Maggie Smith was one of Britain's most recognisable actresses, known for her wit and comedic roles and with a career spanning over seven decades, Born on 28th December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, she made her professional debut at The Oxford Playhouse and along with her life long friend Judi Dench and established herself as one of the most significant British theatre performers, working for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Maggie Smith won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1969s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and in 1979 she won again, for Best Supporting Actress in "California Suite" co starring with Michael Caine. She created memorable performances ranging from Gosford Park, to playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in The Harry Potter series. Death on the Nile, Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and in Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van. In recent years, she received newfound international fame for her role as Violet Crawley in the British period drama Downton Abbey for which she earned three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Maggie Smith was appointed a CBE in 1970 and was made a Dame (DBE) in the 1990 New Year Honours, for services to the performing arts. Show less