Maggie Smith
| Maggie Smith | |
|---|---|
 Maggie Smith, 2007 |
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| Born | Margaret Natalie Smith 28 December 1934 Ilford Borough, Essex, now London, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Spouse | Robert Stephens (1967-1974; divorced) Beverley Cross (1975-1998; widowed) |
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith Cross, DBE (born 28 December 1934), better known as Maggie Smith, is an English film, stage, and television actress who made her stage debut in 1952 and is still performing after 58 years. She has won numerous awards for acting, including five BAFTA Awards, two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Emmy Award and a Tony Award.
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Early life
Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, then Essex now London, the daughter of Margaret (née Hutton), a Glasgow-born secretary, and Nathaniel Smith, a Newcastle upon Tyne-born public health pathologist who worked at Oxford University.[1][2][3][4][5] She has older twin brothers, Alistair and Ian. Smith studied at Oxford High School.
Career
Smith has had an extensive career both on screen and in live theatre, and is known as one of Britain's pre-eminent actresses. She began her career at the Oxford Playhouse with Frank Shelley and made her first film in 1956. She became a fixture at the Royal National Theatre in the 1960s, most notably for playing Desdemona in Othello opposite Laurence Olivier and winning her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the 1965 film version.
In 1969 she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as an unorthodox Scottish schoolteacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, a role originally created on stage by Vanessa Redgrave in 1966 in London. (Zoe Caldwell won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play when she created the role in New York.) Smith was also awarded the 1978 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the brittle actress Diana Barry in California Suite, acting opposite Michael Caine. Afterwards, on hearing that Michael Palin was about to embark on a film (The Missionary) with Smith, Caine is supposed to have humorously telephoned Palin, warning him that she would steal the film. She also starred with Palin in the black comedy A Private Function in 1984.
Smith appeared in Sister Act in 1992 and had a major role in the 1999 film Tea With Mussolini, where she appeared as the formidable Lady Hester. Indeed, many of her more mature roles have centred on what Smith refers to as her "gallery of grotesques", playing waspish, sarcastic or plain rude characters. Recent examples of this would include the judgmental sister in Ladies in Lavender and the cantankerous snob Constance, Countess of Trentham in Gosford Park, for which she received another Oscar nomination.
Other notable roles include the querulous Charlotte Bartlett in the Merchant-Ivory production of A Room with a View, a vivid supporting turn as the aged Duchess of York in Ian McKellen's film of Richard III, and a little known but powerful performance as Lila Fisher in the 1973 film Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing with Timothy Bottoms. Due to the international success of the Harry Potter movies, she is now widely known for playing the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall, opposite Daniel Radcliffe, with whom she'd previously worked in the 1999 BBC television adaptation of David Copperfield, playing Betsie Trottwood. She also plays an older Wendy in the Peter Pan movie, Hook and Mrs. Medlock in The Secret Garden.
She appeared in numerous productions at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, to acclaim from 1976 through to 1980. These roles included Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, Virginia Woolf in Virginia, and countless lead roles with long-time Stratford icon Brian Bedford including the Noël Coward comedy Private Lives.
On stage, her many roles have included the title character in the stage production of Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van and starring as Amanda in a revival of Private Lives. She won a Tony Award in 1990 for Best Actress in a Play for Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage, in which she starred as an eccentric tour guide in an English stately home. More recently, she appeared in Edward Albee's The Lady from Dubuque at Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2007. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970, and was raised to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1990.
Personal life
Smith has been married twice. She married Robert Stephens on 29 June 1967 at the Greenwich Register Office. The couple had two sons: actors Chris Larkin (born in 1967) and Toby Stephens (born in 1969).[4] They divorced on 6 May 1974.[4] Smith is a grandmother via both her sons.[6][7]
She married playwright Beverley Cross on 23 August 1975 at the Guildford Register Office, and the marriage ended with his death on 20 March 1998.
Maggie Smith was made a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970, while she was still married to Stephens. She was married to Cross when the Queen made her a Dame in 1990.
