Remembering Maggie Smith's Incredible Life and Career in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

A young Maggie Smith in 1963.Photo: Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty

Dame Maggie Smith was born on Dec. 28, 1934, and has had an impressive and expansive career, which includes more than 60 film roles that won her Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes.Despite her endless accolades and adoration, the actress always kept a humble opinion of herself.When asked about her legacyafter being awarded the Evening Standard Icon Award for her work in theatre, Smith told the publication, “Everything’s an icon. If you have been around long enough you are an icon. A rather dusty icon, or a national treasure.”Smith diedon Sept. 27, 2024, at 89 years old. Here, look back on her impressive life and career in photos.

Dame Maggie Smith was born on Dec. 28, 1934, and has had an impressive and expansive career, which includes more than 60 film roles that won her Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes.

Despite her endless accolades and adoration, the actress always kept a humble opinion of herself.

When asked about her legacyafter being awarded the Evening Standard Icon Award for her work in theatre, Smith told the publication, “Everything’s an icon. If you have been around long enough you are an icon. A rather dusty icon, or a national treasure.”

Smith diedon Sept. 27, 2024, at 89 years old. Here, look back on her impressive life and career in photos.

01of 22Maggie Smith’s Star on the RiseStaff/Mirrorpix/GettyShe made her professional stage debut on Broadway in 1956 inNew Faces of ‘56.

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Maggie Smith’s Star on the Rise

Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty

She made her professional stage debut on Broadway in 1956 inNew Faces of ‘56.

02of 22Maggie Smith On the StageEvening Standard/Hulton Archive/GettyIn 1964, Smith starred as Desdemona in Shakespeare’sOthelloopposite Laurence Olivier at the Royal National Theatre. She reprised the role in the 1965 film adaptation, earning herself her first Oscar nomination.

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Maggie Smith On the Stage

Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty

In 1964, Smith starred as Desdemona in Shakespeare’sOthelloopposite Laurence Olivier at the Royal National Theatre. She reprised the role in the 1965 film adaptation, earning herself her first Oscar nomination.

03of 22Maggie Smith Meets The QueenArthur Sidey/Mirrorpix/GettyIn 1966, Smith metQueen ElizabethII after a performance of Othello.

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Maggie Smith Meets The Queen

Arthur Sidey/Mirrorpix/Getty

In 1966, Smith metQueen ElizabethII after a performance of Othello.

04of 22Maggie Smith and Husband Robert StephensEvening Standard/Hulton Archive/GettyIn 1967, Smith married her first husband, Robert Stephens; they divorced several years later.

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Maggie Smith and Husband Robert Stephens

In 1967, Smith married her first husband, Robert Stephens; they divorced several years later.

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Maggie Smith’s Children

06of 22Maggie Smith in Oh! What a Lovely WarMarkeson/Mirrorpix/GettyIn 1968, she looked like pure royalty while starring inOh! What a Lovely War.

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Maggie Smith in Oh! What a Lovely War

Markeson/Mirrorpix/Getty

In 1968, she looked like pure royalty while starring inOh! What a Lovely War.

07of 22Maggie Smith’s First OscarEvening Standard/GettyIn 1969, Smith starred inThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodiealongside Stephens. The performance would earn her her first Academy Award for Best Actress.

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Maggie Smith’s First Oscar

Evening Standard/Getty

In 1969, Smith starred inThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodiealongside Stephens. The performance would earn her her first Academy Award for Best Actress.

08of 22Maggie Smith and Lauren BacallRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1970, Smith got the giggles at the Tony Awards with fellow legendary actress Lauren Bacall.

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Maggie Smith and Lauren Bacall

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

In 1970, Smith got the giggles at the Tony Awards with fellow legendary actress Lauren Bacall.

09of 22Maggie Smith in Travels with My AuntMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer/GettyIn 1972, she starred inTravels with My Aunt,earning herself another Oscar nomination.

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Maggie Smith in Travels with My Aunt

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty

In 1972, she starred inTravels with My Aunt,earning herself another Oscar nomination.

10of 22Maggie Smith Wins Oscar, AgainMondadori via GettyIn 1978, she starred inCalifornia Suite, a performance that earned her another Academy Award — this time for Best Supporting Actress. She has been nominated six times.

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Maggie Smith Wins Oscar, Again

Mondadori via Getty

In 1978, she starred inCalifornia Suite, a performance that earned her another Academy Award — this time for Best Supporting Actress. She has been nominated six times.

11of 22Maggie Smith and Brooke ShieldsSaxon/IMAGES/GettyHere, she poses with Brooke Shields as she shows off her award for Best Supporting Actress.

