---
name: "Maggie Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/maggie-smith"
fi1m_id: "maggie-smith"
imdb_id: "nm0001749"
tmdb_id: 10978
wikidata_id: "Q172653"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "28 December 1934"
died: "27 September 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 18
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 18
updated: "2026-10-07T11:44:18.316056+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Maggie Smith

## Identity

Maggie Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/maggie-smith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** maggie-smith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001749
- **TMDB ID:** 10978
- **Wikidata ID:** Q172653
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172653, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001749/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10978

Actor. Born 28 December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England, UK. Died 27 September 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 28 December 1934, Ilford, Essex, England, UK
- **Died:** 27 September 2024
- **Active:** 1981–2022
- **Also known as:** Margaret Natalie Smith, Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, Меггі Сміт, مگی اسمیت
- **Frequently works with:** [Julian Fellowes](https://film.one/person/julian-fellowes.md), [Bill Nighy](https://film.one/person/bill-nighy.md), [Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/person/denholm-elliott.md), [Dev Patel](https://film.one/person/dev-patel.md), [Graham Broadbent](https://film.one/person/graham-broadbent.md), [Hugh Bonneville](https://film.one/person/hugh-bonneville.md), [John Madden](https://film.one/person/john-madden.md), [Judi Dench](https://film.one/person/judi-dench.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 4 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 18 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 70 (2), 1990s 67 (2), 2000s 72 (7), 2010s 68 (7)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 67 across 17 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 11 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 8, Fantasy 8, Drama 7, Comedy 6, Family 2, Romance 2
- **Screen time:** 36 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $8,116m across 17 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172653, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001749/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10978

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*A Room with a View*](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) (84), [*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone.md) (68)
- **Disney+:** [*Sister Act*](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md) (78), [*Gnomeo & Juliet*](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md) (61)
- **Apple TV:** [*Downton Abbey*](https://film.one/tv/downton-abbey.md) (75)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Lady in the Van*](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Maggie Smith

> Maggie Smith could make a dismissal sound perfectly reasonable to the person delivering it. We value her exact comic timing, but the unforced affection she brings to *Hook* deserves just as much attention.

In *Gosford Park* (2001), Maggie Smith makes Constance Trentham's contempt sound like an unremarkable contribution to the conversation. She does not need to start a quarrel; the ease of her delivery tells us how seldom anyone has answered back. We laughed, then felt uneasy, because she made humiliating another person seem so ordinary. Julian Fellowes supplies the insults, but Smith gives them the assurance of a woman who expects agreement. Robert Altman's ensemble gives us plenty to watch, yet we kept waiting for her to speak again.

The breakthrough was the title role in *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969), followed by years in which she divided her work between stage and screen. *California Suite* (1978) and *A Room with a View* (1985) belong to that period. The vocal precision and expressive gestures could become mannered, a fair reservation about an actor whose technique was so easy to recognise. Even in her more flamboyant work, though, there was often fragility beneath the assurance.

*Hook* (1991) is a useful correction to the idea that Smith's chief purpose was to be withering. As Granny Wendy, she offers affection without insisting that we notice how touching it is. Steven Spielberg's film keeps finding noisy things to do, and her quieter scenes make that restlessness harder to forgive. We would not recommend the whole film on the strength of her contribution: its crowded Neverland exhausts our patience. But she makes Wendy worth listening to, and suggests how much less fuss the film might have needed.

The later parts included Professor McGonagall in the *Harry Potter* series (2001–2011) and the Dowager Countess in *Downton Abbey* (2010–2015). It is easy to let those familiar roles reduce the memory of her work to an imperious look and a cutting remark. That misses the vulnerability she could bring to comedy, and the unforced affection that makes her the person we want to hear in *Hook*. Start with *Gosford Park*, where the timing is a pleasure and the cruelty remains unpleasant.

## Biography

Dame Maggie Smith was a British actress. Born Margaret Natalie Smith on 28 December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, she died on 27 September 2024 in London.

She trained at the Oxford Playhouse and made her professional stage debut in 1952. Smith appeared in numerous stage productions with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and made her Broadway debut in the revue *New Faces of 1956*. She received a Tony Award for *Lettice and Lovage* (1990).

