A mesmerizing presence. Over the years, Maggie Smith has captivated audiences with her vast collection of roles. From stage plays to large movie productions, the U.K. native made a name for herself by channeling a wide range of emotions and exploring dramatic character development.
Although Smith has received countless accolades for her work throughout the years, she previously explained why she has no interest in being famous.
“I don’t feel any different to the way I felt before, and I’m not quite sure what [being a star] means,” she said during a rare interview with 60 Minutes in February 2013.
Three years later, the actress revealed why she choose to perform in stage productions more than on the big screen.
“I’ve thought about this a lot. I think it’s because, I know it sounds silly, but I am, and I think a lot of actors would agree with this — I am very insecure. And I don’t know, I feel somehow — on a set, I feel a bit trapped because you’re in a corner, and you absolutely have to do it. There is no way out,” she told NPR in 2016. “In the theater, you know, you get another chance. You can do it the next night, the next performance. You can probably get it right then. But you don’t have any real say in a film. And quite honestly, I probably drive everybody mad and go on and on and on and want to do another take and — because I never feel that it’s right. So, I always feel huge pressure.”
For Smith, getting the chance to perfect how she approaches a role made her view her film performances differently.
“It’s an odd feeling, but when you’re there and you’re having to do it, the choice you make has to be absolutely right. And of course, it can’t be,” she noted at the time. “It just absolutely can’t be. So, you don’t really have a say in it. I find it very hard because I don’t know that I trust myself to know that – if it’s good or if that’s the take that should be or whether we just do it with one take or there isn’t time to do anymore. You know, I find that real pressure.”
The Tony Award winner, who appeared in well-known projects such as the Harry Potter film series and Downton Abbey, later reflected on her experience during an interview with the U.K.’s Evening Standard Magazine in 2019, saying, “I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton, but it wasn’t what you’d call satisfying. I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things.”
She added: “I wanted to get back to the stage so much because theatre is basically my favorite medium, and I think I felt as though I’d left it all unfinished. But there wasn’t anything that came along.”
Credit: Shutterstock; Jaap Buitendijk; Shutterstock (2)
Maggie Smith’s Most Memorable Roles Through the Years
A mesmerizing presence. Over the years, Maggie Smith has captivated audiences with her vast collection of roles. From stage plays to large movie productions, the U.K. native made a name for herself by channeling a wide range of emotions and exploring dramatic character development.
Although Smith has received countless accolades for her work throughout the years, she previously explained why she has no interest in being famous.
“I don’t feel any different to the way I felt before, and I’m not quite sure what [being a star] means,” she said during a rare interview with 60 Minutes in February 2013.
Three years later, the actress revealed why she choose to perform in stage productions more than on the big screen.
“I’ve thought about this a lot. I think it’s because, I know it sounds silly, but I am, and I think a lot of actors would agree with this — I am very insecure. And I don’t know, I feel somehow — on a set, I feel a bit trapped because you’re in a corner, and you absolutely have to do it. There is no way out,” she told NPR in 2016. “In the theater, you know, you get another chance. You can do it the next night, the next performance. You can probably get it right then. But you don’t have any real say in a film. And quite honestly, I probably drive everybody mad and go on and on and on and want to do another take and — because I never feel that it’s right. So, I always feel huge pressure.”
For Smith, getting the chance to perfect how she approaches a role made her view her film performances differently.
“It’s an odd feeling, but when you’re there and you’re having to do it, the choice you make has to be absolutely right. And of course, it can’t be,” she noted at the time. “It just absolutely can’t be. So, you don’t really have a say in it. I find it very hard because I don’t know that I trust myself to know that – if it’s good or if that’s the take that should be or whether we just do it with one take or there isn’t time to do anymore. You know, I find that real pressure.”
The Tony Award winner, who appeared in well-known projects such as the Harry Potter film series and Downton Abbey, later reflected on her experience during an interview with the U.K.’s Evening Standard Magazine in 2019, saying, “I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton, but it wasn’t what you’d call satisfying. I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things.”
She added: “I wanted to get back to the stage so much because theatre is basically my favorite medium, and I think I felt as though I’d left it all unfinished. But there wasn’t anything that came along.”
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Credit: Jaap Buitendijk
Professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter
Smith played a professor at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in the iconic film series that took inspiration from J. K. Rowling‘s book series. The film adaptations were released from 2001 until 2011.
Credit: Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess Of Grantham in Downton Abbey
The U.K. native won three Emmys and her first Golden Globe for her role as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey. The series ran from 2010 to 2015.
Credit: Merchant Ivory/Goldcrest/Kobal/Shutterstock
Charlotte Bartlett in A Room With A View
In 1985, Smith had the scene-stealing role of Charlotte Bartlett alongside her Harry Potter costar Helena Bonham Carter in the romantic film.
Credit: Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
Reverend Mother in the Sister Act Franchise
Reverend Mother originally appeared as more of an antagonistic part of Sister Act but gained major character development alongside Whoopi Goldberg‘s character, Sister Mary Clarence.
Credit: Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
Diana Barrie in California Suite
Smith ironically played the role of an actress hoping to win an Academy Award, only to receive that honor in real life for her portrayal of Diana Barrie in 1978.
Credit: Blueprint/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Muriel Donnelly in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The 2011 comedy drama highlights Smith as a housekeeper who comes to a hotel to get a hip operation. She later reprised her role in the sequel film due to the positive reception of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Credit: Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock
Augusta Bertram in Travels With My Aunt
Her appearance in the 1972 film Travels With My Aunt scored Smith an Oscar nomination at the time.
Credit: Mark Tillie/Usa/Capitol/Film Council/Kobal/Shutterstock
Constance Trentham in Gosford Park
Smith made a memorable appearance in the 2001 black comedy mystery which explored a murder that occurred at a dinner party full of wealthy attendees. Downton Abbey, which the actress went on to star in, originally planned to be a spinoff of Gosford Park.
Credit: 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie
Smith won two Academy Awards for the 1969 film that followed an unrestrained teacher at an all-girl’s school.
Credit: YouTube
Mrs. Mabel Pettigrew in Memento Mori
Smith got the chance to shine as the villain in the 1992 television film.
