Maggie Smith

Biography

Maggie Smith was a British actress who worked on stage and screen for eight decades. Raised in Oxford, she began acting as a student there in 1952, playing Viola in Twelfth Night, and made her professional debut on Broadway four years later in the revue New Faces of '56. She later worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, and won a Tony Award for Lettice and Lovage. Her two Academy Awards came for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978), with further Oscar nominations for Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1986) and Gosford Park (2001). She played Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series from 2001 to 2011 and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey from 2010 to 2015, a part that brought her three Primetime Emmy Awards.

89years old at death

Born December 28, 1934Ilford
Died September 27, 2024Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Margaret Nathalie Smith (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 49
Career span: 65 years1958 to 2023

Genres

Drama59%, 29 films
Comedy49%, 24 films
Romance18%, 9 films
Adventure12%, 6 films
Family12%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
In 1978 Smith appeared with Michael Caine in Neil Simon's California Suite as an Oscar loser, and she won that year's Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. No one else has taken an Oscar for playing a fictional Oscar nominee.
First role
Smith began her career at 17 as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, under the Oxford University Dramatic Society.
Big break
Laurence Olivier invited Smith to join his new National Theatre Company after seeing her in The Double Dealer at The Old Vic.
A first
Smith played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing in 1967, in a production by director Franco Zeffirelli. It is believed to be the first British television broadcast of the whole play.
A first
In 1962, Smith received her first Best Actress Evening Standard Award for roles in Peter Shaffer's plays The Private Ear and The Public Eye. She went on to win a record six of these awards.
A first
Smith earned her first of 18 British Academy Film Award nominations in 1959 for playing Bridget Howard in Nowhere to Go, which was her first screen credit.

Maggie Smith movies on Netflix

The Miracle Club2023IMDb rating 6.4as Lily Fox
Downton Abbey: A New Era2022IMDb rating 7.4as Violet Crawley
A Boy Called Christmas2021IMDb rating 6.7as Aunt Ruth
Nothing Like a Dame2018IMDb rating 7.4as Self(Dame Maggie Smith)
The Lady in the Van2015IMDb rating 6.7as Miss Shepherd
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2015IMDb rating 6.5as Muriel Donnelly
My Old Lady2014IMDb rating 6.4as Mathilde Girard
Quartet2012IMDb rating 6.8as Jean Horton
Gnomeo & Juliet2011IMDb rating 5.9as Lady Bluebury (voice)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2011IMDb rating 7.2as Muriel Donnelly
Nanny McPhee Returns2010IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs Docherty
From Time to Time2009IMDb rating 6.7as Mrs Oldknow
Becoming Jane2007IMDb rating 7.0as Lady Gresham
Capturing Mary2007IMDb rating 6.7as Mary Gilbert
Keeping Mum2005IMDb rating 6.8as Grace Hawkins
Ladies in Lavender2004IMDb rating 7.0as Janet
My House in Umbria2003IMDb rating 6.9as Mrs. Delahunty
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood2002IMDb rating 6.1as Caro Eliza Bennett
Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2as Constance Trentham
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone2001IMDb rating 7.7as Professor Minerva McGonagall
Tea with Mussolini1999IMDb rating 6.9as Lady Hester Random
The Last September1999IMDb rating 6.0as Lady Myra Naylor
Washington Square1997IMDb rating 6.6as Aunt Lavinia Penniman
The First Wives Club1996IMDb rating 6.5as Gunilla Garson Goldberg
Richard III1995IMDb rating 7.3as Duchess of York
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit1993IMDb rating 5.8as Mother Superior
The Secret Garden1993IMDb rating 7.3as Mrs. Medlock
Sister Act1992IMDb rating 6.6as Mother Superior
Hook1991IMDb rating 6.8as Granny Wendy
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne1987IMDb rating 7.0as Judith Hearne
A Room with a View1986IMDb rating 7.2as Charlotte Bartlett
A Private Function1984IMDb rating 6.5as Joyce Chilvers
Evil Under the Sun1982IMDb rating 7.1as Daphne Castle
The Missionary1982IMDb rating 6.2as Lady Isabel Ames
Clash of the Titans1981IMDb rating 6.9as Thetis
California Suite1978IMDb rating 6.2as Diana Barrie
Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3as Miss Bowers
Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2as Dora Charleston
Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing1973IMDb rating 6.6as Lila Fisher
Travels with My Aunt1972IMDb rating 6.3as Aunt Augusta Bertram
Oh! What a Lovely War1969IMDb rating 7.0as Music Hall Star
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie1969IMDb rating 7.6as Jean Brodie
Hot Millions1968IMDb rating 6.8as Patty Terwilliger Smith
The Honey Pot1967IMDb rating 6.7as Sarah Watkins
Othello1965IMDb rating 7.0as Desdemona
Young Cassidy1965IMDb rating 6.5as Nora
The Pumpkin Eater1964IMDb rating 7.1as Philpot
The V.I.P.s1963IMDb rating 6.3as Miss Mead
Nowhere to Go1958IMDb rating 6.8as Bridget Howard

