History of Maggie Smith in Timeline
"Dame Margaret Natalie Smith was a highly celebrated British actress renowned for her comedic timing and impressive career spanning seven decades. Her work on both stage and screen made her one of Britain's most recognizable actresses, earning her numerous awards including two Oscars, five BAFTAs, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. She was also nominated for six Laurence Olivier Awards and achieved the esteemed Triple Crown of Acting."
December 1934: Birth of Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, later known as Maggie Smith, was born in Ilford, Essex in December 1934.
1952: Acting Debut at Oxford Playhouse
At the age of 17, Maggie Smith began her acting career as Viola in "Twelfth Night" at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952.
1953: Performances in "Rookery Nook" and "Cakes and Ale"
Maggie Smith appeared in two productions at the Oxford Playhouse in 1953: "Rookery Nook" and "Cakes and Ale".
1954: Performance in "The Government Inspector" and Television Debut
Smith appeared in "The Government Inspector" at the Oxford Playhouse and made her television debut in "Oxford Accents," produced by Ned Sherrin, in 1954.
December 1956: Conclusion of "New Faces of '56" on Broadway
Maggie Smith's run in the Broadway review "New Faces of '56" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre concluded in December 1956.
1956: Uncredited Film Debut
Maggie Smith made her first appearance in a film in 1956 with an uncredited role in the British drama "Child in the House".
1957: Performance in "Share My Lettuce"
Maggie Smith starred alongside Kenneth Williams in the musical comedy "Share My Lettuce," written by Bamber Gascoigne, in 1957.
1959: First BAFTA Film Award Nomination
In 1959, Maggie Smith received the first of her 18 British Academy Film Award nominations for her role as Bridget Howard in "Nowhere to Go," which was also her first screen credit.
1962: Role in the British Comedy "Go to Blazes"
Maggie Smith appeared in the British comedy "Go to Blazes" in 1962.
1962: Evening Standard Award and Joining the National Theatre
Maggie Smith won her first Evening Standard Award for Best Actress for her roles in "The Private Ear" and "The Public Eye" in 1962. This success led to her joining Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at The Old Vic.
1963: Performance in "The Recruiting Officer"
Maggie Smith starred as Sylvia in "The Recruiting Officer" alongside Laurence Olivier in 1963.
1963: Supporting Role in "The V.I.P.s"
Smith had a supporting role as Miss Dee Mead in the British drama "The V.I.P.s," starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Orson Welles, in 1963.
1964: Hay Fever
In 1964, Maggie Smith starred in a production of Noël Coward's "Hay Fever" alongside Anthony Nichols.
1964: Performance in "The Pumpkin Eater"
Smith appeared in Jack Clayton's film "The Pumpkin Eater" alongside Anne Bancroft in 1964.
1964: Performance in "The Master Builder" and Incident with Olivier
Smith played Hilde in Ibsen's "The Master Builder" alongside Laurence Olivier in 1964. During this production, an incident occurred where Olivier slapped Smith during a performance of "Othello.".
1965: First Oscar Nomination and Role in "Young Cassidy"
Maggie Smith earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1965 film adaptation of "Othello." The same year, she appeared in "Young Cassidy," directed by Jack Cardiff and John Ford.
1965: Oscar Nomination for "Othello"
Maggie Smith was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Desdemona in the film adaptation of "Othello" in 1965.
June 1967: Marriage to Robert Stephens
On June 1967, Maggie Smith married Robert Stephens.
1967: Role in "The Honey Pot"
Maggie Smith starred in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's crime comedy "The Honey Pot" with Rex Harrison in 1967.
1967: Performance in "Much Ado About Nothing"
Smith's portrayal of Beatrice in Franco Zeffirelli's production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in 1967 is believed to be the earliest British television broadcast of the complete play.
1968: Performance in "Hot Millions"
Smith appeared opposite Peter Ustinov in the film "Hot Millions" in 1968.
1969: Academy Award for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"
Maggie Smith received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the title character in the film "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" in 1969.
1969: Birth of Toby Stephens
Maggie Smith's son, Toby Stephens, was born in 1969.
1970: Performance in "Hedda Gabler"
Maggie Smith starred in the title role of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" in a London production directed by Ingmar Bergman in 1970. She won her second Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance.
