Dame Maggie Smith responds to Kimmel’s Emmys ribbing

ETERNAL no-show Dame Maggie Smith won big at the Emmys yesterday — but host Jimmy Kimmel said she’d have to come get her trophy. Now she’s responded.

DAME Maggie Smith has responded to yesterday’s Emmy win for her role in Downton Abbey — and had a playful jab back at Emmys host Jimmy Kimmel for his frequent ribbing during the ceremony.

In his opening monologue, Kimmel pointed out that the screen veteran and three-time Emmy winner had a habit of not showing up to the ceremony.

Emmys 2016: All the winners and biggest moments

“We have a new rule — you must be present to win,” Kimmel said at the beginning of the ceremony.

“If we call your name and you’re not here to accept it, it goes to the next person. It’s called the ‘Maggie Smith’ rule.

Host Jimmy Kimmel swooped in to snatch Maggie Smith’s award, saying it would be left in the lost and found for her. Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

“When Maggie Smith hears she’s nominated for an Emmy she has the same reaction when we get those 20 per cent off Bed Bath & Beyond coupons — right in the garbage.”

So it was bad news when she won her fourth gong for Downton Abbey.

As it was announced the 81-year-old was absent, Kimmel returned to the stage and grabbed her award.

‘I’ve won another what? Ugh how tiresome.’

“No, no, I’m not mailing this to her,” he said. “Maggie, if you want this it will be in the lost and found.”

In a message posted to the Masterpiece PBS account — the network that airs Downton Abbey in the US — Smith said she was surprised to have won.

“I was very astonished and pleased to win the award. I feel the Emmys have been overly gracious to me. If Mr Kimmel could please direct me to the lost and found office I will try and be on the next flight,” she said, ending with a charming send-off: “Love, Old Maggie.”

Dame #MaggieSmith graciously accepts her #Emmy award -- @jimmykimmel, please advise on the location of the lost and found! #DowntonPBS pic.twitter.com/veQ6shRmxA

— Masterpiece PBS (@masterpiecepbs) September 19, 2016

And Smith wasn’t the only star who was absent for their win. Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn wasn’t present to pick up the Best Supporting Actor Emmy for his role in Bloodline. The 47-year-old was up against stiff competition, including Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington and Peter Dinklage.

Originally published as Dame Maggie Smith responds to Kimmel’s Emmys ribbing