Life in pictures: Dame Maggie Smith

27 September 2024 by Admin

AP Dame Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith, star of the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 89.

She made her acting debut in 1952 and was still working seven decades later having moved from aspiring star to national treasure.

grey placeholder — She started out in the theatre as a prompt girl and understudy at the Oxford Repertory. Her first film role was an uncredited part in 1956. Two years later she was nominated for a Bafta as Best Newcomer in the 1958 melodrama, Nowhere to Go, in which she played a girl who shelters an escaped convict.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images Maggie Smith and George Nader star in the Ealing Studios film 'Nowhere To Go'. 1958 — She started out in the theatre as a prompt girl and understudy at the Oxford Repertory. Her first film role was an uncredited part in 1956. Two years later she was nominated for a Bafta as Best Newcomer in the 1958 melodrama, Nowhere to Go, in which she played a girl who shelters an escaped convict.

grey placeholder — In 1963, Laurence Olivier offered her the part of Desdemona opposite his Othello, at the National Theatre. Two years later, a film version with the original cast saw Smith being nominated for an Academy Award.

Getty Images Joyce Redman as Emilia, Maggie Smith as Desdemona, and Laurence Olivier as Othello, in Stuart Burge's film version of Shakespeare's 'Othello', Shepperton Studios, Surrey, July 1965. — In 1963, Laurence Olivier offered her the part of Desdemona opposite his Othello, at the National Theatre. Two years later, a film version with the original cast saw Smith being nominated for an Academy Award.

grey placeholder — In 1969 she played one of her most famous roles, the non-conformist teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Getty Images English actress Maggie Smith as Jean Brodie in a classroom scene from 'The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie', directed by Ronald Neame, 1969. — In 1969 she played one of her most famous roles, the non-conformist teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

grey placeholder — The role won her a Best Actress Oscar, international fame and also marriage to her co-star Robert Stephens. She celebrated her win with a small party at the Stalls Bar in The Old Vic in London.

Mirrorpix via Getty Images Maggie Smith, with her husband Robert Stevens and friends celebrating her Oscar winning award with a small party at the Stalls Bar in The Old Vic on the night of her first performance. 8th April 1970. — The role won her a Best Actress Oscar, international fame and also marriage to her co-star Robert Stephens. She celebrated her win with a small party at the Stalls Bar in The Old Vic in London.

grey placeholder — The couple had two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.

Getty Images English actress Maggie Smith with her two children, Chris Larkin (left) and Toby Stephens, at London Airport, March 1971. — The couple had two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.

grey placeholder — Smith continued with the National Theatre including a performance alongside her husband in the Restoration comedy The Beaux’ Stratagem in Los Angeles.

Getty Images Maggie Smith with her husband Robert Stephens and their son Christopher departing from London Heathrow Airport for Los Angeles. 16th January 1970. — Smith continued with the National Theatre including a performance alongside her husband in the Restoration comedy The Beaux’ Stratagem in Los Angeles.

grey placeholder — She received another Oscar nomination for Best Actress after playing Aunt Augusta in the George Cukor film, Travel’s With My Aunt, in 1972.

Getty Images Maggie Smith plays the eccentric Aunt Augusta in the MGM film 'Travels With My Aunt', directed by George Cukor and adapted from the novel by Graham Greene, 1972. — She received another Oscar nomination for Best Actress after playing Aunt Augusta in the George Cukor film, Travel’s With My Aunt, in 1972.

grey placeholder — While touring America in Private Lives (a play in which they also appeared in London) Stephens, also the play’s co-star, walked out on her and the production, leaving her to finish the tour alone.

Alamy Maggie Smith (as Amanda Prynne) and Robert Stephens (as Elyot Chase) in PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward directed by John Gielgud at the Queen's Theatre, London in 1972. — While touring America in Private Lives (a play in which they also appeared in London) Stephens, also the play’s co-star, walked out on her and the production, leaving her to finish the tour alone.

grey placeholder — Smith and Stephens lead the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at a New Year’s Eve party in 1973. However the marriage was to fail, and they divorced. In 1976, she married the playwright, Beverley Cross.

Getty Images Smith and Stephens lead the singing of 'Auld Lang Syne' at a New Year's Eve party in 1973. — Smith and Stephens lead the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at a New Year’s Eve party in 1973. However the marriage was to fail, and they divorced. In 1976, she married the playwright, Beverley Cross.

grey placeholder — The family moved to Canada and Smith spent four years in a repertory company. However, she continued to work in the cinema, starring opposite David Niven in Murder By Death in 1976.

Getty Images David Niven holding a martini glass as he and Maggie Smith stare forward in shock of what they see in a scene from the film 'Murder By Death', 1976 — The family moved to Canada and Smith spent four years in a repertory company. However, she continued to work in the cinema, starring opposite David Niven in Murder By Death in 1976.

grey placeholder — In 1978 she played opposite Peter Ustinov in Death on the Nile.