1971: Doctor of letters
In 1971, Maggie Smith received an honorary doctor of letters (DLitt) from the University of St Andrews.
1972: Travels with My Aunt
In 1972, Maggie Smith starred as the eccentric Augusta Bertram in George Cukor's film 'Travels with My Aunt'. Her performance earned her a third Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
1972: Oscar Nomination for "Travels with My Aunt"
Smith received an Academy Award nomination for her role in the film "Travels with My Aunt" in 1972.
1973: Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing
In 1973, she appeared in the film 'Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing', directed by Alan J. Pakula.
April 1975: Divorce from Robert Stephens
In April 1975, Maggie Smith and Robert Stephens divorced.
June 1975: Marriage to Alan Beverly Cross
Maggie Smith married Alan Beverly Cross in June 1975.
1975: Tony Award Nomination for "Private Lives"
Smith received critical acclaim and a Tony Award nomination for her performance as Amanda Prynne in the Broadway production of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" at the 46th Street Theatre in 1975. The play was directed by John Gielgud.
1976: Stratford Shakespeare Festival
From 1976 to 1980, Maggie Smith appeared in numerous productions at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, including Cleopatra in 'Anthony and Cleopatra' in 1976.
1976: Murder by Death
In 1976, Maggie Smith appeared in 'Murder by Death', with Vincent Canby of The New York Times praising the screenplay and Smith's performance as Dick and Dora Charleston.
1977: Richard III
In 1977, she played Queen Elizabeth in 'Richard III' at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
1978: Macbeth
In 1978, Maggie Smith starred as Lady Macbeth in the production of 'Macbeth' at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
1978: California Suite
In 1978, Maggie Smith starred opposite Michael Caine in Neil Simon's 'California Suite', playing an Oscar loser. She received the 1978 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and her first Golden Globe Award for this role.
1978: Academy Award and Release of "Death on the Nile"
In 1978, Smith won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "California Suite." That same year, she also appeared in the film "Death on the Nile.".
1979: Tony Award Nomination for "Night and Day"
In 1979, Smith received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Tom Stoppard's play "Night and Day" on Broadway.
1979: Night and Day
In 1979, she returned to Broadway in Tom Stoppard's original play 'Night and Day' as Ruth Carson. Smith received her second Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for this role.
1980: Stratford Shakespeare Festival
In 1980, Maggie Smith continued to appear in productions at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival to acclaim.
1981: Quartet
In 1981, Maggie Smith starred in the Merchant Ivory film 'Quartet' alongside Alan Bates and Isabelle Adjani. The film premiered at the 34th Cannes Film Festival and received positive reviews. Smith received her sixth BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance as Lois Heidler.
1982: The Missionary
In 1982, Maggie Smith starred in the film 'The Missionary'. Michael Caine humorously warned co-star Michael Palin that Smith would steal the film.
1982: Evil Under the Sun
In 1982, she starred as Daphne Castle in the locked-room mystery film 'Evil Under the Sun' opposite Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, and Diana Rigg.
1983: All for Love
In 1983, she received her first of four Best Actress BAFTA TV Award nominations for her role as Mrs. Silly in 'All for Love'.
1984: A Private Function
In 1984, Maggie Smith won her second Best Actress BAFTA Film Award for her role as Joyce Chilvers in the black comedy 'A Private Function' with Michael Palin. During filming, she had to vault over a pig to escape.
1984: The Way of the World
In 1984, she won her fourth Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her role as Millament in 'The Way of the World'.
1985: A Room with a View
In 1985, Maggie Smith portrayed Charlotte Bartlett in the Merchant Ivory production of 'A Room with a View'. The film received universal acclaim and 8 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Smith earned her fifth Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won her second Golden Globe Award and third British Academy Film Award for Best Actress.
1985: Oscar Nomination for "A Room with a View"
In 1985, Maggie Smith was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the film "A Room with a View".
1986: Doctor of Letters
In 1986, the University of Bath awarded Maggie Smith an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt).
1987: A Bed Among the Lentils
In 1987, Maggie Smith starred as Susan in 'A Bed Among the Lentils', part of Alan Bennett's 'Talking Heads' series, receiving a second BAFTA TV nomination.
