British actress with two Academy Awards, a Tony, and an Emmy, with a career spanning the Royal Shakespeare Company, "Harry Potter", and "Downton Abbey".
Background
Born in Ilford, Essex, and raised in Oxford, Smith made her stage debut in Oxford in 1952. She joined the National Theatre under Laurence Olivier in 1963 and developed her career through stage classics.
Career
Her film breakthrough was “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969). Decades later she found a new generation of fans as Professor McGonagall in “Harry Potter” (2001-2011) and the Dowager Countess in “Downton Abbey” (2010-2015).
Style
Smith was recognized for crisp diction, comic timing, and a tart line in put-downs. She was made a Dame in 1990 and named a Companion of Honour in 2014, one of the highest British civilian honors.
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