Maggie Smith possessed a commanding presence and a sharp wit. She died at age 89 on September 27, 2024. This exceptional actress was best known for her roles as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey and Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, but her impressive resume was so much more. From Shakespeare to comedies, she did it all.
Queen Elizabeth II made her a dame in 1990 for her contributions to the arts. Here are 10 facts you might not have known about this incredible woman. Her legacy will live on.
She was not a nepo baby.
Maggie was born on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, which is a large town near London, England. Her parents Margaret Hutton, a Scottish secretary, and Nathaniel Smith, a public health pathologist, were happy to welcome her to the world. Maggie had twin brothers. The family moved to Oxford when she was 4 years old.
Maggie won the 'triple crown' of acting.
Maggie's impressive career includes many honors and accolades. In the US, she won what is known as the "triple crown" of acting. This means she won a Tony, Emmy, and Oscar. To be specific, she won two Oscars, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. Let's not forget the acclaim in the UK where she won five BAFTA Awards and was nominated for six Olivier Awards.
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She made her Broadway debut when she was 21 years old.
Maggie started studying acting at Oxford Playhouse at age 17. In 1956, she made the hop across the pond to make her Broadway debut. She played multiple roles in the review New Faces of '56. This played at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
A reviewer once called her 'an undeniable dish.'
Maggie mused what her secret to longevity in acting was to NPR in 2016. She believed because she wasn't considered a "dish" she was able to age gracefully into older roles and strengthen her skills. The interviewer pointed out that she was also a stunning woman and that a Broadway reviewer even called her "an undeniable dish" in the 1960s.
Maggie made her film debut in 1956.
1956 was a big year for Maggie. She not only made her Broadway debut but also worked on her first film. She had an uncredited role in Child in the House. Just three years later she would be nominated for her first BAFTA award for her work as Bridget Howard in Nowhere to Go.
She was frenemies with Laurence Olivier.
Sir Laurence Olivier discovered Maggie's talents after seeing her in The Double Dealer at The Old Vic theater in London. He wanted her to be part of his group, the National Theatre Company. Laurence knew he had met someone who could keep up and maybe even lap him.
Michael Coveney, a British theater critic, explains: "Having got her into the company they became not enemies, but professional rivals. Never before had anyone on stage been quicker than him and now, it seemed, there was a contest."
Laurence even accidentally knocked Maggie out during a performance of the Shakespeare play, Othello. Maggie talked about it in the documentary film Tea with the Dames. "It was the only time I saw stars at the National Theatre," she joked.
She was J.K. Rowling’s first choice.
A whole new generation were introduced to Maggie thanks to her work in the Harry Potter films. She played no-nonsense Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House and teacher of Transfiguration. She was J.K. Rowling's first choice for the role. The author was so happy when she agreed to come on board for the movies. Maggie appeared in seven of the eight films. She even underwent cancer treatments while filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
She was a mother of two.
Maggie married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They shared two sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who both went into the family business as thespians themselves. Robert and Maggie divorced in 1975. That same year she married playwright Alan Beverly Cross. The couple remained together until his death in 1998.
She was a grandmother of five.
Maggie was a proud grandma. Her eldest son Chris married Victoria "Suki" Steadman in 2005. The couple share two children. Her son Toby married actress Anna-Louise Plowman in 2001. They share three children Eli Alistair, Tallulah, and Kura.
King Charles issued a statement about her death.
Many around the world mourned Maggie's passing, including King Charles. The monarch issued a statement about the somber occasion. "As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage," it read.