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Gosford Park2001 Drama, Mysteryas Constance Trentham
IMDb rating 7.2103K votes
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone2001 Adventure, Family, Fantasyas Professor Minerva McGonagall
IMDb rating 7.7967K votes
Hook1991as Granny Wendy
IMDb rating 6.8295K votes
Sister Act1992as Mother Superior
IMDb rating 6.6120K votes
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2011as Muriel Donnelly
IMDb rating 7.2105K votes
A Room with a View1986as Charlotte Bartlett
IMDb rating 7.253K votes
The Lady in the Van2015as Miss Shepherd
IMDb rating 6.735K votes
Downton Abbey: A New Era2022as Violet Crawley
IMDb rating 7.439K votes

Most often with

Richard Loncraine directed three of these films, John Madden two and Agnieszka Holland two. Judi Dench appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Judi Dench

Michael Gambon

Kristin Scott Thomas

Laurence Olivier

Jim Broadbent

Timothy SpallRichard LoncraineDirector, 3 films John MaddenDirector, 2 films Agnieszka HollandDirector, 2 films

Films together

Judi Dench6 films together, 1986 to 2018
Judi Dench's page
- Nothing Like a Dame2018IMDb rating 7.4Smith as Self(Dame Maggie Smith)Dench as Self(Dame Judi Dench)
- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2015IMDb rating 6.5Smith as Muriel DonnellyDench as Evelyn Greenslade
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2011IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Muriel DonnellyDench as Evelyn Greenslade
- Ladies in Lavender2004IMDb rating 7.0Smith as JanetDench as Ursula
- Tea with Mussolini1999IMDb rating 6.9Smith as Lady Hester RandomDench as Arabella
- A Room with a View1986IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Charlotte BartlettDench as Eleanor Lavish
Michael Gambon4 films together, 1965 to 2012
Michael Gambon's page
- Quartet2012IMDb rating 6.8Smith as Jean HortonGambon as Cedric Livingston
- Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Constance TrenthamGambon as William McCordle
- The Last September1999IMDb rating 6.0Smith as Lady Myra NaylorGambon as Sir Richard Naylor
- Othello1965IMDb rating 7.0Smith as Desdemona
Kristin Scott Thomas4 films together, 1995 to 2014
Kristin Scott Thomas's page
- My Old Lady2014IMDb rating 6.4Smith as Mathilde GirardThomas as Chloé Girard
- Keeping Mum2005IMDb rating 6.8Smith as Grace HawkinsThomas as Gloria Goodfellow
- Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Constance TrenthamThomas as Sylvia McCordle
- Richard III1995IMDb rating 7.3Smith as Duchess of YorkThomas as Lady Anne
Laurence Olivier4 films together, 1965 to 2018
Laurence Olivier's page
- Nothing Like a Dame2018IMDb rating 7.4Smith as Self(Dame Maggie Smith)Olivier as Himself
- Clash of the Titans1981IMDb rating 6.9Smith as ThetisOlivier as Zeus
- Oh! What a Lovely War1969IMDb rating 7.0Smith as Music Hall StarOlivier as Field Marshal Sir John French
- Othello1965IMDb rating 7.0Smith as DesdemonaOlivier as Othello
Jim Broadbent3 films together, 1995 to 2021
Jim Broadbent's page
- A Boy Called Christmas2021IMDb rating 6.7Smith as Aunt RuthBroadbent as King
- The Lady in the Van2015IMDb rating 6.7Smith as Miss ShepherdBroadbent as Underwood
- Richard III1995IMDb rating 7.3Smith as Duchess of YorkBroadbent as The Duke of Buckingham
Timothy Spall3 films together, 1982 to 2009
Timothy Spall's page
- From Time to Time2009IMDb rating 6.7Smith as Mrs OldknowSpall as Boggis
- My House in Umbria2003IMDb rating 6.9Smith as Mrs. DelahuntySpall as Quinty
- The Missionary1982IMDb rating 6.2Smith as Lady Isabel AmesSpall as Parswell
Richard LoncraineDirector, 3 films, 1982 to 2003
All films by Richard Loncraine
- My House in Umbria2003IMDb rating 6.9Smith as Mrs. Delahunty
- Richard III1995IMDb rating 7.3Smith as Duchess of York
- The Missionary1982IMDb rating 6.2Smith as Lady Isabel Ames
John MaddenDirector, 2 films, 2011 to 2015
All films by John Madden
- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2015IMDb rating 6.5Smith as Muriel Donnelly
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2011IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Muriel Donnelly
Agnieszka HollandDirector, 2 films, 1993 to 1997
All films by Agnieszka Holland
- Washington Square1997IMDb rating 6.6Smith as Aunt Lavinia Penniman
- The Secret Garden1993IMDb rating 7.3Smith as Mrs. Medlock
Also three films together10 more actors
- Bob HoskinsNothing Like a Dame (2018), Hook (1991) and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)
- Denholm ElliottA Room with a View (1986), A Private Function (1984) and The Missionary (1982)
- Jim CarterDownton Abbey: A New Era (2022), Richard III (1995) and A Private Function (1984)
- Celia ImrieThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and Death on the Nile (1978)
- Peter UstinovEvil Under the Sun (1982), Death on the Nile (1978) and Hot Millions (1968)
- Dominic WestDownton Abbey: A New Era (2022), From Time to Time (2009) and Richard III (1995)
- Penelope WiltonDownton Abbey: A New Era (2022), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
- Jane BirkinThe Last September (1999), Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Death on the Nile (1978)
- Robert StephensNothing Like a Dame (2018), Travels with My Aunt (1972) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
- Barbara HicksEvil Under the Sun (1982), Death on the Nile (1978) and Nowhere to Go (1958)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Maggie Smith's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$2.9 billion

