work, but as my mother would say, this is the right problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/sometimes-the-weekend-gets-hijacked-by-work-but-as-my-mother-would/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [“How many of us, having cried bitter, rancid tears over a failed love, are actually disappointed when we discover, seeing the adored one again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/how-many-of-us-having-cried-bitter-rancid-tears-over-a-failed-love/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [I like to take a long time over breakfast, and I can't bear to talk. If a guest is a breakfast talker it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-like-to-take-a-long-time-over-breakfast-and-i-can-t-bear-to-talk-if/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [I always loved movies and the cinema; we always used to go to see films as a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-always-loved-movies-and-the-cinema-we-always-used-to-go-to-see/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [You know, I'm not a revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-know-i-m-not-a-revolutionary/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Nothing is harder to dramatize than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/nothing-is-harder-to-dramatize-than-happiness/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [We are usually undone by our lack of understanding of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/we-are-usually-undone-by-our-lack-of-understanding-of-ourselves/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) [Explore all 139 Julian Fellowes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Maggie Smith has a unique sense of comedy, based on a somewhat ironic view of real life, making it both funnier and more sad. 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