Alamy Maggie Smith and Peter Ustinov in a scene from the ©Paramount Pictures movie: Death on the Nile (1978). — In 1978 she played opposite Peter Ustinov in Death on the Nile.

grey placeholder — The Eighties saw a number of memorable cinema performances, and more awards including Baftas for A Private Function, starring with Michael Palin and A Room With A View, which also garnered her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

Alamy Maggie Smith and Michael Palin in a scene from A Private Function in 1984 — The Eighties saw a number of memorable cinema performances, and more awards including Baftas for A Private Function, starring with Michael Palin and A Room With A View, which also garnered her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

grey placeholder — Smith, her two sons and husband Beverley Cross had a country home in Sussex.

Getty Images English actor Maggie Smith with her family in their country home in Sussex. Husband Beverley Cross and her two sons. Chris watches his brother Toby as he vaults the gate in 1986 (photo by Ian Cook/Getty Images) — Smith, her two sons and husband Beverley Cross had a country home in Sussex.

grey placeholder — Smith combined her cinema work with a return to the stage, which included performances in Simon Callow’s production of ‘The Infernal Machine’, at the Lyric, Hammersmith, and Lettice and Lovage at the Globe Theatre, London

Getty Images English actress Maggie Smith and French actor Lambert Wilson in Simon Callow's production of 'The Infernal Machine', by Jean Cocteau, at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London on November 4, 1986. — Smith combined her cinema work with a return to the stage, which included performances in Simon Callow’s production of ‘The Infernal Machine’, at the Lyric, Hammersmith, and Lettice and Lovage at the Globe Theatre, London

grey placeholder — In 1990 she was created DBE and, a year later, appeared as the ageing Wendy in Hook, Stephen Spielberg’s sequel to Peter Pan.

Alamy Maggie Smit in Hook (USA 1991) — In 1990 she was created DBE and, a year later, appeared as the ageing Wendy in Hook, Stephen Spielberg’s sequel to Peter Pan.

grey placeholder — Smith’s fan base grew in the noughties after she appeared as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a role she would reprise in subsequent Potter movies.

Alamy Maggie Smith in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE — Smith’s fan base grew in the noughties after she appeared as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a role she would reprise in subsequent Potter movies.

grey placeholder — In 2004 she appeared with her long time friend and fellow Dame Judy Dench, in the gentle drama Ladies in Lavender.

Alamy Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judy Dench in Ladies in Lavender, 2004 — In 2004 she appeared with her long time friend and fellow Dame Judy Dench, in the gentle drama Ladies in Lavender.

grey placeholder — Two years later she was the cash strapped Countess of Trentham in Gosford Park, Robert Altman’s take on the English country house murder.

Alamy Dame Maggie Smith as Countess of Trentham in Gosford Park — Two years later she was the cash strapped Countess of Trentham in Gosford Park, Robert Altman’s take on the English country house murder.

grey placeholder — It was a role that she reprised in all but name when she was cast in ITV drama, Downton Abbey. The name of her character may have changed to the Dowager Countess of Grantham but the performance was essentially the same.

ITV/Alamy Dame Maggie Smith as Dowager Countess of Grantham in TV series Downton Abbey — It was a role that she reprised in all but name when she was cast in ITV drama, Downton Abbey. The name of her character may have changed to the Dowager Countess of Grantham but the performance was essentially the same.

grey placeholder — She remained with the Downton Abbey cast until 2015 when the series finally came to an end, reprising the role for two films in 2019 and 2022.

ITV/Alamy Dame Maggie Smith as Dowager Countess of Grantham in TV series Downton Abbey — She remained with the Downton Abbey cast until 2015 when the series finally came to an end, reprising the role for two films in 2019 and 2022.

grey placeholder — In 2007 Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was given the all-clear after two years of treatment and went on to receive a Bafta nomination for her role in the 2012 film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Alamy Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie, Diana Hardcastle, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith et Bill Nighy in a scene from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel — In 2007 Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was given the all-clear after two years of treatment and went on to receive a Bafta nomination for her role in the 2012 film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

grey placeholder — 2015 saw her give a moving performance in the film, The Lady in the Van, based on the true tale of Mary Shepherd, an elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van on the writer Alan Bennett’s driveway in London for 15 years.

Getty Images Dame Maggie Smith in a scene from Alan Bennett's "The Lady In The Van" directed by Nicholas Hytner in 2014 in London, UK — 2015 saw her give a moving performance in the film, The Lady in the Van, based on the true tale of Mary Shepherd, an elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van on the writer Alan Bennett’s driveway in London for 15 years.

grey placeholder — Smith’s final screen role was in 2023 in The Miracle Club, alongside Laura Linney and Kathy Bates. Set in 1967, it follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes.

Alamy The Miracle Club is a 2023 — Smith’s final screen role was in 2023 in The Miracle Club, alongside Laura Linney and Kathy Bates. Set in 1967, it follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes.

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