Maggie Smith won two Oscars - once in 1969 and the second time in 1978.
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, popularly known as Maggie Smith was a British actress known for her work in numerous Hollywood movies since 1956. Maggie, who began her career in acting through theater, left her education at the age of 16 to pursue her passion. She joined the Oxford Playhouse where she learnt acting and also began performing on stage.
As of 2024, the late actress Maggie Smith had worked on over 60 TV shows and films. Out of them, her most memorable projects are the Harry Potter movies, Downton Abbey, California Suites, Tea with Mussolini, Murder by Death, A Room with a View, and many more. Apart from Oscars, Smith has received numerous other accolades, including five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, and more.
What was Maggie Smith's first Oscar for?
Maggie Smith portrayed the lead role of Jean Brodie in the 1969 British drama The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The film was directed by Ronald Neame and was based on a screenplay written by Jay Presson Allen, which was in turn based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Muriel Spark.
The film's plot revolves around Jean Brodie (played by Smith) a charismatic teacher and her evolving relationship with a group of six female students, over 15 years. Maggie Smith received immense recognition for her performance in the film. The British actress went on to win her first Academy Award (42nd Oscars, 1969) for Best Actress. Despite this, the Ronald Neame directorial tanked at the box office.
What was Maggie Smith’s second Oscar for?
Maggie Smith won her second Oscar (51st Academy Awards, 1978) for Best Supporting Actress in California Suite. Released in 1978, California Suite is an American anthology comedy film directed by Herbert Ross. The film’s screenplay was done by Neil Simmons, based on a 1976 play. The film in which Smith played the role of Diana Barrie is about the dilemmas of guests staying in a suite in a luxury hotel.
For California Suite, Maggie Smith not only won an Oscar but also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
List of Maggie Smith’s Oscar Nominations
Apart from winning two Academy Awards, Maggie Smith was also nominated for various Oscar awards throughout her career. The list of all the nominations is as follows:
38th Academy Awards, 1965 - Best Supporting Actress for Othello
45th Academy Awards, 1972 - Best Actress for Travels with My Aunt
59th Academy Awards, 1986 - Best Supporting Actress for A Room with a View
74th Academy Awards, 2001 - Best Supporting Actress for Gosford Park
FAQs about Maggie Smith
A. Maggie Smith is called the Dame because she was knighted Dame Commander in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth.
A. Maggie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex, England.
A. Maggie Smith passed away on 27 September 2024 at the age of 89.