1987: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
In 1987, Smith won her fourth BAFTA Film Award for Best Actress for the title role in 'The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne'. Pauline Kael praised her performance, stating that Smith becomes the essence of spinsterhood.
1987: Lettice and Lovage
In 1987, she starred in the London production of 'Lettice and Lovage' alongside Margaret Tyzack, receiving an Olivier Award nomination.
January 1988: Graves' Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
In January 1988, Maggie Smith was diagnosed with Graves' disease and consequently underwent both radiotherapy and optical surgery.
1990: Lettice and Lovage on Broadway
In 1990, she reprised her role in 'Lettice and Lovage' when it transferred to Broadway, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
1990: Damehood
Maggie Smith was bestowed with the honor of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.
1990: Tony Award Win for "Lettice and Lovage"
Maggie Smith won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in "Lettice and Lovage" in 1990.
1991: Hook
In 1991, Maggie Smith appeared as Granny Wendy in Steven Spielberg's hit movie 'Hook', a fantasy adventure film based on the Peter Pan character. The film was a financial success, making $300 million at the box office.
1991: Shakespeare Prize
In 1991, Maggie Smith was awarded the Shakespeare Prize by the Hamburg Alfred Toepfer Foundation.
1991: Release of "Hook"
Maggie Smith appeared in the film "Hook" in 1991.
1992: Fellow of the British Film Institute
In 1992, Maggie Smith became a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of her contributions to film culture.
1992: Sister Act
In 1992, Smith starred as Mother Superior in the Whoopi Goldberg comedy film 'Sister Act' and its sequel, 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit' (1993). She also received a third British Academy Television Award nomination for her role as Mrs. Mabel Pettigrew in the 1992 TV film 'Memento Mori'.
1992: Release of "Sister Act"
Smith appeared in the film "Sister Act" in 1992.
1993: The Secret Garden
In 1993, Maggie Smith starred as Mrs. Medlock in the film adaptation of "The Secret Garden," directed by Agnieszka Holland. Her performance was critically acclaimed, earning her a British Academy Film Award nomination.
1993: BAFTA Special Award
In 1993, Maggie Smith was given a BAFTA Special Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
1993: Suddenly, Last Summer
In 1993, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role as Violet Venable in the PBS television film 'Suddenly, Last Summer'. She also portrayed Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's comic play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End, receiving her fourth Olivier Award nomination.
1993: Release of "The Secret Garden"
Maggie Smith had a role in the film "The Secret Garden," released in 1993.
1993: British Film Institute Fellowship
Maggie Smith was honored with the British Film Institute Fellowship in 1993 for her contributions to film.
1994: American Theatre Hall of Fame
In 1994 Maggie Smith was elected to the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
1994: Doctor of Letters
Maggie Smith received an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from the University of Cambridge in 1994.
1995: Richard III
Maggie Smith portrayed the Duchess of York in the 1995 film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Richard III," set in 1930s Britain and starring Ian McKellen.
1995: Lifetime Achievement Award
Maggie Smith was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Film and Television UK in 1995.
1996: BAFTA Fellowship
In 1996, Maggie Smith was recognized for her outstanding career in film with the BAFTA Fellowship.
1996: The First Wives Club
Maggie Smith joined an ensemble cast including Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler in the 1996 comedy film "The First Wives Club."
1997: Washington Square
In 1997, Smith collaborated again with director Agnieszka Holland in the film "Washington Square," portraying the character of Aunt Lavinia Penniman.
1997: A Delicate Balance
Smith's performance as Claire in the 1997 production of Edward Albee's play "A Delicate Balance" garnered critical acclaim, with Variety praising her comedic timing and nuanced acting.
March 1998: Death of Alan Beverly Cross
Maggie Smith's second husband, Alan Beverly Cross, died in March 1998.
April 1999: William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre
The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. presented Maggie Smith with the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre (The Will Award) in April 1999.
1999: The Lady in the Van and David Copperfield
In 1999, Smith received critical acclaim for her performance as Miss Mary Shepherd in the play "The Lady in the Van," earning her a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. The same year, she starred as Betsey Trotwood in the BBC adaptation of "David Copperfield," receiving BAFTA and Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
1999: Tea with Mussolini
Smith won her fifth BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Lady Hester Random in the 1999 film "Tea with Mussolini." She also starred in "The Last September" and "Curtain Call" in the same year.
