With over six decades in the entertainment industry, it’s safe to say that Maggie Smith has pretty much spent her entire life on screen. The English actress, who is one of Britain’s most recognized actresses, has starred in over 50 films and several iconic TV shows including Downton Abbey. With her well-deserved awards and honors, Maggie Smith has managed to stay relevant to this day. Here’s everything you need to know about the British icon.
Who is Maggie Smith?
Dame Margaret ‘Maggie’ Smith was born on the 28th of December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, to Nathaniel Smith, a public health pathologist and Margaret Hutton, a Scottish secretary. When she was four, the family moved to Oxford where she attended Oxford High School and later studied acting at the Oxford PlayHouse. She began acting at age 17 with The Twelfth Night, an Oxford PlayHouse production, being her first performance. Later, she made her film debut in 1956 with an uncredited role in Child at Home. The same year, she made her Broadway debut New Faces of ’56 at the Ethel Barrymore Theater.
Maggie Smith became highly recognized in the 1960s, primarily due to her role as Desdemona in Othello which also earned her an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film adaptation.
In the 1990s, Maggie Smith appeared in the hit film Hook, the comedy film – Sister Law (1992), The First Wives Club (1996), Richard III (1995) and Washington Square (1997). She became a household name after the international success of the Harry Potter films thanks to her popular role as Professor Minerva McGonagall alongside Daniel Radcliffe. She starred in seven of the eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011.
In 2014, her role in the British drama, The Downtown Abbey, as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham received widespread acclaim, as well as Golden Globes, two Emmys and Screen Actors Guild Awards. .
Besides acting, Maggie Smith is involved in charity work. In July 2012, she was named Patron of the International Glaucoma Association to support the organization as well as raise awareness.
Here’s everything you need to know about the actress
Private life
The English actress was first married to actor Robert Stephens on June 29, 1967 at the Greenwich Registry Office. The union produced two sons. Her first son, Chris Larkin, was born June 19, 1967; he also happens to be an actor. He chose ‘Larkin’ as his stage name because he was very fond of the works of English poet Philip Larkin.
Maggie’s second son, Toby Stephens, was born on April 21, 1969. Toby is also an actor.
Sadly, Maggie Smith and Sir Robert Stephens divorced on April 6, 1975. Two months after the divorce, the actress married playwright Beverley Cross on June 23, 1975. They were together until Beverley’s death on March 20. 1998. Since then, the actress has only been romantically involved with anyone – at least not to the knowledge of the public.
Health problems
In 1988, Maggie Smith was diagnosed with the disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. For this reason, she underwent radiation therapy. In 2007, according to the Sunday Telegraph, he was diagnosed with breast cancer but was said to have made a full recovery.
Honors
In the 1970 CommonwealthRealms New Year’s Honors Maggie Smith was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and in the 1990 New Year’s Honors ceremony she was promoted to Dame of the Command of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for his contribution to the performing arts.
In 2014, on the Queen’s birthday, she became a member of the Order of Companions of Honor (CH), making her the third actress to receive this honour. She has also received honorary awards from tertiary institutions such as University of Cambridge, University of St. Andrews, British Film Institute, British Academy of Film and Television and many others.
Net value
The 83-year-old actress, who has won numerous awards including seven BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, has an estimated net worth of $18 million.
Brothers)
Maggie Smith has two identical twin brothers – Alistair and Ian Smith, who are six years older than her. Both brothers wanted to become architects, but in 1981 Alistair suffered a heart attack and died. Ian Smith then studied architecture.
Dead or alive
In 2017, a rumor spread on the Internet that the actress died, causing grief to fans around the world. A follow-up report has been made confirming that it was a death hoax, as the Lady is very much alive and well.