

Person
Maggie Smith
In short · Worked for eight decades — 78 credits, 5 Golden Globe Award wins.
Remembered for
Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.
Recent & in release
- Award win
Golden Globe Awards — Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
- Award win
Golden Globe Awards — Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
- Award win
Golden Globe Awards — Golden Globe — Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Award win
Academy Awards — Oscar — Actress in a Supporting Role
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Biography
One of the world's most famous and distinguished actresses, Dame Maggie Smith was born Margaret Natalie Smith in Essex. Her Scottish mother, Margaret (Hutton), worked as a secretary, and her English father, Nathaniel Smith, was a teacher at Oxford University. Smith has been married twice: to actor Robert Stephens and to playwright Beverley Cross. Her marriage to Stephens ended in divorce in 1974. She was married to Cross until his death in 1998. She had two sons with Stephens, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens who are also actors.Maggie Smith's career began at the Oxford Playhouse in the 1950s. She made her film debut in 1956 as one of the party guests in Child in the House (1956). She has since performed in over sixty films and television series with some of the most prominent actors and actresses in the world. These include: Othello (1965) with Laurence Olivier, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), California Suite (1978) with Michael Caine and Jane Fonda, A Room with a View (1986), Richard III (1995) with Ian McKellen and Jim Broadbent, Franco Zeffirelli's Tea with Mussolini (1999) with Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Cher and Gosford Park (2001) with Kristin Scott Thomas and Clive Owen, directed by Robert Altman. Maggie Smith has also been nominated for an Oscar six times and won twice, for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978).Smith later appeared in the very successful 'Harry Potter' franchise as the formidable Professor McGonagall as well as in Julian Fellowes' ITV drama series, Downton Abbey (2010) (2010-2011) as the Dowager Countess of Grantham.
Family & relationships
- Spouse
- Parents
- Margaret Hutton
- Children
- Other
- Ian Smith(Sibling)
Filmography · 74 of 74
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Actor
53 credits
The Miracle Club(2023)
Lily Fox
Film
A Boy Called Christmas(2021)
Aunt Ruth
Film
The Lady in the Van(2015)
Miss Shepherd
Film
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2015)
Muriel Donnelly
Film
My Old Lady(2014)
Mathilde Girard
Film
Quartet(2012)
Jean Horton
Film
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2011)
Muriel Donnelly
Film
Gnomeo & Juliet(2011)
Lady Bluebury
Film
From Time to Time(2009)
Mrs Oldknow
Film
Capturing Mary(2007)
Mary Gilbert
Film
Becoming Jane(2007)
Lady Gresham
Film
Keeping Mum(2005)
Grace Hawkins
Film
Ladies in Lavender(2004)
Janet
Film
My House in Umbria(2003)
Mrs. Delahunty
Film
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood(2002)
Caro
Film
Gosford Park(2001)
Constance Trentham
Film
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone(2001)
Professor McGonagall
Film
Tea with Mussolini(1999)
Lady Hester
Film
All the King's Men(1999)
Queen Alexandra
Film
The Last September(1999)
Lady Myra
Film
David Copperfield(1999)
Betsey Trotwood
TV
It All Came True(1998)
Lily Marlowe
Film
Washington Square(1997)
Aunt Lavinia Penniman
Film
The First Wives Club(1996)
Gunilla Garson Goldberg
Film
Richard III(1995)
Duchess of York
Film
The Secret Garden(1993)
Mrs. Medlock
Film
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit(1993)
Mother Superior
Film
Sister Act(1992)
Mother Superior
Film
Hook(1991)
Granny Wendy
Film
Romeo.Juliet(1990)
Rosaline
Film
Editor
21 credits
Downton Abbey: A New Era(2022)
Credits
Film
Downton Abbey(2019)
Credits
Film
Sherlock Gnomes(2018)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2(2011)
Credits
Film
Downton Abbey(2010)
Credits
TV
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang(2010)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(2009)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(2007)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire(2005)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(2004)
Credits
Film
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(2002)
Credits
Film
Death on the Nile(1978)
Credits
Film
Great Performances(1971)
Credits
TVP
Oh! What a Lovely War(1969)
Credits
Film
ITV Playhouse(1967)
Credits
TV
Othello(1965)
Credits
Film
Armchair Theatre(1956)
Credits
TV
Child in the House(1956)
Credits
Film
ITV Play of the Week(1955)
Credits
TVITV Television Playhouse(1955)
Credits
TV
Lilli Palmer Theatre(1955)
Credits
TV
Awards & Nominations
5 wins · 4 nominationsGolden Globe Awards
- Won2013Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
- Won1987Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
- Won1979Golden Globe — Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Academy Awards
- Nom2001Oscar — Actress in a Supporting Role
- Nom1986Oscar — Actress in a Supporting Role
- Won1978Oscar — Actress in a Supporting Role
- Nom1972Oscar — Actress in a Leading Role
- Won1969Oscar — Actress in a Leading Role
- Nom1965Oscar — Actress in a Supporting Role
Originals
Streaming originals this person worked on.
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Additional credits4Show
Non-headline appearances — talk-show, awards-show, panel, and archive-footage credits, kept separate from the main filmography.
- Tea With the DamesSelf · 2018
- Rod Taylor: Pulling No PunchesSelf · 2016
- Francesco's Italy: Top to ToeSelf · 2006
- That's HollywoodSelf · 1976
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