2001: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Maggie Smith began her iconic role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in 2001, joining a cast of renowned British and Irish actors.
2001: Oscar Nomination for "Gosford Park" and Start of Harry Potter Film Series
Smith received an Academy Award nomination for her role in "Gosford Park" in 2001. This year also marked the beginning of her appearances as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" film series.
2001: Gosford Park
Smith starred as Constance, Countess of Trentham in Robert Altman's acclaimed 2001 murder mystery "Gosford Park." Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
2002: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and The Breath of Life
In 2002, Smith starred in "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and reunited with Judi Dench for the play "The Breath of Life."
2003: Emmy Award for "My House in Umbria"
Maggie Smith won a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in the HBO film "My House in Umbria" in 2003.
2003: My House in Umbria
Smith won her first Primetime Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in the HBO film "My House in Umbria" in 2003.
2004: Ladies in Lavender and Talking Heads
In 2004, Smith appeared alongside Judi Dench in the film "Ladies in Lavender" and toured Australia with the play "Talking Heads."
2005: Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Judi Dench was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2005.
2005: Keeping Mum
Smith starred in the black comedy "Keeping Mum" with Rowan Atkinson and Kristin Scott Thomas in 2005.
2006: London Avenue of Stars
The stars on the London Avenue of Stars, including Maggie Smith's, were removed in 2006.
2007: Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Maggie Smith's breast cancer diagnosis was made public by The Sunday Telegraph in 2007.
2007: Becoming Jane
Smith appeared in the costume drama "Becoming Jane" in 2007, a film about the life of Jane Austen.
2007: The Lady from Dubuque and Capturing Mary
Smith starred in a West End revival of "The Lady from Dubuque" and the HBO film "Capturing Mary" in 2007, earning an Emmy nomination for the latter.
2009: Recovery from Breast Cancer
In 2009, reports indicated that Maggie Smith had made a full recovery from breast cancer.
2009: From Time to Time
Smith appeared in Julian Fellowes's fantasy drama film "From Time to Time" in 2009.
2010: Rediscovery of "Much Ado About Nothing" Recording
A copy of the 1967 television broadcast of "Much Ado About Nothing" featuring Maggie Smith as Beatrice was found in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC in 2010. The recording had been considered lost.
2010: Society of London Theatre Special Award
In 2010, Maggie Smith was celebrated at the Laurence Olivier Awards with the Society of London Theatre Special Award.
2010: Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
In 2010, Smith played Mrs. Docherty in "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang" alongside Emma Thompson.
2010: Premiere of "Downton Abbey" and Society of London Theatre Special Award
Maggie Smith's role as Violet Crawley in the British period drama "Downton Abbey" premiered in 2010. This year, she was also honored with the Society of London Theatre Special Award.
2010: Downton Abbey
Smith originated the role of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey" in 2010.
September 2011: Support for Court Theatre Reconstruction
In September 2011, Maggie Smith showed her support for the fundraising efforts to rebuild the Court Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand, following the devastating earthquake earlier that year.
2011: Conclusion of Harry Potter Film Series
Maggie Smith's role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" film series concluded in 2011.
2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Smith concluded her portrayal of Professor McGonagall in the final Harry Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2," in 2011, marking the end of a successful film franchise.
July 2012: Patronage of International Glaucoma Association
Maggie Smith became a patron of the International Glaucoma Association (now Glaucoma UK) in July 2012, aiming to raise awareness about glaucoma.
September 2012: Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Legacy Award
Maggie Smith received the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Legacy Award in September 2012.
November 2012: Contribution to Cats Protection Auction
Maggie Smith participated in the 2012 Celebrity Paw Auction by donating a drawing of her hand to raise funds for Cats Protection in November 2012.
2012: Release of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and "Quartet"
In 2012, Maggie Smith appeared in two films: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and "Quartet".
2012: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet
Smith starred in the comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut "Quartet" in 2012, receiving acclaim for both performances.
May 2013: Support for Royal Horticultural Society Auction
In May 2013, Maggie Smith donated a personally decorated gnome to an auction aimed at raising funds for the Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening.
2013: Interview
In 2013, Maggie Smith gave an interview in which she discussed her feelings on loneliness.