Smith was a close friend of actor Sir Rex Harrison and spoke at his New York memorial service in 1990. Smith was also close to Laurence Olivier and his wife Joan Plowright. She attended Olivier's memorial service in 1989.
In 2007 the Sunday Telegraph's Mandrake diary disclosed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was subsequently reported to have made a full recovery.[8]
Filmography
Television and cinema
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Nowhere to Go | Bridget Howard | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer |
| 1962 | Go to Blazes | Chantal | |
| 1963 | The V.I.P.s | Miss Mead | Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female |
| 1964 | The Pumpkin Eater | Philpot | |
| 1965 | Othello | Desdemona | Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |
| Young Cassidy | Nora | Nominated – BAFTA Award | |
| 1967 | The Honey Pot | Sarah Watkins | |
| 1968 | Hot Millions | Patty Terwilliger Smith | |
| 1969 | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie | Jean Brodie | Academy Award for Best Actress BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |
| Oh! What a Lovely War | Music Hall Star | ||
| 1972 | Travels with My Aunt | Aunt Augusta | Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1973 | Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing | Lila Fisher | |
| 1974 | The Carol Burnett Show | Gwendylspire Bougraffe | |
| 1975 | The Carol Burnett Show | Ms. Collins | |
| 1976 | Murder by Death | Dora Charleston | |
| 1978 | Death on the Nile | Miss Bowers | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| California Suite | Diana Barrie | Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
|
| 1981 | Quartet | Lois Heidler | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| Clash of the Titans | Thetis | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 1982 | Evil Under the Sun | Daphne Castle | |
| The Missionary | Lady Isabel Ames | ||
| Better Late Than Never | Miss Anderson | ||
| 1984 | A Private Function | Joyce Chilvers | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| Lily in Love | Lily Wynn | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best TV Actress | |
| 1985 | A Room with a View | Charlotte Bartlett | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1987 | The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne | Judith Hearne | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| Talking Heads | Susan | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best TV Actress | |
| 1991 | Hook | Wendy Darling | |
| 1992 | Sister Act | Mother Superior | |
| Memento Mori | Mrs. Mabel Pettigrew | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best TV Actress | |
| 1993 | Suddenly, Last Summer (BBC TV film) | Violet Venable | Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Mother Superior | |
| The Secret Garden | Mrs. Medlock | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role | |
| 1995 | Richard III | Duchess of York | |
| 1996 | The First Wives Club | Gunilla Garson Goldberg | National Board of Review Award for Best Cast |
| 1997 | Washington Square | Aunt Lavinia Penniman | Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1999 | The Last September | Lady Myra Naylor | |
| Tea With Mussolini | Lady Hester Random | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role | |
| Curtain Call | Lily Gale | ||
| David Copperfield | Betsey Trotwood | Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best TV Actress Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
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| 2001 | Gosford Park | Constance, Countess of Trentham | Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated — European Film Award for Best Actress Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerers's Stone | Minerva McGonagall | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast | |
| Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood | Caro Eliza Bennett | ||
| 2003 | My House in Umbria | Emily Delahunty | Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2004 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Minerva McGonagall | |
| Ladies in Lavender | Janet Widdington | Nominated—European Film Award for Best Actress | |
| 2005 | Keeping Mum | Grace Hawkins | |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Minerva McGonagall | ||
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | ||
| Becoming Jane | Lady Gresham | ||
| Capturing Mary | Mary Gilbert | Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie | |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Minerva McGonagall | |
| From Time to Time | Linnet Oldknow | ||
