Maggie Smith

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December 28, 1934

Margaret Natalie Smith

Beverley Cross (23 August 1975 - 20 March 1998) (his death)

Robert Stephens (29 June 1967 - 6 May 1974) (divorced) 2 children

Actress

2012 Quartet

2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

2011 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

2010-2011 Downton Abbey (TV series)

2011 Gnomeo & Juliet (voice)

2010 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

2009 From Time to Time

2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2007 Capturing Mary (TV movie)

2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007 Becoming Jane

2005 Keeping Mum

2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2004 Ladies in Lavender.

2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2003 My House in Umbria (TV movie)

2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2001 Gosford Park

2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

1999 David Copperfield (TV movie)

1999 All the King's Men (TV movie)

1999 The Last September

1999 Tea with Mussolini

1998 Curtain Call

1997 Washington Square

1996 The First Wives Club

1995 Richard III

1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

1993 The Secret Garden

1993 Suddenly, Last Summer (TV movie)

1992 Sister Act

1992 Screen Two (TV series)

1991 Hook

1990 Romeo.Juliet (voice)

1988 Talking Heads (TV mini-series)

1987 The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

1985 A Room with a View

1984 A Private Function

1984 Lily in Love

1983 All for Love (TV series)

1983 Better Late Than Never

1982 The Missionary

1982 Evil Under the Sun

1981 Clash of the Titans

1981 Quartet

1978 California Suite

1978 Death on the Nile

1976 Murder by Death

1973 Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing

1972 Travels with My Aunt

1968-1972 BBC Play of the Month (TV series)

1969 Oh! What a Lovely War

1969 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

1968 Hot Millions

1968 ITV Playhouse (TV series)

1967 The Honey Pot

1967 Much Ado About Nothing (TV movie)

1957-1966 ITV Play of the Week (TV series)

1965 Othello

1965 Young Cassidy

1964 The Pumpkin Eater

1963 The V.I.P.s

1962 Go to Blazes

1958-1960 Armchair Theatre (TV series)

1958 Nowhere to Go

1957 Kraft Television Theatre (TV series)

1956 Lilli Palmer Theatre (TV series)

1956 The Adventures of Aggie (TV series)

1956 Child in the House (uncredited)

1955 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series)

Appearances

2006 Francesco's Italy: Top to Toe (TV mini-series documentary)

2006 Preparing for the Yule Ball (video documentary short)

2005 Planet Voice (TV series)

2005 Inside 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' (TV documentary)

2002-2005 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)

2005 The Charlie Rose Show (TV series)

2004 Ronnie Barker: A BAFTA Tribute (TV movie)

2003 Interviews with Professors & More (video documentary short)

2002 The 74th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

2002 The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)

2002 Judi Dench: A BAFTA Tribute (TV documentary)

2001 The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series)

2001 The Orange British Academy Film Awards (TV special)

2000 The Orange British Academy Film Awards (TV special)

1998 Reputations (TV series documentary)

1997 Agnieszka Holland on the Set (TV short)

1997 On the Set of 'Washington Square' (TV movie)

1990 The 44th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)

1982 The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' (TV documentary short)

1979 The 51st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

1977 Dinah! (TV series)

1974-1975 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)

1973 Parkinson (TV series)

1971 The 43rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

1970 The 24th Annual Tony Awards

1965 Sean O'Casey: The Spirit of Ireland (short)

1964 Variety Club Awards (TV documentary)

1955-1956 Double Your Money (TV series)

Academy Awards

2002 Nominated Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: Gosford Park (2001).

1987 Nominated Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: A Room with a View (1985).

1979 Won Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: California Suite (1978).

1973 Nominated Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role for: Travels with My Aunt (1972).

1970 Won Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role for: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969).

1966 Nominated Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: Othello (1965).

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

2002 Nominated Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress for: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001).

1982 Nominated Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress for: Clash of the Titans (1981).

BAFTA Awards

2002 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for: Gosford Park (2001).

2000 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for: Tea with Mussolini (1999).

2000 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Actress for: David Copperfield (1999) (TV).

1996 Won Academy Fellowship

1994 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: The Secret Garden (1993).

1993 Won Special Award BAFTA Special Lifetime Achievement Award.

1993 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Actress for: "Screen Two" (1985). For episode "Memento Mori (#8.14)".

1989 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987).

1989 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Actress for: "Talking Heads" (1987). For episode "Bed Among The Lentils".

1987 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: A Room with a View (1985).

1985 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: A Private Function (1984).

1984 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Actress for: "All for Love" (1982). For episode "Mrs. Silly (#2.3)".

1982 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: Quartet (1981).

1980 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: California Suite (1978).

1979 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Supporting Actress for: Death on the Nile (1978).

1970 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actress for: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969).

