Maggie Smith
British actress (1934-2024) · United Kingdom · Actors · Died at 89
Maggie Smith is read about 6,306 times a day, in 92 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?She made withering intelligence look easy across seven decades - sharp enough to win two Oscars, then sharp enough again to become the internet's favorite dowager countess at 75.
A life in dates
The Miracle ClubFilm, Lily Fox2021
A Boy Called ChristmasFilm, Aunt Ruth2018
Sherlock GnomesFilm, Lady Bluebury (voice)2016Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesAward2014Companion of HonourAwardScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesAward, 2014
My Old LadyFilm, 2014Mathilde Girard2013
Talking PicturesSeries2012Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesAward2011Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieAward2010
Nanny McPhee and the Big BangFilm, Mrs. Docherty2007
The Graham Norton ShowSeries
Becoming JaneFilm, 2007Lady Gresham2004“I tend to head for what's amusing because a lot of things aren't happy. But usually you can find a funny side to practically anything.”In their words20 November 2004"You have to laugh", The Guardian (20 November 2004)“I wanted to be a serious actress, but of course that didn't really happen.”In their words20 November 2004"You have to laugh", The Guardian (20 November 2004)“It's true I don't tolerate fools but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”In their words20 November 2004"You have to laugh", The Guardian (20 November 2004)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanFilm, 2004Minerva McGonagall2003Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieAward2001
Gosford ParkFilm, Constance Trentham1999
David CopperfieldSeries, Betsey Trotwood1996BAFTA FellowshipAward
The First Wives ClubFilm, 1996Gunilla Garson Goldberg1993
Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitFilm, Mother Superior1990Tony Award for Best Actress in a PlayAward1989BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleAward1988
Talking HeadsSeries, Susan1987BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleAward1986
A Room with a ViewFilm, Charlotte Bartlett1985BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleAward1982All for LoveSeries, Mrs. Silly1981
Clash of the TitansFilm, Thetis1979Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressAward1976
Murder by DeathFilm, Dora Charleston1971Film '72Series1970Academy Award for Best ActressAwardCommander of the Order of the British EmpireAward1967
The Honey PotFilm, Sarah Watkins1965
BBC Play of the MonthSeries, Ann Whitefield1955
Lilli Palmer TheatreSeries, Paula Benson1950
Sunday Night TheatreSeries1944
Golden Globe AwardsSeries1934Born28 December 1934Also in Deutsch
Photos 10
Smith worked extensively with Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre.
Smith in 1973
Smith acted in numerous Alan Bennett projects, including Talking Heads.
Smith acted in James Ivory's A Room with a View (1986).
Smith, in Kensington Gardens, filming Capturing Mary (2007)
Smith starred as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey from 2010 to 2015.In their own words 3
, I tend to head for what's amusing because a lot of things aren't happy. But usually you can find a funny side to practically anything.
I wanted to be a serious actress, but of course that didn't really happen.
It's true I don't tolerate fools but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.
Filmography 40
TCThe Miracle Club
DEDownton Abbey: A New EraACA Boy Called Christmas
DADownton AbbeySGSherlock Gnomes
TVThe Lady in the Van
THThe Second Best Exotic Marigold HotelMLMy Old Lady
THThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
QUQuartet
HPHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
GJGnomeo & JulietNBNanny McPhee and the Big Bang
HPHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
FTFrom Time to Time
HPHarry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixBJBecoming Jane
HFHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
KMKeeping MumHAHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
LLLadies in Lavender
HSHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
DSDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
HSHarry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneGPGosford Park
TMTea with MussoliniTCThe First Wives Club
RIRichard IIISHSister Act 2: Back in the Habit
TGThe Secret Garden
SASister Act
HOHookAVA Room with a View
ESEvil Under the SunCTClash of the Titans
DNDeath on the Nile
CSCalifornia SuiteMDMurder by Death
TBThe Prime of Miss Jean BrodieTPThe Honey Pot117 credits on file
Television 23
TPTalking Pictures
DADownton AbbeyTSThe Graham Norton Show
FTFrancesco's Italy: Top to ToeDCDavid Copperfield
PEPerformanceTHTalking Heads
STScreen Two
ETEntertainment Tonight
DIDinah!
GPGreat Performances
TSThe Carol Burnett Show
IPITV PlayhouseBMBBC Play of the Month
TATony Awards
ATArmchair TheatreLTLilli Palmer Theatre
TOThe OscarsSTSunday Night Theatre
KTKraft Television TheatreGAGolden Globe AwardsAwards
Family
Maggie SmithPartners
Children
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Smith started on stage at Oxford in 1952 and reached Broadway four years later. By 1969 she'd claimed her first Academy Award for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, playing a charismatic Scottish schoolteacher with surgical precision. A second Oscar followed in 1978 for California Suite. She split the decades between classical theatre - National Theatre, RSC, a Tony win for Lettice and Lovage in 1990 - and a film career that ranged from Gosford Park to the entirety of Harry Potter, where she played Minerva McGonagall with clipped severity. Then came Downton Abbey in 2010, and Violet Crawley's acid one-liners turned her into a global fixture all over again, winning three Emmys and capturing a whole new generation. She was made a Dame in 1990 and died in September 2024, leaving behind one of the most complete acting records in British history.
In common with Maggie
Jane BirkinAlso in Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Richard GereAlso in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Francis Ford CoppolaAlso in The Secret Garden (1993)
Laurence FoxAlso in Becoming Jane (2007)
George FentonAlso in The Lady in the Van (2015)
Sandra BullockAlso in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.