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6 Cool TV and Movie Grandmas We’d Like to Meet

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

From Country Living

A grandma is a special kind of human—she knows the ins and outs of your family history and dynamic, which allows her to empathize and support you through good and bad times in a way that no one else can. And she's been around quite a bit longer than you have, so she likely has plenty of stories to share and some valuable wisdom to boot.

Over the years, our favorite TV shows and movies have featured many very cool grandmas (some more warm and fuzzy than others) who teach their grandchildren important lessons about their family, identity, and futures. Time spent with grandma is always time well spent, and we've rounded up some of the grandmas we'd like to actually meet in real life. Read on for our picks!

Grandma, The Princess Diaries

Photo credit: Facebook / The Princess Diaries
Photo credit: Facebook / The Princess Diaries

Who wouldn't want to spent time with the Queen of Genovia? (We'd hang out with any of Julie Andrews' characters, honestly!) In The Princess Diaries, Andrews plays Mia's (Anne Hathaway) grandmother, Clarisse Renaldi, who helps her prep to be a princess.

When Mia begins her "princess lessons," she finds it hard to relate to her strict and refined grandma. As they spend more time together, though, Clarisse begins to loosen up a bit and the two become very close over the course of the two movies. A grandma who is—1. a queen and 2. mattress surfs with her granddaughter and also throws elaborate balls—is a grandma we'd definitely like to meet.

Mamaw, Hillbilly Elegy

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

Glenn Close plays Mamaw in the Netflix film adaptation of J.D. Vance's memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The movie recounts Vances's tumultuous upbringing in rural Appalachia, and the family relationships and experiences that shaped him.

Mamaw is a pivotal character in his life, but she's not the stereotypical warm and loving grandmother—she curses, yells, and is very tough on Vance, his sister, and their mother. Mamaw may have her flaws, but she's the one who takes Vance in and pushes him to work hard in school, avoid the wrong crowd, and focus on his future. There's never a dull moment with Mamaw, which is why it would be so interesting to spend time around her.

Grandma Tala, Moana

Photo credit: Facebook / Moana
Photo credit: Facebook / Moana

In Disney's animated film, Moana, Grandma Tala and Moana are extremely close. Grandma Tala teaches Moana the importance of being true to oneself and "listening to your heart." Tala has a reputation for being a bit of an outcast in her village, but her fierce independence is something that Moana admires in her grandmother.

We'd love to sit around for story time with Grandma Tala—she's known to be full of ancient stories and has a deep knowledge of her family's heritage. Tala is definitely someone you want in your court!

Grandma, Gilmore Girls

Photo credit: Facebook / Gilmore Girls
Photo credit: Facebook / Gilmore Girls

In Gilmore Girls, Emily Gilmore (played by Kelly Bishop) has a complicated relationship with her daughter, Lorelai, after she leaves home at 16 to raise her newborn baby, Rory. The wealthy matriarch of the Gilmore family would arguably not be the friendliest grandma to hang out with, but a Friday night at her dinner table would likely be very entertaining (mainly to hear the banter between her and Lorelai).

Though Emily is extremely particular and holds her family to a very high standard, it's clear throughout the show that she cares deeply for them (even if her commentary doesn't always show it!)

Granny, Downton Abbey

Photo credit: IMDb / Downton Abbey
Photo credit: IMDb / Downton Abbey

Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) is the Dowager Countess of Grantham, which instantly makes her a grandma worthy of hanging out with. The royal grandmother of three (and eventually great-grandmother) is seemingly stoic and intimidating, but she clearly truly cares about and feels very loyal to her family.

We'll go into this one with tough skin, though, because Violet is never afraid to speak her mind—even if it means ruffling some feathers.

Nai Nai, The Farewell

Photo credit: IMDb / The Farewell
Photo credit: IMDb / The Farewell

If you haven't already seen The Farewell, please note that you should be prepared with plenty of tissues. In the film, Billi (Awkwafina) travels to China to say goodbye to her dying grandma, Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen). Billi's family decides to follow the Chinese custom of not telling Nai Nai how her illness is, something Billi struggles with throughout the film.

Billi's family plans a wedding as a way to spend one last occasion with Nai Nai. When it's time for Billi to return to America she tells Nai Nai she wishes she could stay and spend more time with her, but Nai Nai selflessly tells her that she needs to live her own life. She is also very supportive and encouraging to Billi—definitely the type of grandma we'd all be lucky to have.

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