About our Dame Maggie Smith news
Latest news on Dame Maggie Smith, the British actress known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, who died aged 89 on 27 September 2024.
Smith first gained recognition in the 1950s in theatre, becoming a leading figure at the National Theatre in London. Her film career took off with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), for which she won her first Academy Award. She earned a second Oscar for her role in California Suite (1978).
Smith is perhaps best known to modern audiences for her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey, a role that won her several Emmy Awards.
Throughout her career, she earned numerous awards, including Tony, Olivier, and Golden Globe accolades. Knighted as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990, Smith’s career exemplified dedication to her craft. Her legacy endures as one of the most accomplished actresses of her generation.