ACTRESS and comedian Elaine C Smith said she was so overwhelmed when she found out she would be granted the Freedom of Glasgow as part of the city’s 850th birthday celebrations she “burst into tears”.
Smith will officially be granted the city’s highest honour in recognition of her contribution to the arts and her embodiment as an advocate for women’s rights and values at a civic reception on Friday, on the eve of International Women’s Day.
The Two Doors Down and Rab C Nesbitt star is one of only a few women in history to be honoured with the award, and the first since 1969, as she said it is “absolutely amazing” to receive it.
“I’m very aware that I stand on the shoulders of giants and the many, many, women who should have got it before me over the last 50, 60 years,” Smith said.
The actress, who lives in the city, now has the right to graze cows on Glasgow Green and fish in the River Clyde after receiving the award.
“I'm really overwhelmed by it,” she said.
She added: “They say it takes a village to bring up and support someone, but it takes a city for me.
“This city and this country too, made me into what I am, love me or hate me.
“I'm very humbled by it all.”
Smith’s career has spanned more than 40 years in radio, television, film, and theatre and she has starred in many beloved roles during her prolific career including her own series Elaine on BBC Scotland along with stage in shows including Calendar Girls and Annie.
The actor recalled the day she got the letter through the door about the award as she initially thought it was a bill from the local authorities.
However, when Smith realised she was going to be granted the Freedom of Glasgow she had to leave the room, as she started to cry with joy.
“I remember my husband handed me the letter, and he thought it was a bill from the city council because it said city council,” Smith said.
“He said, ‘I'm sorry I opened that, you have a read of it’ and I went, ‘what is it’?
“I sat there reading it and I burst into tears.
“I had to go out of the room and cry.”
She added: “It meant something really significant in my life, as a woman, as a young woman growing up here, we live in a very different Glasgow and a very different Scotland.
“But it was always a place I loved, and my family loved.”
Smith said that because she is an outspoken Scottish independence campaigner and political activist, particularly on issues such as poverty and women’s rights, there are certain awards she would not accept.
However, the comic added that the city’s honour is one award she is immensely proud to have received.
“I've been very fortunate that I've been put forward for a few awards in my life, but they're not always things that I would accept,” she said.
Smith added: “The only dame I'll ever be is a panto dame.
“If it were a Scottish award or something like that, voted for by the people, you would think, ‘oh, that's a lovely thing’.
“But this is from my city, and to be a woman as well, that just felt absolutely amazing.”
Others granted the Freedom of the City of Glasgow include Billy Connolly, Kenny Dalglish, Alex Ferguson and the late Nelson Mandela.
There will be a civic reception at the city’s chambers on Friday evening where Smith will be presented with her Freedom Scroll.
As part of the celebrations, Smith will be joined by friends, family and many of her colleagues and creatives that she has worked with over the years of her legendary career.
She said: “To have to have all my colleagues from most of my colleagues from Two Doors down, most of my colleagues from the panto, most of the writers, directors, creatives that I've worked with for 40 years to be able to say to them, would you like to come to this?
“I'm saying to all of them, you mean something to me.
Smith added: “You realise how many lives you're sort of plugged into over the years and having that many good creative people along with my family and my daughters and my grandchildren all in the room is wonderful to be able to share it.”
