Maggie Smith

One of the world's most famous and distinguished actresses, Dame 'Maggie Smith' (qv) was born Margaret Natalie Smith in Essex. Her Scottish mother, Margaret (Hutton), worked as a secretary, and her English father, Nathaniel Smith, was a teacher at Oxford University. Smith has been married twice: to actor 'Robert Stephens' (qv) and to playwright 'Beverley Cross' (qv). Her marriage to Stephens ended in divorce in 1974. She was married to Cross until his death in 1999. She had two sons with Stephens, 'Chris Larkin' (qv) and 'Toby Stephens' (qv) who are also actors.'Maggie Smith' (qv)'s career began at the Oxford Playhouse in the 1950s. She made her film debut in 1956 as one of the party guests in _Child in the House (1956)_ (qv). She has since performed in over sixty films and television series with some of the most prominent actors and actresses in the world. These include: _Othello (1965)_ (qv) with 'Laurence Olivier' (qv), _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)_ (qv), _California Suite (1978)_ (qv) with 'Michael Caine' (qv) and 'Jane Fonda' (qv), _A Room with a View (1985)_ (qv), _Richard III (1995)_ (qv) with 'Ian McKellen' (qv) and 'Jim Broadbent' (qv), 'Franco Zeffirelli' (qv)'s _Tea with Mussolini (1999)_ (qv) with 'Judi Dench' (qv), 'Joan Plowright' (qv) and 'Cher' (qv) and _Gosford Park (2001)_ (qv) with 'Kristin Scott Thomas' (qv) and 'Clive Owen' (qv), directed by 'Robert Altman' (qv). 'Maggie Smith' (qv) has also been nominated for an Oscar six times and won twice, for _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)_ (qv) and _California Suite (1978)_ (qv).Smith later appeared in the very successful 'Harry Potter' franchise as the formidable Professor McGonagall as well as in 'Julian Fellowes' (qv)' ITV drama series, _Downton Abbey (2010)_ (qv) (2010-2011) as the Dowager Countess of Grantham.::Anonymous