On screen she is known for roles including Professor Minerva McGonagall in the *Harry Potter* film series (2001–2011), Granny Wendy in *Hook* (1991), Mother Superior in *Sister Act* (1992), and Violet Crawley in the television series *Downton Abbey* (2010–2015). Smith won two Academy Awards, for *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969) and *California Suite* (1978).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (18)

- *Downton Abbey* (2019), Fi1m 64, as Violet Crawley — [page](https://film.one/film/downton-abbey-2019.md)
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), Fi1m 64, as Miss Shepherd — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Muriel Donnelly — [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), Fi1m 71, as Muriel Donnelly — [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), Fi1m 61, as Lady Bluebury (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2* (2011), Fi1m 83, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2.md)
- *Downton Abbey* (2010), Fi1m 75, as Violet Crawley — [page](https://film.one/tv/downton-abbey.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* (2009), Fi1m 66, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* (2007), Fi1m 68, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire* (2005), Fi1m 68, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* (2004), Fi1m 82, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (2002), Fi1m 65, as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets.md)
- *Gosford Park* (2001), Fi1m 85, as Constance Trentham — [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001), Fi1m 68, as Professor McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone.md)
- *Sister Act* (1992), Fi1m 78, as Mother Superior — [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md)
- *Hook* (1991), Fi1m 56, as Granny Wendy — [page](https://film.one/film/hook.md)
- *A Room with a View* (1986), Fi1m 84, as Charlotte Bartlett — [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md)
- *The Missionary* (1982), Fi1m 57, as Lady Isabel Ames — [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md)

