MovieChat Forums > Maggie Smith Discussion > Let's do as if... (My Old Lady)

Let's do as if... (My Old Lady)


In "My Old Lady" press notes, director Horovitz explains why he has decided not to use props and wig, only a minimal make-up, to transform his septuagenarian actress into his nonagenarian character. He thought it would be more believable.


Of course, more than anyone else, Maggie is able to transform herself, thank to her incredible acting skills, and we already can see, from the trailer, that she does it perfectly, especially when we see her whole figure.

However, in the close-ups, and although she has caught the expressions (mouth, eyes, jaw...) of a much older lady, it is different, and it's quite hard to believe this lady is in her 90's (http://images.contactmusic.com/images/m4vstill/my-old-lady-maggie-smith640.jpg)
Maggie does her best here not to look glamorous and groomed (far from Jean Horton or her recent public appearances in real life), but she definitely NOT looks 92... In the stage productions of the play, Mathilde always looks like a sophisticated very old lady; here, she looks like a sporty sexagenarian who is a bit tired or takes no care of her looks. I think that an aging make-up would have helped...

Hopefully, Maggie's acting will be so convincing that we'll forget that this old lady has a face much too young for her age ! :)



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