2013: National Theatre Live: 50 Years On Stage
In 2013, Maggie Smith participated in the filmed event "National Theatre Live: 50 Years On Stage", which featured live performances from productions by the Royal National Theatre.
2013: Evening Standard Icon Award
In 2013, Maggie Smith was given the Evening Standard Icon Award.
February 2014: Actors Hall of Fame
In February 2014, Maggie Smith was inducted into the Actors Hall of Fame.
2014: Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
In 2014, Maggie Smith was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for her service to drama.
2014: My Old Lady
Smith starred in the romantic comedy "My Old Lady" alongside Kristin Scott Thomas and Kevin Kline in 2014, with her performance garnering praise.
March 2015: Departure from Downton Abbey
In March 2015, Smith announced her departure from "Downton Abbey" after six seasons, marking the end of her celebrated portrayal of the Dowager Countess.
October 2015: The Lady in the Van
In October 2015, Maggie Smith appeared on "The Graham Norton Show" to discuss her role in the film "The Lady in the Van".
2015: Anecdote Revealed on "The Graham Norton Show"
During an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show" in 2015, Maggie Smith shared an anecdote about being slapped by Laurence Olivier during a 1964 production of "Othello.".
2015: Release of "The Lady in the Van"
Maggie Smith starred in the film "The Lady in the Van," released in 2015.
2015: Conclusion of "Downton Abbey"
Maggie Smith's run as Violet Crawley in the popular series "Downton Abbey" concluded in 2015.
2015: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Smith reprised her role as Muriel Donnelly in the sequel "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in 2015.
March 2016: Critics' Circle Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts
Maggie Smith was awarded the Critics' Circle Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts in March 2016.
April 2016: Bodley Medal
In April 2016, Maggie Smith was given the Bodley Medal from the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries for her work in the performing arts.
2016: Reflections on Aging and Character Acting
During a 2016 interview with NPR, Maggie Smith shared her perspective on aging as a character actor. She expressed that her career path allowed her to transition into roles as mothers and grandmothers, continually developing her talents rather than experiencing a decline.
2016: Reflections on Harry Potter and Alan Rickman
In 2016, while promoting "The Lady in the Van," Smith fondly remembered her experiences working with Alan Rickman on the Harry Potter films, highlighting their shared humor and camaraderie on set.
October 2017: Honorary fellowship of Mansfield College
In October 2017, Maggie Smith was awarded an honorary fellowship of Mansfield College, Oxford.
2018: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
In 2018, Maggie Smith reprised her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall by voicing the character in the video game "Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery".
2018: Nothing Like a Dame
In 2018, the documentary "Nothing Like a Dame" was released, featuring conversations with Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, and Joan Plowright about their acting careers.
April 2019: A German Life
In April 2019, Maggie Smith returned to the stage after an eleven-year absence in the play "A German Life".
September 2019: Downton Abbey
The film "Downton Abbey", which continued the tv series, premiered in September 2019.
November 2020: Participation in "For One Knight Only" Event
In November 2020, Maggie Smith joined fellow actors Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, and Ian McKellen for a virtual conversation titled "For One Knight Only" to benefit the charity Acting for Others.
April 2021: Support for The Royal Theatrical Fund
Maggie Smith participated in a streaming event alongside Kathleen Turner in April 2021. This event aimed to support The Royal Theatrical Fund, which provides assistance to individuals who have worked in the entertainment industry.
2021: A Boy Called Christmas
In 2021, the film adaptation of "A Boy Called Christmas", starring Maggie Smith, was released on Netflix.
2022: Downton Abbey: A New Era
In 2022, "Downton Abbey: A New Era", in which Maggie Smith starred as Violet Crawley, was released in theatres.
October 2023: Loewe's SS24 pre-collection
In October 2023, Maggie Smith was featured as one of the faces of Loewe's SS24 pre-collection.
2023: The Miracle Club
In 2023, Maggie Smith starred in "The Miracle Club", an Irish drama film, alongside Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.
September 2024: Death of Maggie Smith
After a long and illustrious career, Dame Margaret Natalie Smith passed away in September 2024.
September 2024: Death
On September 27, 2024, at the age of 89, Maggie Smith passed away at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. Throughout her life, she had been open about her health challenges, including glaucoma, Graves' disease, and breast cancer.
