Dame Margaret Natalie “Maggie” Smith, CH, DBE is a famous English film, television and Broadway actress who has appeared in more than 50 films and 25 television shows. She also had more than 75 theatre credits to her name. Smith is one of the most renowned British actresses and a prominent figure in Britain. She was made Dame in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II for her service to performing Arts. In 2014, the Queen felicitated Smith with the Companion of Honour for her services to drama.
Smith is the winner of 2 Academy Awards out of 6 nominations, 5 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards out of 13 nominations and 4 Emmy Awards out of 9 nominations. She is known for performance in films like ‘Othello’, ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’, ‘Travels with My Aunt’, ‘A Room with a View’, ‘California Suite’ and ‘Gosford Park’. In the recent years, Smith portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the 8 ‘Harry Potter’ films and Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in the ITV series ‘Downton Abbey’.
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Early Life and Education
Smith was born on 28 December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England, United Kingdom as the youngest child and only daughter of secretary Margaret Hutton Little and Public health pathologist turned Oxford University employee Nathaniel Smith. She was raised in Oxford, England along with her older twin brothers Ian and Alistair.
Smith completed her elementary education and graduated from Oxford High School at age sixteen after which she decided to pursue a career in acting. She enrolled into the Oxford Playhouse. Smith was an understudy at Oxford Repertory and debuted on the stage with Oxford University Dramatic Society’s production of ‘Twelfth Night’ by William Shakespeare.
Maggie Smith – Young Photos
Career Rise
Smith debuted on Broadway in London with the play ‘New Faces of ’56’ in 1952. She became a prominent stage personality in London appearing in Broadway productions like ‘The Private Ear and The Public Eye’, ‘Hedda Gabler’, ‘Virginia’, ‘The Way of the World’ and ‘Three Tall Women’, all of which won her the Evening Standard award for Best actress and holds the record for winning the most awards in the category. Other prominent stage appearances include ‘Private Lives’, ‘Night and Day’ and ‘Lettice and Lovage’, the latter of which won her a Tony Award. Smith made her silver screen debut in the 1956 film ‘Child in the House’.
Smith rose to prominence in 1958 for her portrayal of Bridget Howard in the film ‘Nowhere to Go’, which earned her a BAFTA nomination. Smith earned her first Academy Award nomination for portraying Desdemona in the 1965 film ‘Othello’. Smith won her first Oscar Award for Best Actress for the 1969 film ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ in which she played the titular character. She appeared as Diana Barrie in the 1978 film ‘California Suite’, which earned her an Oscar for best supporting actress. She received 3 more Oscar nominations for her work in the films ‘A Room with a View’, ‘Travels with My Aunt’ and ‘Gosford Park’. Smith’s work in the films ‘A Private function’, ‘The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne’, ‘Tea with Mussolini’ earned her BAFTA Awards. From 2001-2011, Smith portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the 8 Harry Potter films. She also appeared as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in the ITV Series ‘Downton Abbey’, which earned her 3 Emmy Awards. Some of Smith’s other notable works include the films ‘Death on the Nile’, ‘Clash of the Titan’, ‘Sister Act’, ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ etc.
Personal Life
Smith has been married two times. Smith was first married to actor Robert Stephens. The couple tied the knot in June 1967 at the Register Office in Greenwich, ten days after Smith gave birth to their first child, son Chris Larkin. The couple welcomed their second child, son Toby Stephens in 1969. Smith and Stephens divorced in May 1974.
Smith then dated playwright Beverley Cross and married him in August 1975 at the Register Office in Guildford. The couple did not have any children and were together until Cross passed in March 1998.
With Husband Robert Stephens and Sons
With Husband Beverley Cross
Maggie Smith -Net Worth
Smith has an estimated net worth of approximately $18 Million.