As a movie buff with a penchant for the classics and an eye for great acting, it is truly heart-wrenching to bid farewell to the legendary Dame Maggie Smith. Her departure leaves a void that no other actress could ever fill.
89-year-old actress Dame Maggie Smith, beloved by many generations, passed away peacefully in a hospital this morning, September 27th. Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed the news to the BBC, stating that she was surrounded by friends and family at the time of her death. They described her as a very private individual. “She leaves behind two sons and five adoring grandchildren who are heartbroken over the loss of their remarkable mother and grandmother,” they added. A double Oscar winner, Smith was one of the most revered actresses of the 20th century, with her roles in the Harry Potter series as Professor McGonagall and Lady Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey, making her a familiar face to younger audiences.
In 1934, Smith was born in Essex, with parents Nathaniel (a pathologist) and Margaret (also a pathologist), who were often referred to as Nat and Meg. The family relocated to Oxford when Smith was only four years old. When Smith turned sixteen, a teacher suggested she attend a local drama school, an unusual choice given that she had no previous acting experience. As Smith herself explained in 2004 to The Guardian, “I think I was just very odd.” Smith made her Broadway debut in 1956 as part of the revue New Faces of ’56, and in 1962, she joined the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic upon the invitation of Laurence Olivier. In 1970, Smith earned her first Academy Award for her leading role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Interestingly, she co-starred with her then-husband Robert Stephens in this film; they had two children together. The couple parted ways in ’73, and Smith married playwright Beverley Cross in ’75. She garnered her second Academy Award for California Suite in 1979.
In 1990, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed knighthood upon Smith. She was a four-time Academy Award nominee, six-time Olivier Award nominee, and three-time Tony Award nominee, winning one for Lettice and Lovage. In 2001, she became part of the Harry Potter series as Professor Minerva McGonagall, a role that endeared her to audiences in a fresh way. Speaking on The Graham Norton Show, she shared how the films significantly impacted her life. When asked about this, she said: “It was nice when many little people would greet me.” Another memorable character came with Lady Violet on Downton Abbey, which resulted in three Emmy Awards for her, making her a Triple Crown of Acting. Unfortunately, her character passed away at the end of the second film adaptation of Downton Abbey, titled Downton Abbey: A New Era, in 2022. As she breathed her last, she instructed her maid: “Stop crying, Denker. I can’t hear myself die.
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2024-09-27 18:54