Maggie Smith (born 28.12.1934) Maggie Smith is an English actress who has seven BAFTAs, two Oscars and three Golden Globes.
Childhood: Maggie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex. Her parents were secretary Margaret and pathologist Nathaniel Smith. She attended Oxford High School.
Acting career: Maggie Smith's first film role was in 'Nowhere to Go' which earned her a BAFTA nomination. She earned her first Academy Award nomination for her role as Desdemona in the 1965 film version of Shakespearean play 'Othello' opposite Laurence Olivier. In 1969, she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress in the film 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'. In 1978, she won a second Academy Award for her role in 'California Suite' opposite Jane Fonda and Michael Caine; a film which also landed her with a Golden Globe.
In 1985, she appeared in 'A Room with a View' alongside Helena Bonham Carter and won a BAFTA and Golden Globe for her role. In 1991, she played the older Wendy in 'Hook and she appeared alongside Whoopi Goldberg in 'Sister Act' the following year. In 1995, she was in 'Richard III' opposite Ian McKellen and Robert Downey Jr. She has received an Oscar nomination for her appearance as the bad-tempered Constance, Countess of Trentham in 'Gosford Park' in 2001 which also starred Michael Gambon, Stephen Fry and Helen Mirren.
She is widely known for playing Professor McGonagall in the 'Harry Potter' film series opposite Daniel Radcliffe. In 2010, she was cast as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the period drama series 'Downton Abbey' for which she has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe.
Her theatre appearances include Alan Bennett's 'The Lady in the Van', 'Private Lives' and Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage' for which she won a Tony Award in 1990. In 2012, she appeared in 'Quartet' and the British comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' with Judi Dench and Bill Nighy.
Her accolades include the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Legacy Award and, even more impressively, her appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) which was later raised to Dame Commander (DBE). She has honorary degrees from the University of Bath, the University of St Andrews and the University of Cambridge.
Personal life: Maggie Smith was first married to Robert Stephens in 1967 with whom she had two sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens. They divorced in 1974. Her second marriage was to Beverley Cross in 1975 but he died in 1998. In 2007, it was announced that she was suffering from breast cancer, but she soon made a full recovery. She has been involved with various charities including the International Glaucoma Association and Cats Protection.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
The final season of period drama ‘Downton Abbey’ is approaching.
