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Maggie Smith Biography

Birth Name:Margaret Natalie Smith

Birth Place:Ilford, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actress, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Earned a Tony Award, 4 Emmy Awards, 5 British Academy Film Awards, 3 Golden Globes, and 5 Screen Actor Guild Awards
  • Has won 6 academy awards
  • Awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bath, the University of St Andrews and the University of Cambridge
  • In 2012, she became an advocate for the International Glaucoma Association
  • Named a Companion of Honour by the Queen of England in 2014
  • After an earthquake in New Zealand, she helped raise $4․6 million to help rebuild the Court Theatre
  • Started acting at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952
  • Has two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, both actors
  • Quote: "I tend to head for what's amusing because a lot of things aren't happy․ But usually you can find a funny side to practically anything․"
  • Frequently portrays cynical and sarcastic characters, such as her work in "THe Lady in the Van" and "Downton Abbey․"
  • Was an original member of the National Theatre company formed by Laurence Olivier
  • Raised $4․6 million dollars to help rebuild the Court Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2011
  • Is a close friend of actress Judi Dench
  • Peter Shaffer wrote the play "Lettice and Lovage" specifically for her, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1990
  • Shared a dressing room with Bette Davis and Angela Lansbury while filming "Death of the Nile․"
  • Turned down roles in "Cactus Flower" and "Mary, Queen of Scots" because she wanted to focus on her theater work

Awards

  • 1959BAFTA Film Award-Most Promising Newcomer to Film: nominated
  • 1964Golden Globe-Most Promising Newcomer - Female: nominated
  • 1966Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1966BAFTA Film Award-Best British Actress: nominated
  • 1966Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: nominated
  • 1969NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1970Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1970BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1970Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: nominated
  • 1970Golden Laurel-Female Dramatic Performance: nominated
  • 1970NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1973Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1973Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1977Gold Medal-Favorite Movie: nominated
  • 1978KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1978NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1978NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1978NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1979Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1979BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1979Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1980BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1980Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1982Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1982BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1982Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1985BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1985Golden Mask-: winner
  • 1986KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1987Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1987BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 1987NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1989BAFTA TV Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1989Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1989RTS Television Award-Best Actor - Female: winner
  • 1992American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1993American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1993BAFTA TV Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1994BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1996NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 1998Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000BAFTA TV Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2000BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2001ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2001ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2001KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2001NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2001NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2001SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2001SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2002Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2002Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
  • 2002BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2002CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
  • 2002DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002EFA People's Choice Award-Best European Actress: nominated
  • 2002FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2002NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2002OFCS Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2002PFCS Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2002PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2002Special Achievement Award-Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble: winner
  • 2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2002Stinker Award-Worst Fake Accent: Female: nominated
  • 2003Movies for Grownups Award-Best Breakaway Performance: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2003PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005EFA People's Choice Award-Best European Actress: nominated
  • 2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2008Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2010WIN Award-Actress Mini-Series / Made for Television Movie: nominated
  • 2011Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: winner
  • 2011Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress - Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: winner
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012BAFTA TV Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2012British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2012TV Guide Award-Favorite Actress: nominated
  • 2012WFCC Award-Best Comedic Actress: winner
  • 2013Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2013Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013TV Guide Award-Favorite Actress: nominated
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2014Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2015Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2015National Television Award-Outstanding Drama Performance: nominated
  • 2015WFCC Award-Best Comedic Actress: nominated
  • 2016Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actress: nominated
  • 2016Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2016National Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019EDA Special Mention Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress of the Decade: nominated
  • 2020Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2020EDA Special Mention Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
  • 2020CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: nominated
  • 2020CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2023CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: nominated