Dame Maggie Smith, the beloved star of the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has passed away at the age of 89.
Smith’s career spanned an impressive seven decades, starting with her acting debut in 1952. She began in the theatre as a prompt girl and understudy at the Oxford Repertory before making her first film appearance in 1956.
Throughout her career, Smith received numerous accolades, including a Bafta nomination for Best Newcomer in 1958 and an Academy Award nomination for her role in Othello in 1965. She won a Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969.
Smith’s personal life was also marked by ups and downs, including marriages to Robert Stephens and Beverley Cross. She had two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, and continued to work in both cinema and theatre.
In the 2000s, Smith gained a new generation of fans with her role as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. She continued to work in film and television until her final screen role in The Miracle Club in 2023.
Despite battling breast cancer in 2007, Smith continued to deliver powerful performances and received critical acclaim for her work. Her legacy as a talented and versatile actress will live on in the hearts of fans around the world.
