Maggie smith biography radio 4 listening

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Her ability to bring both sharp humor and emotional sincerity to her roles has earned her numerous awards and a devoted fan base.

Television and Global Recognition

Maggie Smith achieved global fame through her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film series (2001–2011), where her commanding presence and warmth made her one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in the 1980s and battled breast cancer in 2007, from which she successfully recovered.

9. The family moved to Oxford when Maggie was four years old. She attended the Oxford High School before enrolling in the Oxford Playhouse School, where her career began in earnest.

Full Name	Margaret Natalie Smith
Date of Birth	December 28, 1934
Age	89 years (as of 2024)
Place of Birth	Ilford, Essex, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actress
Years Active	1952–present
Notable Roles	Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter), Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey)
Spouse(s)	Robert Stephens (m. This new biography written by Michael Coveney and read by Peter Firth for BBC Radio 4, shines the stage-lights on the life and work of a truly remarkable performer, whose career spans six decades. Her extraordinary range, fierce intelligence, and timeless presence make her one of the most admired actresses of all time. She later won a second Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “California Suite” (1978). Smith studied acting at the Oxford Playhouse and later at the Oxford University Dramatic Society. She has had a career spanning over six decades and is recognized as one of Britain’s most distinguished actresses. She was first married to actor Robert Stephens in 1967, with whom she had two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, both actors. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 and later became a Companion of Honour for her services to drama. Does Maggie Smith have children? Yes, Maggie Smith has two sons: Chris Larkin (born in 1967), an actor. Toby Stephens (born in 1969), also an actor known for his roles in Black Sails and Die Another Day. 6. Was Maggie Smith married? Yes, Maggie Smith was married twice: First to Robert Stephens, a British actor, from 1967 to 1975. Later to Beverley Cross, a playwright, from 1975 until his death in 1998. 5. Michael Coveney's absorbing biography, drawing on personal archives, interviews and encounters with the actress, as well as conversations with immediate family and dear friends, is therefore as close as it gets to seeing the real Maggie Smith. Presenter/Peter Firth, Producer/Clive Brill for Brill Productions Publicity contact: BBC Radio 4 Publicity Maggie Smith – Biography Who Is Maggie Smith? Dame Maggie Smith is a legendary British actress whose career spans more than seven decades across theatre, film, and television. 1975–1998)
Children	2 (Chris Larkin, Toby Stephens)
Awards	2 Academy Awards, 4 BAFTA Awards, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 4 Emmy Awards
Damehood	1990

Career Highlights

Maggie Smith’s acting career began on stage in the 1950s, performing at the Oxford Playhouse.

Did Maggie Smith have any health issues?

• Yes, Maggie Smith has had health challenges in the past.
  

  Known for her privacy and modesty, she rarely gives interviews and leads a quiet life away from the spotlight. Maggie Smith has won several prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and four Emmy Awards.

  Maggie was born to a public health pathologist, Nathaniel Smith, and a secretary, Margaret Hutton.

  What are some of Maggie Smith’s most famous movies?

  • Some of Maggie Smith’s most famous movies include:
    • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
    • California Suite (1978)
    • A Room with a View (1985)
    • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
    • The Harry Potter series (2001–2011)

  12.

  By the 1960s, she had joined the Royal National Theatre and gained critical acclaim for her performance in plays such as “The Private Ear” and “The Public Eye.” Her breakout role came with her portrayal of Desdemona in “Othello” (1965), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

  Smith has been featured in numerous films over the years, with notable performances in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969), for which she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress, and “California Suite” (1978), earning her second Oscar.

  In recent decades, Maggie Smith has become well-known for her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series and Violet Crawley in the popular TV series “Downton Abbey.”

  Personal Life and Family

  • Father: Nathaniel Smith
  • Mother: Margaret Hutton
  • Siblings: Two older twin brothers, Alistair and Ian
  • Spouse: Maggie Smith was married twice.

    The couple divorced in 1975.