By Khadija Abd-Elhamid
On Friday, September 27, 2024, the world lost renowned actor, Maggie Smith. Most recall Smith from her part as Professor McGonagoll in Harry Potter, or from her role as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey; however her acting had a wide variety, including a voice acting in Disney’s Gnomeo and Juliet. As news broke that she had passed, there was a collective shock and sorrow around the world. So what makes her so loved? Why is she an important figure? Here’s an inside look on Maggie Smith’s career and life.
At just 16, Maggie Smith left high school to study at the Oxford Playhouse. There, she performed in multiple performances, including Twelfth Night, as well as Cinderella. A mere four years later, at only 21 years old, Smith debuted on Broadway, already forging her path of achievement. As with any success story, her victories did not come without their issues; a sharp rivalry between her and costar Laurence Oliver came to a head when he struck her during a 1964 production of Shakespeare’s Othello. However, despite the dramatics, she still managed to thrive within her industry, appearing in her first film, Child in the House (1956). This small, uncredited role was only the beginning of her life on the screen, as her quick wit gained her numerous roles. She acted alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in The V.I.P.s (1963). Smith starred in Othello’s 1965 film adaptation next to Oliver once again, receiving her first ever Oscar nomination for the role. She performed in dozens of productions, garnering more fame as she continued to work.
Maggie Smith’s career spans decades, and in the early 2000s, she starred in her arguably best known role, as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movie series. Smith’s acting in the role of McGonagall turned her into one of the most memorable characters in film. Daniel Radcliffe (who plays Harry Potter in the films) described Smith as having a “fierce intellect,” a quality well reflected in the movies. She had maneuvered her way into history by warming the hearts of viewers with her characters ‘tough love’. In her later acting works Smith starred in well known period drama Downton Abbey, playing Violet Crawley–a Dowager Countess. The show reached all the way to 9.9 million viewers at its height. Throughout her entire career, Maggie Smith played various roles, from classic Elizabethian, to modern fantasies, and within them all, she proved time and again her acting prowess.
Over the decades, Maggie Smith garnered 6 Academy Award nominations, 3 of which she won for. She collected many accolades across the years, including 3 Golden Globe Awards, a Tony Award, and the BAFTA Special Award. Smith not only found her commendations from organizations, but from high ranking figures as well. Smith was held in high regard in the UK, with King Charles describing Smith to have been a “national treasure”, stating that he and Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” by the actor’s passing. Though impressive, Smith was not adored for the number of trophies on her wall, or her many honors, but rather for the actor she was, and the humble nature she had behind the screens.
There is no doubt of the monumental effect of Maggie Smith’s death. Many grew up not only admiring her on screen, but also looking up to her composed attitude in the real world. She was an objective success, balancing her humility with her talent. Smith is regarded as a legendary actor, whom without the film industry will be permanently lacking. She helped shape the childhoods of an abundant amount of people across the globe, who now see her passing as another reminder that nothing will remain the same. However, though she has died, her works will continue to live on, and influence the next generations of dreamers. Maggie Smith will forever be remembered as an icon.