Maggie smith biography imdb 2016

1. Biography of Maggie Smith
2. Early Life and Career
3. Success and Awards
4. Later Career and Recent Projects

Biography of Maggie Smith

Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith was born on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom. She is an English actress known for her commanding presence, soft and pure voice. While most modern audiences recognize her as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the globally acclaimed Harry Potter saga, Maggie Smith is also renowned among seasoned viewers for her many other films that hold a prestigious place in the history of world cinema.

Early Life and Career

Maggie Smith was born to pathologist Nathaniel Smith, who worked at the University of Oxford, and secretary Margaret Hutton-Smith. She has two older twin brothers, Alastair and Ian. Smith developed an interest in acting at a young age and dropped out of Oxford High School at the age of 16 to join the Oxford Playhouse. Her debut on the theatrical stage came in 1952 when she was 17, playing the role of Viola in William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night". From 1952 to 1955, Smith actively performed in theater productions, appearing in 17 plays, including "Cinderella" (1952), "Rookery Nook" (1953), "Housemaster" (1953), "Pies and Beer" (1953), "The Government Inspector" (1954), "Note of Resignation" (1954), "The Magistrate" (1955), "School for Scandal" (1955), and others.

In 1955, Smith made her television debut in the program "BBC Sunday Night Theatre", and a year later, she appeared on the big screen for the first time in the film "Child in the House". Despite her brief role in the film, Smith did not receive credit. In the same year, she made her Broadway debut, playing several roles in the marathon production "New Faces of '56". Her career continued to flourish, and in 1958, she achieved her first major breakthrough in the film industry with her role in "Nowhere to Go", which earned her a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

Success and Awards

Smith's subsequent significant film works included "The VIPs" (1963, nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress in 1964), "The Pumpkin Eater" (1964), "Young Cassidy" (1965), and "Othello" (1965). Her portrayal of Desdemona in "Othello" earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, although she did not win any awards. Her first major success in terms of film awards came in 1970 when she won the British Academy Film Award and the Academy Award for her role in the drama film "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969).

In addition to her successful film career, Smith continued to excel in theater and television. In the 1970s, she was considered one of the most talented actresses in both the United Kingdom and the world. From 1976 to 1980, she performed several significant roles in plays as part of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada. Smith divorced her first husband, Robert Stephens, in 1974 and remarried in 1975 to playwright Beverley Cross, who passed away in 1998.

In 1979, Smith received her first Golden Globe Award for her role in the film "California Suite" (1978), and she won her second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same role. She continued to deliver remarkable performances in films such as "Clash of the Titans" (1981), "Quartet" (1981), "A Private Function" (1984), "A Room with a View" (1985), "The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne" (1987), and others. In 1996, at the age of 62, Smith received a special BAFTA Award for her outstanding contributions to the industry.

Later Career and Recent Projects

In 1999, Smith added two notable projects to her repertoire – the dramatic miniseries "David Copperfield" and the wartime tragicomedy "Tea with Mussolini". Her performances in both projects earned her nominations and awards, including a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for "Tea with Mussolini". Smith also appeared in the "Harry Potter" film series, playing Professor McGonagall in seven out of the eight films released from 2001 to 2011.

Another significant role for Smith was her portrayal of the widowed Countess Violet Crawley in the critically acclaimed period drama series "Downton Abbey" (2010-2015). For this role, she received three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among others. Smith's career has been marked by numerous nominations and awards, as well as the admiration of both audiences and critics.

In November 2020, Smith joined Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, and other fellow actors for a Zoom conversation titled "For One Knight Only" in support of the charity organization Acting for Others. In 2021, she continued her creative endeavors, participating in a livestream event with Kathleen Turner and appearing in the official trailer for the film "Downton Abbey: A New Era".

Aside from her remarkable acting career, Smith is a loving mother, grandmother of five grandchildren, and a strong woman who battled breast cancer in 2007. While there are currently no announced projects in her future, there is no doubt that this resilient lady, who serves as an inspiration to many, will continue to delight film lovers with her exceptional performances.