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Maggie Smith and Brooke Shields

Saxon/IMAGES/Getty

Here, she poses with Brooke Shields as she shows off her award for Best Supporting Actress.

12of 22Maggie Smith Wins a TonyRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1990, Smith won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance inLettice and Lovage. She has been nominated for three Tonys in her career.

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Maggie Smith Wins a Tony

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

In 1990, Smith won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance inLettice and Lovage. She has been nominated for three Tonys in her career.

13of 22Maggie Smith Wins a BAFTADave Benett/GettySmith has won five BAFTA Awards in her career — four of which were for best actress. In 1993, she was honored with the BAFTA Special Award, where she joked, “If it’s possible to be in films without taking your clothes off or, indeed, killing people with machine guns, I seem to have managed to do that!”

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Maggie Smith Wins a BAFTA

Dave Benett/Getty

Smith has won five BAFTA Awards in her career — four of which were for best actress. In 1993, she was honored with the BAFTA Special Award, where she joked, “If it’s possible to be in films without taking your clothes off or, indeed, killing people with machine guns, I seem to have managed to do that!”

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Maggie Smith and Beverley Cross

Fiona Hanson/PA Images via Getty

Smith remarried, to playwright Beverley Cross, in 1975. They were together until his death in 1998.

15of 22Maggie Smith in Sister ActTouchstone/Kobal/ShutterstockIt’s not all drama for Smith, who has starred in plenty of comedies throughout her career, includingSister Act(1992) and its sequelSister Act II: Back in the Habit(1993),First Wives Club(1996) and more.

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Maggie Smith in Sister Act

Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock

It’s not all drama for Smith, who has starred in plenty of comedies throughout her career, includingSister Act(1992) and its sequelSister Act II: Back in the Habit(1993),First Wives Club(1996) and more.

16of 22Maggie Smith in Gosford ParkAlamyIn 2001, Smith was nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Awards for her performance inGosford Park.

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Maggie Smith in Gosford Park

Alamy

In 2001, Smith was nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Awards for her performance inGosford Park.

17of 22Maggie Smith in The Breath of LifeIan West/PA Images via GettyIn 2002, Smith returned to the stage with pal (and fellow Dame) Judi Dench forThe Breath of Life.

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Maggie Smith in The Breath of Life

Ian West/PA Images via Getty

In 2002, Smith returned to the stage with pal (and fellow Dame) Judi Dench forThe Breath of Life.

18of 22Maggie Smith in Ladies in LavenderTim Graham Photo Library via GettyIn 2004, Dames Dench and Smith met withQueen Elizabethonce again, this time at a screening of their latest collaboration,Ladies in Lavender.

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Maggie Smith in Ladies in Lavender

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

In 2004, Dames Dench and Smith met withQueen Elizabethonce again, this time at a screening of their latest collaboration,Ladies in Lavender.

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Maggie Smith Is Made a Dame

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

20of 22Maggie Smith in Harry PotterDame Maggie Smith in theHarry Potterseries .In 2001, Smith began her tenure as Professor McGonagall in theHarry Potterfilms, and continued to play the role throughout the franchise’s eight installments.

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Maggie Smith in Harry Potter

Dame Maggie Smith in theHarry Potterseries .

In 2001, Smith began her tenure as Professor McGonagall in theHarry Potterfilms, and continued to play the role throughout the franchise’s eight installments.

21of 22Maggie Smith’s Health ScareIndigo/GettyIn 2007, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer, acting through treatment while filmingHarry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.In 2009, after two years of treatment, the actress recovered, and though she toldThe Timesthat she was “fearful of the amount of energy one needs to be in a film or play,” she continued to act.She starred inThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotelin 2011,The Lady in the Vanin 2015, and voiced characters inGnomeo & JulietandSherlock Gnomes.

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Maggie Smith’s Health Scare

Indigo/Getty

In 2007, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer, acting through treatment while filmingHarry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.In 2009, after two years of treatment, the actress recovered, and though she toldThe Timesthat she was “fearful of the amount of energy one needs to be in a film or play,” she continued to act.

She starred inThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotelin 2011,The Lady in the Vanin 2015, and voiced characters inGnomeo & JulietandSherlock Gnomes.

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Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey

BBC

In fact, she went on to play the role of The Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley, inDownton Abbey, and continued to play her until 2015.

Her performance earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2013 and two more for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series.

She reprised her role in the 2022Downton Abbeyfilm,A New Era.

Smith’s family shared the news that the star had died on Sept. 27, 2024, at 89 years old.

source: people.com