Margaret Natalie Smith, widely known as Maggie Smith, passed away at the age of 89, her family announced on Friday, September 27. The renowned British actress, who began her career in 1951, continued acting throughout her remarkable 70-plus years in the industry.
She was most recently recognized for her roles as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey and as the strict Hogwarts professor in the Harry Potter series. Directors and filmmakers sought her talent up until her final days.
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Smith’s theater career was equally impressive, with standout performances in both classical and modern plays, amounting to around 100 productions. She also starred in nearly 60 films, collaborating with prominent directors like Joseph L. Mankiewicz (The Honey Pot, 1967), George Cukor (Travels with My Aunt, 1972), and Robert Altman (Gosford Park, 2001).
She embraced popular cinema, notably shining in comedies like Sister Act (1992) and its 1993 sequel, where she portrayed the convent’s mother superior alongside Whoopi Goldberg. These films became some of her most successful works.
Her illustrious career earned her significant accolades, including two Academy Awards: Best Actress for Ronald Neame’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), in which she played a bold teacher determined to apply unconventional methods at a girls’ school in the 1930s, and Best Supporting Actress for Herbert Ross’s California Suite (1978).
In addition to her Oscars, she won three Golden Globes (one for James Ivory’s Room with a View in 1986), five BAFTA Awards (with two honorary), and two Emmys for Downton Abbey.
Maggie Smith was also recognized with honorary doctorates from the University of St. Andrews and the University of London. She was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 and a Companion of Honor in 2014 for her contributions to the arts.
