Film · 1934–2024

Maggie Smith — Age & Birthday

Born: 28 December 1934 · Died: 27 September 2024 · Age at death: 89

How old was Maggie Smith when she died?

Maggie Smith died aged 89. She was born on 28 December 1934 and died on 27 September 2024.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth28 December 1934
  • Date of death27 September 2024
  • Age at death89
  • NationalityBritish
  • BirthplaceIlford, United Kingdom

Editor's Take:

Smith belonged to that rare breed of performer whose technique never overwhelmed emotional truth. Her eight years at the National Theatre during the 1960s forged a rivalry with Olivier himself, who recognised her speed and precision matched his own. The double Oscar victory by 1978 confirmed her cinema credentials, yet she never abandoned theatre, claiming a Tony at 55. Her late-career renaissance through Downton Abbey introduced her sardonic presence to millions who had never seen her stage work. The longevity itself tells the story: from Oxford Playhouse student to global icon across eight decades.

Key Milestones

  1. 1962: Joined Laurence Olivier's new National Theatre Company
  2. 1969: Won Academy Award for Jean Brodie role
  3. 1990: Made Dame by Queen Elizabeth II
  4. 2010: International stardom with Downton Abbey debut

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (28 December 1934 – 27 September 2024) was a British actress. Known for her wit in both comedic and dramatic roles, she had an extensive career on stage and screen spanning eight decades and was one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actresses.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Maggie Smith: Grande Dame of British Acting

British actress, born 1934

Maggie Smith was born in Ilford on 28 December 1934.

Smith achieved the Triple Crown of Acting with victories at the Oscars, Emmys and Tony Awards across an eight-decade career.

She won her first Academy Award for playing the title character in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), then a second for California Suite (1978).

Smith portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall throughout the entire Harry Potter film series from 2001 to 2011.

Career highlights

  1. 1952Stage debut: Viola in Twelfth Night
  2. 1969Oscar win: Best Actress Jean Brodie
  3. 1978Second Oscar: Supporting Actress California Suite
  4. 1990Tony Award: Lettice and Lovage
  5. 2010Downton Abbey: Violet Crawley debut

Did you know?Laurence Olivier once accidentally struck Smith so hard during a 1964 Othello performance that he knocked her unconscious.

Age at death
89
Would be
91
Years since death
2

Explore Maggie Smith's birthday

Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

When is Maggie Smith's birthday?
Maggie Smith's birthday is December 28. She was born on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, United Kingdom.
How old was Maggie Smith when she died?
Maggie Smith died on September 27, 2024, aged 89.
Who shares a birthday with Maggie Smith?
Famous people who share Maggie Smith's December 28 birthday include Woodrow Wilson, Linus Torvalds, John von Neumann, Liu Xiaobo and Denzel Washington.

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Further reading

Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026