Dame Maggie Smith (1934–2024)

Maggie Smith, the legendary British actress whose career spanned over seven decades, passed away last week at the age of 89.
A two-time Oscar winner, Smith captivated audiences with her brilliant performances in a wide range of roles, from her Oscar-winning turn as the spirited schoolteacher in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) to the unforgettable Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey and the beloved Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Her death was confirmed by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who shared that she passed away peacefully in a London hospital, surrounded by family.
Born Margaret Natalie Smith on Dec 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, she was the youngest of three children. Her father, a pathologist from Newcastle upon Tyne, and her mother, a Scottish secretary, moved the family to Oxford when Maggie was four. Although she struggled to land roles in school productions, which she once humorously attributed to being “too common”, she was determined to pursue acting. At 17, Smith began working at the Oxford Playhouse, where she made her stage debut as Viola in Twelfth Night. This modest beginning marked the start of an extraordinary career on stage and screen.
Smith’s career took her from the Oxford stage to Broadway in 1956, where she made her New York debut in New Faces Of ’56. She quickly became a leading figure in British theatre, excelling in both comedic and tragic roles, including a remarkable performance in Othello in 1965. Throughout the decades, Smith’s versatility shone through, with memorable roles in films such as Hook (1991), where she portrayed an older Wendy, and Sister Act (1992), where she starred as a formidable mother superior opposite Whoopi Goldberg.
While her stage work was critically acclaimed, Smith’s late-career resurgence in television and film brought her widespread global recognition. Her portrayal of the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey earned her numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards. In her trademark style, Smith once quipped that Harry Potter was her “pension”, underscoring her wry humour and enduring appeal.
Despite her success, Smith remained refreshingly modest. She famously confessed to never watching Downton Abbey, joking on a talk show that she still had the DVD box set at home. Maggie Smith leaves behind a legacy as one of the finest actors of her generation, admired for her immense talent, wit and grace.