Dame Maggie Smith is one of the most highly respected and famous actresses of our time. At 79-years-old, Smith has had a long acting career beginning in the 1950’s and her first movie role was in 1956 for Child in the House. She has played against other actors and actresses such as Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Sir Ian McKellen, and Judi Dench.
For many younger people, she is best known for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. While filming the movie, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought bravely while also continuing to work. In addition to films, she is also a stage actress, having starred in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and she made her debut on Broadway with New Faces of 1956.
Currently, Smith is on the hit series Downtown Abbey, playing Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. She is also this year’s Emmy nominee for her role on the show as Best supporting actress in a drama series. With such an amazing career behind her, TheCelebrityCafe.com is counting down the top ten roles Smith has had through her long and accomplished career.
Photo credit: INFphoto.com
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10. Caroline “Caro” Elizabeth Bennet, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Smith plays Caro Bennet, one of the best friends of Ellen Burstyn’s character, Viv. After a magazine interview given by Viv’s daughter, Sidda (Sandra Bullock), paints her childhood in a bad light, Bennet and the rest of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood take Sidda home to explain her mother’s life to her.
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9. Constance Trentham, Gosford Park
In this film, Smith plays Constance Trentham, a Countess who is spending time at Gosford Park, where a murder mystery occurs during the time spent there. The story switches perspectives between the wealthy socialites who are at a party and their servants.
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8. Duchess of York, Richard III
After Richard III orders the death of two Princes, his mother, the Duchess of York, angrily curses him. Maggie Smith portrays the Duchess in a powerful role. The clip below shows the smothering of the victims, but Smith shows up halfway through.
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7. Desdemona Othello
In one of her early roles, Smith portrayed Desdemona in the Laurence Olivier film Othello. In this clip, she prepares for bed before singing a song.
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6. Lady Hester Random, Tea with Mussolini
This film tells the story of a group of older women, who are called The Scorpioni by other Italians, who take a young boy under their wing. Smith plays the matron of the group of ladies. Lady Hester is fond of Benito Mussolini and believes they will be safe from the uprisings occurring in the film.
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5. Mother Superior, Sister Act
This 90’s film stars Whoopi Goldberg as an aspiring singer who witnesses a mob hit and is sent to a convent in order to hide out. Maggie Smith plays Mother Superior, who is not thrilled with the newest addition.
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4. Mrs. Medlock, The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden tells the story of a young, neglected English girl named Mary, whose parents die after an earthquake. She is sent to live at her uncle’s manor where the strict housekeeper Mrs. Medlock, tries to shield her from her cousin, who is confined to his bed.
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3. Jean Brodie, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Based on the book of the same name, this 1969 film follows a teacher named Jean Brodie, who is seen as a hinderance to the strict rules of the school, in that she has her own teaching methods that run against the curriculum of the all girls school. For her role, Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
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2. Professor Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter series
From her first appearance on Harry Potter, Maggie Smith was known to children and teenagers as Professor McGonagall, the stern but watchful professor who would end up doing all she could to protect the students and castle from the rise of Lord Voldemort. In this clip below, she is seen performing a spell to help protect the castle, and she makes a funny remark at the end in an otherwise dramatic clip.
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1. Violet Crawley, Downtown Abbey
Smith has been playing socialite Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowagr Countess of Gratham, in Downtown Abbey since 2010 and she brings crass, humor, and delight to the role. The clip below is a fan-made compilation of some of the things she has said in her role on the show.