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DameMaggie Smith was a British actress who worked in theatre, television and film. She made her professional theatre debut in 1956 playing Viola inWilliam Shakespeare'sTwelfth Night at theOxford Playhouse. She made herBroadway debut in musical revueNew Faces of 1956 (1956). Smith excelled in both comedy and drama performing in various works of Shakespeare,Anton Chekhov,Noël Coward,Edward Albee andTom Stoppard. She received threeTony Award nominations forPrivate Lives (1975) andNight and Day (1980) before winning in 1990 forLettice and Lovage.[1]
Smith was also known for her film roles and started acting in films in the late 1950s before gaining her breakthrough film role inOthello (1965) in which she acted alongsideLaurence Olivier andMichael Gambon. She won her firstAcademy Award for her performance inThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). She received her second win for her role as anOscar loser inNeil Simon'sCalifornia Suite (1978). Other notable roles includeTravels with My Aunt (1972),Death on the Nile (1978),A Room with a View (1986),Richard III (1995),Gosford Park (2001) andQuartet (2012). Smith also starred in the commercially successful filmsHook (1991),Sister Act (1992),The Secret Garden (1993) andThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) andits sequel. Additionally, she gained worldwide attention and acclaim for her role asMinerva McGonagall in theHarry Potter film series (2001–2011).[2]
Smith was also known for her roles on television appearing in various programmes including,BBC Sunday Night Theatre,Theatre Royal,Play of the Week,Armchair Theatre,Play of the Month andScreen Two. She also guest starred inThe Carol Burnett Show. Smith receivedPrimetime Emmy Award nominations for her work inSuddenly, Last Summer (1992),David Copperfield (1999) andCapturing Mary (2010). Smith won forMy House in Umbria (2003). Smith gained international acclaim for her performance inDownton Abbey (2010–2015) as theViolet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. She received fivePrimetime Emmy Award nominations winning three times.[3]
Source:Turner Classic Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Performer | Episode: "The Makepeace Story #3: Family Business" |
| 1956 | Theatre Royal | Paula Benson | Episode: "Death Under the City" |
| The Adventures of Aggie | Fiona Frobisher-Smith | Episode: "Cobalt Blue" | |
| 1957 | Sing for Your Supper | Ann Carter | Television film |
| Kraft Television Theatre | Performer | Episode: "Night of the Plague" | |
| ITV Play of the Week | Various roles | 6 episodes: 1957–1960 | |
| On Stage – London | Performer | Episode: "Episode #1.3" | |
| 1958 | Armchair Theatre | Julie, The Girl, Anna Carnot | 3 episodes: 1958–1960 |
| 1959 | ITV Television Playhouse | Doto, Elaine | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | ITV Play of the Week | Victoria | Episode: "Home and Beauty" |
| 1967 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | Television film |
| 1968 | Play of the Month | Ann Whitefield | Episode: "Man and Superman" |
| ITV Playhouse | Mrs Wislack | Episode: "On Approval" | |
| 1972 | Play of the Month | Portia | Episode: "The Merchant of Venice" |
| Epifania | Episode: "The Millionairess" | ||
| 1974–75 | The Carol Burnett Show | Various roles | American TV debut; 3 episodes |
| 1983 | All for Love | Mrs Silly | Episode: "Mrs Silly" |
| 1988 | Talking Heads | Susan | Episode: "A Bed Among the Lentils" |
| 1992 | Screen Two | Mrs Mabel Pettigrew | Episode: "Memento Mori" |
| 1993 | Great Performances | Violet Venable | Episode: "Suddenly, Last Summer" |
| 1999 | All the King's Men | Queen Alexandra | Television film,BBC |
| David Copperfield | Betsey Trotwood | Miniseries – 2 episodes | |
| 2003 | My House in Umbria | Emily Delahunty | Television film,HBO |
| 2007 | Capturing Mary | Mary Gilbert | |
| 2010–15 | Downton Abbey | Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham | Series – 52 episodes |
| 2014 | National Theatre Live: 50 Years On Stage | Mrs Sullen | Television special,PBS |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery | Minerva McGonagall | Voice |