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Maggie Smith, Star of Stage, Film and ‘Downton Abbey,’ Dies at 89

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Maggie Smith, Star of Stage, Film and ‘Downton Abbey,’ Dies at 89

As a cinephile with a penchant for British cinema, I can confidently say that Maggie Smith was nothing short of a legend. Her career spanned over six decades, gracing both the silver screen and the stage with her unparalleled talent and magnetic presence. From her Oscar-winning performance in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” to her iconic roles as the Dowager Countess of Grantham and Professor Minerva McGonagall, she left an indelible mark on cinema history.

In a sad turn of events, Maggie Smith – the exceptionally talented actress known for her captivating performances that often outshone others, who received an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and found a new generation of admirers as the Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series – passed away on Friday. She was 89 years old.

In a released statement, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, Smith’s sons, confirmed that their father passed away on Friday morning at a hospital located in London.

It was shared, often through Clair Dobbs on behalf of them, that she has left behind two sons and five adoring grandchildren. These dear ones are deeply saddened, for they have lost an extraordinary woman who served as both their mother and grandmother.

Smith was often considered the outstanding female actor of her generation in Britain, which also featured actresses like Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. She received numerous Academy Award nominations and won several acting awards, stacking up an impressive collection.

In her later years, she continued to be sought-after, proving otherwise her statement that “in the grandma stage of life, one is fortunate just to receive anything.

In a dry manner, Smith described her future characters as a collection of odd and unsettling figures, such as Professor McGonagall. When questioned about accepting the role, she humorously replied, “Harry Potter serves as my retirement fund.

Richard Eyre, the director who worked with Smith on a TV adaptation of “Suddenly Last Summer,” commented that she was “the most intellectually astute actress I’ve ever collaborated with.” He added that it would take extraordinary intelligence to match wits with Maggie Smith – a feat one could only achieve by rising exceptionally early in the morning.

In 1969, I was honored to bring home the prestigious Academy Award for Best Actress and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for my captivating portrayal of a complex Edinburgh schoolteacher named Jean Brodie.

In 1978, Smith received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the film “California Suite.” She also won Golden Globes for “California Suite” and “Room with a View,” and was honored with BAFTAs for her leading roles in “A Private Function” in 1984, “A Room with a View” in 1986, and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” in 1988.

In addition to her Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in “Othello,” “Travels with My Aunt,” “Room with a View,” and “Gosford Park,” she was awarded a BAFTA prize for best supporting actress in “Tea with Mussolini.” On the stage, she was honored with a Tony Award in 1990 for her performance in “Lettice and Lovage.

2012 saw her work recognized with three Golden Globe nominations, one each for the hit television show “Downton Abbey,” the critically acclaimed film “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” and the movie “Quartet.

Smith had a reputation for being difficult, and sometimes upstaging others.

Richard Burton observed that Smith didn’t merely dominate a scene in “The VIPs”; instead, he commented, “She steals the show grandly.” However, director Peter Hall noted that Smith was far from troublesome, unless she was surrounded by fools. He added that she was harsh on herself and had no qualms about being just as tough on others.

Smith conceded that she could be impatient at times.

Smith stated, ‘Indeed, I have no patience for folly, and in return, others aren’t patient with me either. That might explain why I excel at portraying prickly old women characters.’

In a New York Times review of “Lettice and Lovage,” critic Frank Rich commended Smith for being an exceptional artist who can emphasize even the most ordinary lines, such as “Have you no marmalade?”, to make them sound like brilliant witticisms reminiscent of Coward or Wilde.

In the 1964 revival of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever,” Smith garnered laughter with his unconventional comment about a haddock, saying “This fish is revolting.

She remembered that the critics pointed it out, and afterward, it failed to elicit laughter. She explained, “As soon as you label something as humorous, it becomes ethereal – fleeting, almost vanished.

Margaret Natalie Smith hails from Ilford, situated on the outskirts of London, and was born on December 28, 1934. In her own words, “I attended school, I had a passion for acting, I began my acting career, and I’m still doing it.

In 1939, her father was deployed for war-related tasks in Oxford. This placement coincided with her theater studies at the Oxford Playhouse School, leading to a bustling internship.

She mentioned that she was quite busy with various activities around the universities. In essence, if one had sufficient intelligence and speed, it would be possible to participate in multiple theater productions each week since different colleges were hosting their own shows at different times, as she explained during an interview on the BBC.

She took Maggie as her stage name because another Margaret Smith was active in the theater.

Lawrence Oliver recognized her abilities, asked her to join his inaugural National Theatre troupe, and selected her as his fellow actor in the 1965 movie version of “Othello.

Smith mentioned that Ingmar Bergman and William Gaskill, who had both worked on productions for the National Theatre, significantly impacted him.

In my perspective as a movie critic, I found myself apprehensive about Alan Bennett’s choice to cast Smith in “A Bed Among the Lentils,” given her past tendency to lose interest. To quote Jeremy Brett, she begins with divine enthusiasm but then fades away, much like a cheese that loses its flavor over time.

Bennett remarked, “It turned out to be a fortunate circumstance indeed, as we barely managed to squeeze it in, but her enthusiasm and eagerness made it truly special,” he added, having written a significant part for Smith in “The Lady in the Van.

Despite her flamboyant on-stage persona or public appearances, Smith was famously private behind closed doors.

Simon Callow, who worked alongside her in “A Room with a View,” admitted that he overdid it on the compliments during their initial encounter.

In the movie portrayal, Callow expressed that I carelessly spewed unimportant comments about her, causing her to step back. She dislikes such behavior intensely, as it’s not her preference at all. In truth, she was reluctant to discuss acting. The act of discussing it filled her with fear because she believed that if she did so, her talent might vanish.

Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990.

In 1967, she tied the knot with her acting companion, Robert Stephens. Together they welcomed their sons, Christopher and Toby, but their marriage ended in 1975. Later that year, she walked down the aisle with writer Beverley Cross. Tragically, he passed away in 1998.

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2024-09-27 18:06

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