| 2010 | Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang | Mrs. Docherty | |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I | Minerva McGonagall | ||
| Downton Abbey | Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham | Filming | |
| 2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II | Minerva McGonagall | Post-production |
| Gnomeo and Juliet | (voice) | Filming | |
| Quartet | Jean | In development | |
| The Hunter | In development | ||
| 2012 | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | In development |
Theatre Roles
- Twelfth Night, Oxford Playhouse, 1952
- He Who Gets Slapped, Clarendon Press Institute, 1952
- Cinderella, Oxford Playhouse, 1952
- Rookery Nook, Oxford Playhouse, 1953
- Cakes and Ale (revue), Edinburgh Festival, 1953
- The Government Inspector, Oxford Playhouse, 1954
- The Letter, Oxford Playhouse, 1954
- The Magistrate, Oxford Playhouse, 1955
- New Faces (revue), Barrymore Theatre, New York, 1956
- As You Like It, Old Vic, 1959
- Richard II, Old Vic, 1959
- The Merry Wives of Windsor, Old Vic, 1959
- What Every Woman Knows, Old Vic, 1960
- Rhinoceros (play), Strand Theatre, 1960
- The Rehearsal, Bristol Old Vic/ London, 1961
- The Private Ear and The Public Eye by Peter Shaffer, Globe Theatre, 1962
- Mary, Mary, Queen's Theatre, 1963
- The Recruiting Officer, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1963
- Othello, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1964
- The Master Builder, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1964
- Hay Fever, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1964
- Much Ado About Nothing, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1965
- Miss Julie, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1966
- Black Comedy, National Theatre - Old Vic, 1966
- The Country Wife, National Theatre - Chichester, 1969
- The Beaux Stratagem, National Theatre - Old Vic/ Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1970
- Hedda Gabler, National Theatre - Cambridge Theatre, 1970
- Private Lives, Queen's Theatre, 1972–1973
- Peter Pan, London Coliseum, 1973
- Snap, Vaudeville Theatre, 1974
- Private Lives, 46th Street Theatre, New York, 1975
- The Way of the World, Stratford, Canada, 1976
- Cleopatra, Stratford, Canada, 1976
- Three Sisters, Stratford, Canada, 1976
- The Guardsman, Stratford, Canada/ Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1976
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stratford, Canada/ Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1977
- Richard III, Stratford, Canada, 1977
- As You Like It, Stratford, Canada, 1977
- Hay Fever, Stratford, Canada, 1977
- Macbeth, Stratford, Canada, 1978
- Private Lives, Stratford, Canada, 1978
- Night and Day, Phoenix Theatre/ Washington D.C./ ANTA Playhouse, New York, 1979–1980
- Much Ado About Nothing, Stratford, Canada, 1980
- The Seagull, Stratford, Canada, 1980
- Virginia, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1981
- The Way of the World, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1984
- The Interpreters, Queen's Theatre, 1985
- The Infernal Machine, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, 1986
- Lettice and Lovage, Globe Theatre, 1987–1988
- Lettice and Lovage, Barrymore Theatre, New York, 1990
- The Importance of Being Earnest, Aldwych Theatre, 1993
- Three Tall Women, Wyndham's Theatre, 1994–1995
- Talking Heads, Chichester and Comedy Theatre, 1996
- A Delicate Balance, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1997–1998
- The Lady In The Van, Queen's Theatre, 2000
- The Breath of Life, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 2002–2003
- Talking Heads, Tour of Australia, 2004
- The Lady From Dubuque, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 2007
See also
- Tale Spinners For Children
- University College Players
References
- ↑ Mackenzie, Suzie (2004-11-20). "You have to laugh". Guardian Unlimited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1354891,00.html?gusrc=rss. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ↑ Maggie Smith Biography (1934-)
- ↑ Maggies Smith at Yahoo Movies.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Maggie Smith biography. Tiscali.film & TV.
- ↑ Maggie Smith. Film Reference.com.
- ↑ Michael Coveney, "I'm Very Scared of Being Back on Stage", thisislondon.co.uk, 3 February 2007 [1]
- ↑ Mark Lawson, "Prodigal Son", The Guardian, 31 May 2007
- ↑ Actress Maggie Smith recounts cancer battle
External links
- Maggie Smith at the Internet Movie Database
- Maggie Smith at the Internet Broadway Database
- You have to laugh - The Guardian, 20 November 2004, in-depth interview and profile.
- Maggie Smith at the British Film Institute's Screenonline
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