Known for her role in renowned movie series Harry Potter as Professor McGonagall, a strict but loving teacher at Hogwarts, English actress Dame Margaret “Maggie” Natalie Smith is a worldwide legend unfortunately lost on September 27. She lived a full life of 89 years where she touched many through her iconic roles.
Maggie Smith was born December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England where she was raised by her parents Margaret and Nathaniel Smith, alongside her twin older brothers, Ian and Alistair. Maggie got into acting when she dropped out of Oxford High School to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse. She had her first performance at the Oxford University Dramatics Society as Viola in Twelfth Night. Maggie made her film debut in 1956 with a side role as a party guest in Child in the House according to the IMDb.
Many credit Maggie’s breakout role to be Othello where she played Desdemona, the love interest of main character, Othello. While some say it was in Nowhere to Go, where she received her first British Academy Award nomination for her character, Bridget Howard. Britannica states Maggie went on to play in over 60 films, some of her most popular being Downton Abbey, Sister Act, Hook, Nothing like a Dame, and Death on the Nile. Most of her acting is in comedies or dramas where she is known for her quick wit.
Maggie had an impressive list of accomplishments including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmys, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. She is one of few actors to ever get the infamous “triple crown”, where an actor wins an Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award, the highest and most respected achievements any actor could hope for.Because of this incredible work she was made a “Dame” by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990. The King and Queen of England both paid their respects for Maggie while calling her a “national treasure,” so says the New York Times.
In her personal life, Maggie has been married twice. Once to Robert Stephens, whom she divorced, followed by her long term husband Beverley Cross, until his death in 1998. She had two sons with Stephens, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens. Both followed in their moms footsteps as actors. Dame Maggie often kept to herself along with a few close friends. Her best friend, Dame Judi Dench, was at a “loss of words” during an interview with BBC when she was asked to talk about her relationship with Maggie. The two were friends for over 60 years and met when both of them were just getting started in their careers as students at the Old Vic Theatre in London. They grew their careers together.
Maggie will also be missed by the numerous people she has performed with. The cast of Maggie’s famed series, Harry Potter, have expressed how extraordinary she was to work with. Daniel Radecliffe, Harry Potter himself said, “The word legend is overused, but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie,” during an interview with the New York Times.
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, you were truly an outstanding actress and person. Your memory will live on through all sixty of your characters.
