Dame Maggie Smith dominated the halls of Hogwarts as Professor McGonagall and provided a sublime acidic wit as the Dowager Countess in Downtown Abbey in a career spanning seven decades.
Born in Ilford, Essex, in 1934, she left school at the age of 16 to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse before making her professional debut on Broadway in 1956.
Alongside Judi Dench, she established herself as one of the best British theatre performers before going on to win her first Academy Award for Best Actress in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969).
Her career boasts numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five BAFTAs, four Emmy’s, three Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award.
As Britain mourns the loss of one of the best British actors of all time, lets take a look at her most iconic moments on screen.
Dame Maggie Smith appears in the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Perhaps Dame Maggie’s most iconic role was when she played Professor…