Maggie Smith was a legendary British actress and icon of stage and screen who left an indelible mark in the entertainment industry. Best known for her unforgettable roles in Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter series, her career has spanned over six decades. During this time, Maggie has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, four Emmys, and a Tony.
Suddenly, after leaving a huge impact and legacy in the film world, Maggie Smith was pronounced dead on September 27, 2024. In this exclusive biography, we will delve into the inspirational life of the legendary actress Maggie Smith, discussing her early life, net worth, education, personal life, career, and more. We will also disclose everything you need to know about her death.
Must-know Facts About Maggie Smith
- Maggie Smith was created a Dame in 1970.
- In 1967, Maggie made her BBC TV debut as Beatrice in Much About Nothing with her husband, Robert Stephens.
- She is among the few actresses to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
- Maggie died on September 27, 2024, at age 89.
Net Worth and Career Earnings
What was Maggie Smith’s net worth? The legendary British actress Maggie Smith made a vast fortune from her acting career, which lasted over six decades. At the time of her death, Maggie had a net worth of $20 million. With a career associated with several accolades, the actress cemented her reputation as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. She became an international star for portraying Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films.
During her career, Maggie has won several accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Emmys, and a Tony. She received an Academy Award for her performance in the 1969 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and the 1978 California Suite (1978). In 1990, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame (DBE). Maggie was later appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2014.

Early Life and Education
Margaret Natalie Smith, the daughter of Nathaniel Smith and Margaret Hutton-Smith, was born on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, United Kingdom. According to her birthday, she was born under the Capricorn astrological sign. Her mother, Margaret, was a Scottish secretary from Glasgow, while her father, Nathaniel, was a public health pathologist from Newcastle upon Tyne.
As a child, Maggie’s parents told her about their romantic story of meeting on a train from Glasgow to London via Newcastle. At the age of four, the family relocated to Oxford. Maggie had two older twin brothers, Alistair and Ian. She received her education from Oxford High School until she turned 16, where she dropped out to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse.
Quick Wikipedia
Quick Biography | Answers |
Birthday | December 28, 1934 |
Full Name | Matthew Louis Gaetz II |
Hometown | Ilford, United Kingdom |
Lives In | N/A |
Net Worth | $20 thousand |
Horoscope/Birth Sign | Capricorn |
Age (dead) | 89 years old |
Stage Name | Maggie Smith |
Profession | Actress |
Father’s Name | Nathaniel Smith |
Mother’s Name | Margaret Hutton-Smith |
Number of Children | 2 |
Children’s Name | Toby Stephens & Chris Larkin |
Husband/Boyfriend | Beverley Cross (m. 1975–1998), Robert Stephens (m. 1967–1975) |
Wife/Girlfriend | N/A |
Birth Year | 1934 |
TikTok | N |
Facebook Handle | N/A |
YouTube Handle | N/A |
Twitter/X Handle | @maggiesmithpoet |
Instagram Handle | @maggiesmithdaily |
Snapchat Handle | N/A |
Height | N/A |
Body Measurements | N/A |
Feet/Shoe Size | N/A |
Color of Eye | N/A |
Movies Starred | N/A |
References | Wikipedia, Celebrity Net Worth, & IMBD |

Career
Maggie Smith started her acting career at the age of 17 by playing the role of Viola in the Shakespeare play “Twelfth Night” at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952. In 1954, she landed her TV debut with a minor role in the television series Oxford Accents. Two years later, Maggie made her first film appearance with an uncredited role in Child in the House.
The same year, she made her professional acting debut in the New Faces of ’56 production, which premiered at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Over the following decades, Maggie cemented herself, besides Judi Dench, as one of the most outstanding British theatre performers, working for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Maggie won and received numerous accolades on Broadway, including being nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Noël Coward’s Private Lives (1975) and Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day (1979). She also took home the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in the 1990 film Lettice and Lovage.
Thanks to her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), Maggie won Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978). Other Oscar-nominated films include Othello (1965), A Room with a View (1985), Travels with My Aunt (1972), and Gosford Park (2001). As an actress, Maggie had several lead roles in films such as the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011), Death on the Nile (1978), Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), The Secret Garden (1993), Quartet (2012), and The Lady in the Van (2015).
Later in her career, Maggie received newfound attention and international fame for playing Violet Crawley in the British period drama Downton Abbey (2010–2015). Thanks to her role, she won three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Personal Life
Maggie Smith married actor Robert Stephens in June 1967 and had two sons together. Unfortunately, the two lovebirds divorced in 1975. In June of the same year, she tied the knot with playwright Beverley Cross, and the two remained married until he died in 1998. Smith was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in 1988; however, it was disclosed that she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. In 2009, Maggie announced she had made a full recovery.
Death
On September 27, 2024, Maggie Smith was pronounced dead at the age of 89. However, the cause of her death remains undisclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Maggie Smith dead?
Ans: Maggie Smith died on September 27, 2024, at age 89.
Q. What is Maggie Smith’s net worth?
Ans: She has a net worth of $20 million.
Q. What was the cause of Maggie Smih’s death?
Ans: The cause of Maggie Smith’s death remains unknown.
Q. What is Maggie Smith mostly known for?
Ans: Maggie is best known for her Downton Abbey and Harry Potter roles.