Maggie Smith passed away at the age of 89 this past week, but she left an incredible legacy behind. She excelled in both film and television, in addition to being a prolific stage actress, and we’ve watched her give us one epic performance after another over the course of seven decades.
After finding acclaim as a theatre actress, Smith established herself as a rising film star during the 1960s. She played Desdemona opposite Laurence Olivier in the adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, landing her first Oscar nomination, only to win the Academy Award just four years later for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
She was on top of her game during the 1970s, as well, winning her second Oscar for the ensemble anthology comedy California Suite. We’ve seen her receive Oscar nods for her supporting turns in several period dramas from that point on, including A Room with a View and Gosford Park.
The 90s marked a shift to more commercial projects for Smith, who starred in Hook opposite Robin Williams and Sister Act alongside Whoopi Goldberg. This was just one of many franchises she appeared in over the years that allowed her to show off her dry humor, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel followed a similar formula.
Smith found renewed success during the 21st century thanks to two roles that introduced her to a younger audience. She spent a decade playing Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise and later won three Emmys for her portrayal of Dowager Countess in the hit period drama Downton Abbey.
