Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, more famously known as Maggie Smith, was a British actress whose career spanned over seven decades.
Born on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England, Maggie Smith would grow into one of the most influential actors in theater and film due to her variability and commanding presence on stage, which captured hearts for so many generations and audiences. Unfortunately, upon her recent death, a great loss hit the movie industry in the world of entertainment.
Smith has left behind a legacy that has been strongly carved into the history of entertainment.
Maggie Smith was born and raised in Oxford. When she was younger, her love for the arts led her to the Oxford Playhouse School. She made her professional debut in 1952 at the Oxford Playhouse in “Twelfth Night.”
That initiated her career on the British stage.
Her rise in London’s West End soon followed, the main credits at the Royal National Theater under the watch of Lawrence Olivier.
Her film acting had started during the late 1950s, but it was in the 1960s when she acquired household status, her Oscar-winning performance as Jean Brodie in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” particularly. She received the Academy Award for Best Actress with this movie adaptation of the book by Muriel Spark.
She was awarded a few Olivier Awards for service to theater, which included “Private Lives” and “Three Tall Women.”
For young people, Maggie Smith probably is primarily known through the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series-a strict yet caring professor at Hogwarts School that hundreds of millions around the world loved.
Later in life, some of her most remembered roles included that of the Dowager Countess of Grantham in the popular TV series Downton Abbey. Sharp quickness and one-liners had quickly made the character a fan favorite, and for this role she won three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Her performances brought her numerous prizes and accolades. She was appointed an OBE Commander in 1970, then made a Dame Commander in 1990 for services to drama.
In 2014, one of the most important honors possible in the United Kingdom came her way: the prestigious Companion of Honour granted only to those who make major contributions to the arts, science, medicine, or government.
Maggie Smith never actually retired from acting, but tended to be extremely particular when choosing work.
She died on September 27, and with her death, a generation of British theater and cinema came to an end. Tributes flowed in from all parts of the world as actors, directors, and fans spoke words concerning her talent and brilliance that she had brought into the arts.
Her death has left behind an intimidating legacy, not many in the human world can relate to. She surely deserves to be listed among the greatest actresses of her time.
The legacy of Smith will always be remembered, underlining one important fact: she is one of the most loved and successful actors of her time.