Smith studied acting at the Oxford Playhouse School and began appearing in revues in Oxford in 1952 and London in 1955. She first achieved recognition in the Broadway revue New Faces of 1956 and held the lead comedian role in the London revue Share My Lettuce (1957–58).
In 1963 Smith joined Britain’s National Theatre company, and the following year she played Desdemona opposite Laurence Olivier’s Othello. She repeated that role in Olivier’s motion-picture version of Othello in 1965 and further appeared with the National Theatre in such roles as Silvia in George Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer (1963).
Smith made her screen debut in 1958 in “Nowhere to Go,” but rose to fame in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969).
Notable stage performances included: William Wycherley’s The Country-Wife, Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Stratagem, Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, Noël Coward’s Private Lives, Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day.
In 1978 Smith starred in “California Suite,” a film adaptation of Neil Simon’s Broadway play.
She also received Oscar nominations for her roles in “Italy in A Room with a View” (1985) and as a countess in “Gosford Park” (2001).
A versatile actress, Smith was also seen in “Sister Act” (1992), “The Secret Garden” (1993), “Ladies in Lavender” (2004) and “Becoming Jane (2007).”
After “The Best Exotic Marigold Hote” (2011) and its 2015 sequel, Smith played Professor Minerva McGonagall in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s popular “Harry Potter” series.
Read more about Maggie Smith’s career here.