## Complete filmography (87)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Miracle Club* (2023), as Lily Fox
- *Downton Abbey: A New Era* (2022), as Violet Crawley
- *A Boy Called Christmas* (2021), as Aunt Ruth
- *Downton Abbey* (2019), as Violet Crawley — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/downton-abbey-2019.md)
- *Sherlock Gnomes* (2018), as Lady Bluebury (voice)
- *Woolf Works* (2017), as Reading (voice)
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), as Miss Shepherd — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), as Muriel Donnelly — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *My Old Lady* (2014), as Mathilde Girard
- *National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage* (2013), as Mrs. Sullen
- *Quartet* (2012), as Jean Horton
- *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), as Muriel Donnelly — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2* (2011), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2.md)
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), as Lady Bluebury (voice) — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *Downton Abbey* (2010), series, as Violet Crawley — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/downton-abbey.md)
- *Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang* (2010), as Mrs. Docherty
- *From Time to Time* (2009), as Linnet
- *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* (2009), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince.md)
- *Capturing Mary* (2007), as Mary Gilbert
- *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* (2007), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix.md)
- *Becoming Jane* (2007), as Lady Gresham
- *The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays* (2006), as Lettice Douffet (segment "Lettice and Lovage")
- *Keeping Mum* (2005), as Grace Hawkins
- *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire* (2005), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire.md)
- *Ladies in Lavender* (2004), as Janet
- *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* (2004), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban.md)
- *My House in Umbria* (2003), as Mrs. Emily Delahunty
- *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (2002), as Minerva McGonagall — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets.md)
- *Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood* (2002), as Caro
- *Gosford Park* (2001), as Constance Trentham — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001), as Professor McGonagall — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone.md)
- *The Last September* (2000), as Lady Myra Naylor
- *David Copperfield* (1999), series, as Betsey Trotwood
- *All the King's Men* (1999), as Queen Alexandra
- *Tea with Mussolini* (1999), as Lady Hester Random
- *Curtain Call* (1998), as Lily Marlowe
- *Washington Square* (1997), as Aunt Lavinia Penniman
- *The First Wives Club* (1996), as Gunilla Garson Goldberg
- *Richard III* (1995), as Duchess of York
- *Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit* (1993), as Mother Superior
- *The Secret Garden* (1993), as Mrs. Medlock
- *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1993), as Violet Venable
- *Sister Act* (1992), as Mother Superior — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md)
- *Memento Mori* (1992), as Mrs Mabel Pettigrew
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Mrs Venable
- *Hook* (1991), as Granny Wendy — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/hook.md)
- *Romeo.Juliet* (1990), as Rosaline (voice)
- *Talking Heads* (1988), series, as Susan
- *Talking Heads* (1988), Actor
- *The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne* (1987), as Judith Hearne
- *A Room with a View* (1986), as Charlotte Bartlett — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Mrs. Mabel Pettigrew
- *A Private Function* (1984), as Joyce Chilvers
- *Lily in Love* (1984), as Lily Wynn
- *Mrs. Silly* (1983), as Mrs Silly
- *Better Late Than Never* (1983), as Miss Anderson
- *The Missionary* (1982), as Lady Isabel Ames — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md)
- *All for Love* (1982), series, as Mrs. Silly
- *Evil Under the Sun* (1982), as Daphne Castle
- *Quartet* (1981), as Lois Heidler
- *Clash of the Titans* (1981), as Thetis
- *Death on the Nile* (1978), as Miss Bowers
- *California Suite* (1978), as Diana Barrie
- *Murder by Death* (1976), as Dora Charleston
- *Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing* (1973), as Lila Fisher
- *Travels with My Aunt* (1972), as Augusta Bertram
- *The Millionairess* (1972), as Epifania
- *The Merchant of Venice* (1972), as Portia
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Violet Venable
- *Oh! What a Lovely War* (1969), as Music Hall Star
- *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969), as Jean Brodie
- *Hot Millions* (1968), as Patty Terwilliger Smith
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Mrs. Wislack
- *The Honey Pot* (1967), as Sarah Watkins
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (1967), as Beatrice
- *Othello* (1965), as Desdemona
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Ann Whitefield, Portia, Epifana
- *Young Cassidy* (1965), as Nora
- *The Pumpkin Eater* (1964), as Philpot
- *The V.I.P.s* (1963), as Miss Mead
- *Go to Blazes* (1962), as Chantal
- *Nowhere to Go* (1958), as Bridget Howard
- *Child in the House* (1956), as Party Guest (uncredited)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Anna Carnot, Juliet Denise, The Girl
- *Lilli Palmer Theatre* (1955), series, as Paula Benson
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, Actor
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-260c0b6301ca.jpg) Maggie Smith — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Maggie_Smith_-_Vintage_%28trim%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity.](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-89600c13db93.jpg) Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity. — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Dame_Maggie_Smith_1973_%28Backside_of_the_vintage_press_photograph%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity.](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-00d2796104e1.jpg) Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity. — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Dame_Maggie_Smith_1973_%28front%29_%28squared%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Vintage press photo taken of Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period (prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity.](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-e117ab213188.jpg) Vintage press photo taken of Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period (prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity. — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Dame_Maggie_Smith_1973_%28front_side%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-724dbbf1ffdd.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-f4b7fa9944f3.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-3c7c0cbdfb12.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity.](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-c7e0482f0e41.jpg) Vintage press photo taken in Dame Maggie Smith in 1973, published and distributed during the free domain period prior to 1977), for the intent of publicity. — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Dame_Maggie_Smith_1973_%28front_side%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Back of the press photo of Dame Maggie Smith c1970 (late '60s/early '70s), published and distributed during the free domain period (prior to 1977, but well afte](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-c904ecfe9373.jpg) Back of the press photo of Dame Maggie Smith c1970 (late '60s/early '70s), published and distributed during the free domain period (prior to 1977, but well afte — N/A studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Maggie_Smith%27s_name%3B_reverse-side_of_the_photo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-fa0ba2f5a679.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-311200d69cc9.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Maggie Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79677/gallery-0f6b420cf997.jpg) Maggie Smith — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 4 nominated

- 2002: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Gosford Park*
- 1987: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *A Room with a View*
- 1979: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *California Suite*
- 1973: Best Actress (nominated), for *Travels with My Aunt*
- 1970: Best Actress (won), for *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie*
- 1966: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Othello*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 6 won

- 2000: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Tea with Mussolini*
- 1996: BAFTA Fellowship (won)
- 1989: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne*
- 1987: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *A Room with a View*
- 1985: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *A Private Function*
- 1970: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie*

### Golden Globes — 3 won

- 2013: Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (won), for *Downton Abbey*
- 1987: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *A Room with a View*
- 1979: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (won), for *California Suite*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 4 won

- 2016: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Downton Abbey*
- 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Downton Abbey*
- 2011: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Downton Abbey*
- 2003: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *My House in Umbria*

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 2014: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Downton Abbey*

### Other awards — 6 won, 3 nominated

- Bodley Medal 2016: Bodley Medal (won)
- Companion of Honour 2014: Companion of Honour (won)
- Society of London Theatre Special Award 2010: Society of London Theatre Special Award (won)
- Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress 2005: Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Ladies in Lavender*
- Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress 2002: Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Gosford Park*
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1990: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1990: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won), for *Lettice and Lovage*
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1980: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1970: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/maggie-smith