As a lifelong admirer of Dame Maggie Smith, I find myself at a loss for words upon hearing the news of her passing. Born and bred in Ilford, Essex, she was an extraordinary talent who graced us with her presence both on stage and screen for over six decades.
It has been reported by AP News through the actress’s publicist that Dame Maggie Smith, a highly esteemed actress known for films such as “Death on the Nile,” the “Harry Potter” series, and “Downton Abbey,” passed away at the age of 89. The exact cause of her death remains undisclosed. She is survived by her two sons, Christopher Lark and Toby Stephens, both of whom followed in her footsteps into acting, as reported by Hello! Magazine. Prior to her passing, she had been married twice but was not remarried at the time.
Until her passing, Smith showcased her acting talent across film and theater productions. As we, at Looper, reminisce about her remarkable career, so too do many who appreciated her work throughout her life.
Maggie Smith gave everything she had to the art of acting
Maggie Smith, born on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex, found herself drawn to acting despite not quite understanding what initially sparked this interest. As she often shared in interviews, “I can’t even tell you where the desire originated from – it was such an unpleasant period and we didn’t visit the theater much. I landed myself in trouble once because my neighbors took me to the cinema on a Sunday. However, I had an exceptional teacher named Dorothy Bartholomew” (as reported by Evening Standard).
She went on to become a juggernaut in both film and theatre, ultimately winning two Academy Awards. She won for Best Actress for 1969’s “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and Best Supporting Actress for 1978’s “California Suite.” In the 21st century, she gained worldwide acclaim for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” films that dominated the box office between 2001 and 2011.
Maggie Smith generally preferred solitude throughout her career, yet her peers were eager to extol her virtues. In a conversation with Saga Magazine, Dustin Hoffman expressed, “Acting is almost like a spiritual journey for her. She arrives at work without any tolerance for settling for anything less than perfection. Her sole focus is achieving it completely, and that’s all she cares about. Nothing short of excellence will suffice.” In typical Maggie Smith style, she responded, “What else is the point if not for striving for perfection?
Her professionalism and talent will be missed.
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2024-09-27 16:59