Dame Maggie Smith, whose full name was Margaret Natalie Smith, was born on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, England. She was recognized as one of the most skilled and adaptable actresses of her time.
Her remarkable career lasted more than seventy years and included an impressive variety of performances in theater, film, and television.
The news of the cinema legend’s death was shared in a statement from her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.
Smith’s childhood was filled with a strong love for performing.
She was raised in Oxford, where her father worked as a pathologist and her mother was a secretary.
Though she went to the Oxford High School for Girls, her focus quickly shifted from academics to her passion for acting.
She started her career on stage in the early 1950s, making her professional debut at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952. In 1963, she joined the Royal National Theatre, where she worked with the famous director Laurence Olivier.
Smith’s performances on stage, especially her role as Desdemona in ‘Othello,’ received high praise, earning her the first of many awards and establishing her as one of the top actresses of her era.
Smith’s move to film was highlighted by her breakout role in the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which earned her her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
She later won her second Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in California Suite (1978), where she starred alongside Michael Caine.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Smith’s career experienced another major change when she portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series.
Alongside her work in film and theater, Smith also achieved significant success on television, especially for her role as the formidable Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Her contributions to acting earned her many honors, including being appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 and becoming a Companion of Honour in 2014.
Tragically, it has now been confirmed that Smith has passed away.
In a statement reported by the BBC, her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin expressed: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.”
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days. We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Rest in peace.