31 of the 49 films have a worldwide figure.

31Worldwide figure
6US gross only
2Never in cinemas
10Figure not found

Top grosser

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone2001Professor Minerva McGonagall$1.0 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 75% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone2001as Professor Minerva McGonagall
$1.0B35.1% of the total
2
Hook1991as Granny Wendy
$301M10.2% of the total
3
Sister Act1992as Mother Superior
$232M7.9% of the total
4
Gnomeo & Juliet2011as Lady Bluebury (voice)
$190M6.5% of the total
5
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel2011as Muriel Donnelly
$151M5.1% of the total
6
The First Wives Club1996as Gunilla Garson Goldberg
$116M4.0% of the total
7
Nanny McPhee Returns2010as Mrs Docherty
$93M3.2% of the total
8
Downton Abbey: A New Era2022as Violet Crawley
$93M3.2% of the total

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), $86.0 million

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002), $73.8 million

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), $57.3 million

The Lady in the Van (2015), $41.4 million

Clash of the Titans (1981), $41.1 million

Tea with Mussolini (1999), $21.0 million

A Room with a View (1986), $21.0 million

Ladies in Lavender (2004), $20.4 million

$732 millionfrom the other 23 films with a worldwide figure, 25% of the total

Awards

Sixteen awards and honors from 1970 to 2016, sixteen of them major.

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Maggie Smith's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1979	Best Supporting Actress	California Suite	Won
1970	Best Actress	The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie	Won
Golden Globes
2013	Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Downton Abbey	Won
1987	Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture	A Room with a View	Won
1979	Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	California Suite	Won
BAFTA
2000	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Tea with Mussolini	Won
1989	Best Actress in a Leading Role	The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne	Won
1987	Best Actress in a Leading Role	A Room with a View	Won
1985	Best Actress in a Leading Role	A Private Function	Won
1970	Best Actress in a Leading Role	The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie	Won
Emmy Awards
2016	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Downton Abbey	Won
2012	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Downton Abbey	Won
2011	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	Downton Abbey	Won
2003	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	My House in Umbria	Won
SAG Awards
2014	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series	Downton Abbey	Won
Tony Awards
1990	Best Actress in a Play	Lettice and Lovage	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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