1966 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best British Actress for: Young Cassidy (1965).

1959 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Most Promising Newcomer to Film for: Nowhere to Go (1958).

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2002 Won Critics Choice Award Best Acting Ensemble for: Gosford Park (2001).

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2002 Nominated CFCA Award Best Supporting Actress for: Gosford Park (2001).

Chlotrudis Awards

1998 Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Supporting Actress for: Washington Square (1997).

Emmy Awards

2010 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for: Capturing Mary (2007) (TV).

2003 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for: My House in Umbria (2003) (TV).

2000 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for: David Copperfield (1999) (TV).

1993 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for: Suddenly, Last Summer (1993) (TV).

European Film Awards

2005 Nominated Audience Award Best Actress for: Ladies in Lavender. (2004). Shared with: Judi Dench

2002 Nominated Audience Award Best Actress for: Gosford Park (2001).

Evening Standard British Film Awards

1989 Won Evening Standard British Film Award Best Actress for: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987). Tied with Billie Whitelaw for The Dressmaker (1988).

1982 Won Evening Standard British Film Award Best Actress for: Quartet (1981).

1980 Won Evening Standard British Film Award Best Actress for: California Suite (1978).

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2002 Won FFCC Award Best Ensemble Cast for: Gosford Park (2001).

Golden Globes

2004 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for: My House in Umbria (2003) (TV).

2002 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: Gosford Park (2001).

1987 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: A Room with a View (1985).

1979 Won Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for: California Suite (1978).

1973 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for: Travels with My Aunt (1972).

1970 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama for: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969).

1966 Nominated Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama for: Othello (1965).

1964 Nominated Golden Globe Most Promising Newcomer - Female for: The V.I.P.s (1963).

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2002 Won KCFCC Award Best Supporting Actress for: Gosford Park (2001). Tied with Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind (2001).

1987 Won KCFCC Award Best Supporting Actress for: A Room with a View (1985).

1979 Won KCFCC Award Best Supporting Actress for: California Suite (1978).

Laurel Awards

1970 Nominated Golden Laurel Female Dramatic Performance for: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). 4th place.

1966 Nominated Golden Laurel New Faces, Female 11th place.

National Board of Review, USA

1996 Won NBR Award Best Acting by an Ensemble for: The First Wives Club (1996).

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2002 Won OFCS Award Best Ensemble for: Gosford Park (2001).

2002 Nominated OFCS Award Best Supporting Actress for: Gosford Park (2001).

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2003 Nominated PFCS Award Best Acting Ensemble for: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).

2002 Nominated PFCS Award Best Acting Ensemble for: Gosford Park (2001).

2002 Nominated PFCS Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role for: Gosford Park (2001).

Royal Television Society, UK

1989 Won RTS Television Award Best Actor - Female for: "Talking Heads" (1987). For episode "Bed Amongst The Lentils".

Satellite Awards

2004 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television for: My House in Umbria (2003) (TV).

2002 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical for: Gosford Park (2001).

2002 Special Achievement Award Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble for: Gosford Park (2001).

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2002 Won Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture for: Gosford Park (2001).

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won SEFCA Award Best Supporting Actress for: Gosford Park (2001). Tied with Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Marisa Tomei for In the Bedroom (2001).

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One of the most beloved comediennes of London's West End theaters, Dame Maggie Smith never managed to find a niche in cinema truly befitting her talents. Her early roles were technically interesting and she seemed to be molding herslef effectively as a popular type: the independent-minded, witty, self-possessed single English lady, probably much sexier than she at first appears. This was best incarnated in the music hall singer she played in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969).

On the strength of this work, she landed two plum starring roles. She was the lead in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), and the carpe diem modernism of the virginal girls' school teacher suited the tradition-breaking morality of the era. Yet, strangely, Smith does not project what she might have about this fascinating character: her own desperation at the prospect of being permanently bypassed by Eros. An Academy Award for Best Actress was her reward. The second lead role was in the Graham Greene adaptation Travels with My Aunt (1972), displacing an unhappy Katharine Hepburn, which won her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Smith remained adept at the brilliantly executed cameo, as in Neil Simon's California Suite (1978), another Oscar-winning part, this time for Best Supporting Actress. Otherwise she has been part of the British brigade's usual suspects, playing well, but with limited interest, in productions ranging from stagy Agatha Christie films such as Death on the Nile (1978) to the Harry Potter films. Sadly, Smith's best screen performance was for Alan Bennett's seldom-seen Talking Heads (1987), a TV anthology of monologues; her richly textured performance as a bitter woman hints at the even more illustrious film career that has eluded her.

"One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, and one's still acting."

In 2008, it was reported that she was fighting breast cancer. She has had a tumor removed and undergone chemotherapy.