Maggie Smith

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith CH DBE December 28 1934 September 27 2024 was a British actress Known for her wit in comedic roles she had an extensive career on stage and screen over seven decades and was one of Britains most recognisable and prolific actresses She received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards five BAFTA Awards four Emmy Awards three Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award as well as nominations for six Laurence Olivier Awards Smith was one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting Smith began her stage career as a student performing at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952 and made her professional debut on Broadway in New Faces of 56 Over the following decades Smith established herself alongside Judi Dench as one of the most significant British theatre performers working for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company On Broadway she received Tony Award nominations for Noël Cowards Private Lives 1975 and Tom Stoppards Night and Day 1979 and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Lettice and Lovage 1990 She won Academy Awards for Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 1969 and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite 1978 She was Oscarnominated for Othello 1965 Travels with My Aunt 1972 A Room with a View 1985 and Gosford Park 2001 She portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series 20012011 She also acted in Death on the Nile 1978 Hook 1991 Sister Act 1992 The Secret Garden 1993 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2012 Quartet 2012 and The Lady in the Van 2015 Smith received newfound attention and international fame for her role as Violet Crawley in the British period drama Downton Abbey 20102015 The role earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards she had previously won one for the HBO film My House in Umbria 2003 Over the course of her career she was the recipient of numerous honorary awards including the British Film Institute Fellowship in 1993 the BAFTA Fellowship in 1996 and the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 2010 Smith was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 Description above from the Wikipedia article Maggie Smith licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia