Where Is She Now?
From 1966 to 2000, Maggie Smith had won two Oscars and had been nominated five times in total. She appeared in comedies, romances, even epics (Clash of the Titans). But within a span of three days in the year 2001, Maggie Smith had truly proven to the world that she hasn’t really gone anywhere. On November 7th, Gosford Park was released in theaters, and would end up giving Maggie Smith one more Oscar nomination, giving her six in total.
But just three days earlier, the largest film of Smith’s career was released: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She would play the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall for 10 years and 8 movies, and has put her stamp on the Harry Potter franchise for as long as people choose to remember it. With Harry Potter taking up so much time, it’s impressive to see that Maggie Smith kept on working during those free moments.
From 2001 to 2011, Smith would appear in 9 TV movies/films: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood; My House in Umbria (won an Emmy for Lead Actress); Ladies in Lavender; Keeping Mum; Becoming Jane; Capturing Mary, From Time to Time; Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang; Gnomeo & Juliet.
Aside from Harry Potter, Smith will be known for her role in the British TV series Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley. For her role she received her second Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Earlier this year, Maggie Smith was one of many stars in the British comedy-drama The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The film stars some of the greatest British actors in history: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, and Celia Imrie.
Her next film will be the directorial debut of Dustin Hoffman, Quartet, which focuses on a group of retired Opera singers who annually put on a concert to celebrate the birthday of famed Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. But the arrival of Jean (played by Maggie Smith) disrupts the group. I had actually forgotten about this movie, even though I made a big deal about it the first time I heard of it. But with a cast of Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, and Billy Connolly, as well as it being the directing of Hoffman, this is a must see.
Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub
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