What is Maggie Smith most famous for?

Last Modified Dec 14, 2024 02:36 EST
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith (Source: Instagram)


Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, professionally recognized as Maggie Smith is majorly recognized for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies. The franchise was one of the biggest projects for the actress; she was recommended by J. K. Rowling, who wrote all the novels in the franchise.


Born on 28 December 1934, Maggie Smith started her career in 1952, at the age of 17 being featured in various theatre projects like Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse, Cinderella, and Rookery Nook, among many others. Among the various honors that Maggie Smith has received, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970 and later promoted to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1990. She was also appointed as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour back in 2014. Maggie Smith passed away on 27 September 2024 at the age of 89.


Maggie Smith’s Most Famous Role


Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith (Source: Instagram)


Among the various roles that we have seen Maggie Smith play in her 56-year career, the most famous one would be her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. Her first appearance in the franchise was seen during her interaction with Richard Harris at the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Her final appearance in the series was during the battle at Hogwarts in the movie “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part-2” using the spell “Piertotum Locomotor”, to protect Hogwarts.


Maggie Smith’s Movies


Over the years, Maggie Smith has been seen in various Hollywood movies. From her first movie “Child in the House” back in 1956 to her last movie “The Miracle Club” in 2023, the below table specifies all her movies and the roles she played in them.


Sr noMovie NamesRolesYear released
1Child in the HouseParty Guest1956
2Nowhere to GoBridget Howard1958
3Go to BlazesChantal1962
4The V.I.P.sMiss Mead1963
5The Pumpkin EaterPhilpot1964
6Young CassidyNora1965
7OthelloDesdemona1965
8The Honey PotSarah Watkins1967
9Hot MillionsPatty Terwilliger Smith1968
10The Prime of Miss Jean BrodieJean Brodie1969
11Oh! What a Lovely WarMusic Hall Star1969
12Travels with My AuntAunt Augusta Bertram1972
13Love and Pain and the Whole Damn ThingLila Fisher1973
14Murder by DeathDora Charleston1976
15Death on the NileMiss Bowers1978
16California SuiteDiana Barrie1978
17QuartetLois Heidler1981
18Clash of the TitansThetis1981
19Evil Under the SunDaphne Castle1982
20The MissionaryLady Isabel Ames1982
21Better Late Than NeverMiss Anderson1983
22Lily in LoveLily Wynn1984
23A Private FunctionJoyce Chilvers1984
24A Room with a ViewCharlotte Bartlett1985
25The Lonely Passion of Judith HearneJudith Hearne1987
26Romeo.JulietRosaline1990
27HookWendy Darling1991
28Sister ActMother Superior1992
29The Secret GardenMrs. Medlock1993
30Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitMother Superior1993
31Richard IIICecily Neville1995
32The First Wives ClubGunilla Garson Goldberg1996
33Washington SquareAunt Lavinia Penniman1997
34Curtain CallLily Marlowe1999
35Tea with MussoliniLady Hester Random1999
36The Last SeptemberLady Myra Naylor1999
37Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneMinerva McGonagall2001
38Gosford ParkConstance Trentham2001
39Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodCaro Eliza Bennett2002
40Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsMinerva McGonagall2002
41Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban2004
42Ladies in LavenderJanet Widdington2004
43Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireMinerva McGonagall2005
44Keeping MumGrace Hawkins2005
45Becoming JaneLady Gresham2007
46Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixMinerva McGonagall2007
47Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince2009
48From Time to TimeLinnet Oldknow2009
49Nanny McPhee and the Big BangAgatha Docherty2010
50Gnomeo & JulietLady Blueberry2011
51Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2Minerva McGonagall2011
52The Best Exotic Marigold HotelMuriel Donnelly2012
53QuartetJean Horton2012
54My Old LadyMathilde Girard2014
55The Second Best Exotic Marigold HotelMuriel Donnelly2015
56The Lady in the VanMiss Shepherd2015
57Sherlock GnomesLady Bluebury2018
58Nothing Like a DameHerself2018
59Downton AbbeyViolet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham2019
60A Boy Called ChristmasAunt Ruth2021
61Downton Abbey: A New EraViolet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham2022
62The Miracle ClubLily Fox2023


Maggie Smith’s Awards and Accolades


Throughout her long career, Maggie Smith has been honored with various awards and accolades. She has earned a total of two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. With these awards, Smith was recognized to be one of the few actors in the industry to have earned the Triple Crown of Acting. Apart from the above-mentioned awards, the actress is also honored with 3 Golden Globe Awards and 5 BAFTA Awards in her career.


Read more about Maggie Smith



When did Maggie Smith pass away?


FAQ's On Maggie Smith

 A. Maggie Smith was born on December 28, 1934. 

 A. Maggie Smith was born in the city of Ilford, Essex, England.

 A. Maggie Smith passed away at the age of 89 on September 27, 2024.

A. Yes, Maggie Smith leaves behind two kids. They go by the names Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens.

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