The film is so crap that most people never see Maggie Smith's brilliant acting.
The only female supporting role that I can think of that might match it is Meryl Streep's in Kramer vs. Kramer, the year after this film.
I agree, I can't fault Maggie Smith's performance at all and I also agree that the only other female supporting performance that matches hers is Meryl Streep in Kramer. Well maybe Beatrice Straight in Network though I know alot of people find that performance overrated.
shareI'd say that Maggie Smith's portrayal of Diana Barrie most definitely ranks as one of the greatest supporting screen performances given by a woman. I might have to put Angela Lansbury in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and Agnes Moorehead in THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ahead of Smith, but only slightly.
shareWell my favorite BSA performances are Linda Hunt's The Year of Living Dangerously (#1 magnficent) and Lila Kedrova in Alexis Zorbas (#2 just heartbreaking). Maggie Smith is probably my #5. Angela Lansbury is also among the bests in The Manchurian Candidate (# 3, she should have won). I also loved Agnes Moorehead (#4) in The Magnificent Ambersons, Maureen Stapleton in Interiors (#6) and Airport (#12), Shelley Winters in a Patch of Blue (#8), Cloris Leachman (#7), Beatrice Straight (#9) and Eileen Heckart in The Bad Seed (#11) and Butterflies are Free (#13), Agnes Moorehead in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (#14).
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Absolutely one of the best supporting actress performances ever. Though I think Dame Maggie outdoes her California Suite performance with her Gosford Park performance. Also Ingrig Bergman in Murder on the Orient Express is fabulous and might be a wee bit better than Dame Maggie in CS.
As the saying goes... the time to make up your mind about people is never
Um, best supporting actress ever? No way. She basically played herself. Sure, she was funny, fiery, and then touching at the very end, but it was not that special or and doesn't hold a candle to some of the other performances mentioned in this thread. (Not including Ingrid Bergman there, though. She was wonderful as always, but it was a bit part and a career reward.) Clearly a product of a weak category and the '70s obsession with British actors.
Best Best Supporting Actress winners I can think of:
-Kim Hunter, A Streetcar Named Desire
-Ruth Gordon, The Exorcist
-Patty Duke, The Miracle Worker
-Tatum O'Neal, Paper Moon
-Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago
-Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
-Estelle Parsons, Bonnie and Clyde
-Beatrice Straight, Network
-Meryl Streep, Kramer vs. Kramer
-Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
-Mo'Nique, Precious
-Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
-Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love
-Sandy Dennis, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
-Rita Moreno, West Side Story
I like your full list and I would add Cloris Leachman, The Last Picture Show.
Ruth Gordon won for "Rosemary's Baby" not "The Exorcist"
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My The best supporting actress ever are:
Vanessa Redgrave - Roward's End
Maggie Smith - Room with a View
Maggie Smith - Gosford Park
Viola Davis - Doubt
Whooppie Goldberg - Ghost
Cate Blanchett - The Man Who Cried
Hattie McDaniel - Gone with the wind
Judy Parfitt - Dolores Claiborne
Julianne Moore - The Hours
Marília Pera - Pixote
Agnes Moorehead - Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Kathy Bates - Fried Green Tomatoes
Anjelica Houston - Enemies: A Love Story
Lena Olin - The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Darlene Cates - What's Eating Gilbert Grape
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interesting thread, thought id throw in Catherine Burns who was nominated for Last Summer but lost out to Goldie in 1969, a movie noone (then or now) saw, she was amazing, and pretty much dissapeared soon after, if you can find it watch it.
ps maggie nailed her role in california suite, she was also hilarious in murder by death, but it was one of those 'you've been around a long time and we like you' kind of awards
My five best supporting actresses of all time:
1. WENDY HILLER in SEPARATE TABLES
2. Sandy Dennis in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
3. Maggie Smith in CALIFORNIA SUITE
4. Vanessa Redgrave in JULIA
5 Olympia Dukakis in MOONSTRUCK
Maggie is amazing here
i sorta like the film itself but she makes it worth re-watching