The British stage, television and film actress Dame Margaret Natalie Smith popularly known as Maggie Smith came to prominence with her exceptional stage performances in the year 1952. Maggie Smith has been applauded throughout her acting career and is still active after performing for more than half a century. Maggie Smiths acting acumen can be judged through her collection of awards which include five BAFTA, two Oscars, two Golden Globes, one Tony and an Emmy Award earned over fifty-six active acting years.

Maggie Smith was born on the 28th December 1934 in Ilford Borough to Margaret and pathologist Nathaniel Smith who was employed at the prestigious Oxford University. She has two older siblings Alistair and Ian. Maggie Smith attended Oxford High School based at Belbroughton Road, Oxford, United Kingdom.

One of Britain's distinguished actresses Maggie Smith has performed both in live theatres and on screen. Maggie Smith started her acting career at the Oxford Playhouse in 1956. During the 1960s Maggie Smith’s performance at Royal National Theatre, playing Desdemona in Othello opposite Laurence Olivier was widely acclaimed. Maggie later won her first Oscar nomination while playing in the 1965 film version of the same play. In 1969, Maggie Smith bagged an Oscar in the category of Best Actress for her commendable performance in the movie entitled The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Maggie also bagged the 1978 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in California Suite.

Some other prominent roles performed by Maggie Smith can be seen in the 1984 British comedy film A Private Function, in the 1992 American comedy Sister Act and the lead role as Lady Hester in the 1999 semi-autobiographical film Tea With Mussolini. Maggie Smith also appeared in Charles Dance's 2004 British drama film Ladies in Lavender and in the 2001 Oscar-nominated Gosford Park.

Maggie Smith also portrayed in the 1986 Merchant Ivory Productions' feature film A Room with a View, Ian McKellen's 1995 film Richard III and Alan J. Pakula’s 1973 drama film Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing. Maggie Smith’s name has almost become synonymous with the character of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movie series, a character loved by children and young teens all across the globe. She also played the role of an older Wendy in the 1991 fantasy movie Hook.

Maggie Smith played the lead character in many of Alan Bennett’s stage productions like The Lady in the Van; she also starred as Amanda in a revival of Noel Coward’s 1930 comedy titled Private Lives. In 1984, Maggie Smith won the London Evening Standard Award in the category of Best Actress for the play The Way of the World. Maggie Smith acted as the eccentric tour guide in the play Lettice and Lovage for which she received the 1990 Tony Award in the category of Best Leading Actress. In 1970, Maggie was honoured with the rank of Commander by the Order of the British Empire and was later raised to the rank of Dame Commander in 1990. In addition to her acting awards, Maggie Smith has achieved 2 BAFTA Awards including the 1993 BAFTA Special Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1996, she won an Academy Fellowship; she has also received 2 Academy Awards.

On the 29th June, 1967, Maggie Smith married actor Robert Stephens at Greenwich. The couple have two actor sons Chris Larkin & Toby Stephens born in the year 1967 and 1969 respectively. They separated on the 6th May 1974. On the 23rd August 1975 Maggie married for a second time to screenwriter Beverley Cross at Guildford; and remained so until her husband’s death on the 20th March 1998.