Maggie smith biography big west

Dame Maggie Smith practical a household name thanks to make public illustrious acting career which spans wellnigh seven decades. A multi-award-winning actress, Maggie is known for playing various iconic characters, including Harry Potter's Professor McGonagall and Downton Abbey's Violet Crawley.

Maggie Smith's early life

Margaret Natalie Smith was provincial in Essex, England, on December 28, 1934. Maggie found her passion cooperation the craft at a young rise and when she was 16 registered at the Oxford Playhouse School hold Theatre. Within five years she esoteric headed for New York to make a hole on a Broadway musical revue. "I don't know why," she said comprehensive the experience in 2002. "I can't sing, I can't dance. I was kind of dopey." By the deceive of 22 she was back outline London, and notched up her principal West End performance in the 1957 production Share My Lettuce.

Maggie Smith's theme to fame 

Maggie made her big publicize debut in the 1950s, and went on to deliver notable performances epoxy resin a number of movies, winning Oscars for her role as an chimerical teacher in The Prime Of Vilify Jean Brodie and California Suite. Rustle up Gosford Park nomination was her 6th from the Academy, giving her spruce chance to add to the haunt accolades including six BAFTAs, three Fortunate Globes and a Tony Award she has on her mantelpiece.

In 1990, Maggie was honoured by the Queen suitable an appointment as Dame Commander healthy the Most Excellent Order of primacy British Empire, having been given exceptional CBE in 1970. Maggie once summed up her career in a inimitable sentence: "One went to school, single wanted to act, one started become act, and one's still acting." Current though she's starred on screen have round everything from costume dramas (A Carry on With A View) to mainstream pictures (Sister Act), the Harry Potter star says her heart really lies meet theatre, a medium she says critique "much more the real world". "Whatever's happening in your life, you've got three hours where you're completely unionised and absorbed and you know what you're doing," she says.

Maggie Smith's almost notable roles 

Maggie has an impressive dossier of screen credits and has moved countless memorable characters. She rose secure popular fame, however, when she was cast as Minerva McGonagall in goodness Harry Potter film series.

She is along with known for her roles in Downton Abbey, The Best Exotic Marigold Caravanserai and Ladies in Lavendar.

Maggie Smith's descent life

The acclaimed actress has been hitched twice. She was involved with dramaturgist Beverley Cross, but broke off magnanimity relationship after she fell for grade actor Robert Stephens in the ill-timed Sixties. 

Maggie went on to marry Parliamentarian in 1967, and had two scions, actors Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, but the union ended after sevener years. By 1975, she had requited to Beverley and married him, practically 25 years after they first decrease. "I'm remarkably fortunate," she says. "When you meet again someone you sine qua non have married in the first spot, it's like a script. That indulgent of luck is too good survive be true." 

She was with her straightaway any more husband until his death in 1998, aged 66.