ZUM TOD DER BRITISCHEN SCHAUSPIELERIN MAGGIE SMITH

Die am 28. Dezember 1934 in Ilford (Essex) geborene britische Schauspielerin Maggie Smith (Bild) ist am 27. September 2024 in London gestorben. Die zweifache Oscar-Preisträgerin zählte zu den gefragtesten Bühnen- und Filmdarstellerinnen ihrer Generation. Sie gewann neben den beiden Academy Awards einen Tony Award, vier Emmys, fünf BAFTAs und drei Golden Globes. Einen Namen machte sie sich vor allem durch ihre häufige Darstellung exzentrischer Figuren, wie die verhärmte Jungfer in «A Room with a View» (1985), die unselbständige Gräfin in Robert Altmans «Gosford Park» (2001) oder die Mutter Oberin in den «Sister-Act»-Filmkomödien (1992/93). 1990 wurde sie von Königin Elisabeth II. in den Ritterstand erhoben und 2014 zum Companion of Honour ernannt. Anfang des 21. Jahrhunderts wuchs ihre Fangemeinde noch durch ihre Darstellung der Minerva McGonagall in den Verfilmungen der «Harry-Potter»-Romane (2001 bis 2011) und der Violet Crawley in der englischen Kostümdrama-Serie «Downton Abbey» (2010–2015). (*)

Bild: Maggie Smith, 1995 – Foto: Mike Lidgley, https://www.flickr.com/people/50256734@N05 – Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en – Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Three_Tall_Women_at_Wyndam’s_Theatre,_1995_(53171585455).jpg

Tributes paid to ‹true legend› Dame Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has been remembered as «a true legend» of acting following her death at the age of 89.

Tributes have been paid by the King and prime minister, as well as numerous co-stars from her long career.

King Charles described her as «a national treasure», while Sir Keir Starmer said she was «beloved by so many for her great talent».

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe fondly remembered her «fierce intellect» and «gloriously sharp tongue».

Helen Bushby & Ian Youngs

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgk7375ngkxo

Dame Maggie Smith obituary

Not many actors have made their names in revue, given definitive performances in Shakespeare and Ibsen, won two Oscars and countless theatre awards, and remained a certified box-office star for more than 60 years. But then few have been as exceptionally talented as Maggie Smith, who has died aged 89.

She was a performer whose range encompassed the high style of Restoration comedy and the sadder, suburban creations of Alan Bennett. Whatever she played, she did so with an amusing, often corrosive, edge of humour. Her comedy was fuelled by anxiety, and her instinct for the correct gesture was infallible.

Michael Coveney

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/sep/27/dame-maggie-smith-obituary

Dame Maggie Smith, actress who conquered stage and screen with her wit, poise and eccentricity

Dame Maggie Smith, the actress, who has died aged 89, was a stylist and a wit whose cool, lacquered voice, suffer-no-fools personality and sophisticated manners gave all her work, whether on stage or screen, the highest distinction. (…)
She came to be regarded as a rare embodiment of English poise and eccentricity – as well as human complexity. She could wear a look of imperiousness like a mask, but her wide blue eyes could signal haunted vulnerability as effortlessly as they could a reproving disdain.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/09/27/dame-maggie-smith-oscar-actress-downton-harry-potter/

Giant of stage and screen was one of Britain’s most successul stars

In a stellar career spanning 60 years, Smith gave life to a host of memorable characters, from Muriel Spark’s passionate Edinburgh girls’ school teacher Jean Brodie, to Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and Violet Crawley in the ITV drama Downton Abbey.

Her other film hits include the Sister Act franchise and Steven Spielberg’s Hook.

Over her career, Smith worked with theatrical greats including Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Alan Bennett and Dame Judi Dench, while maintaining a prolific film and television presence from the 1960s onwards.

Joe Sommerlad

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/maggie-smith-death-harry-potter-cause-b2445404.html

Since breaking out in ‹The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,› the legendary British actress distinguished herself in comedies as well as dramas during her six-decade career

In 1989, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed Smith with the title of «dame» for her dramatic accomplishments. The queen granted her another distinction in 2014, making her the 47th member of the Order of Companions of Honor, in the company of such other recipients as Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench.

Lisa de los Reyes & Duane Byrge

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/maggie-smith-dead-downton-abbey-1236014232/

Maggie Smith, Grande Dame of Stage and Screen, Dies at 89

American moviegoers barely knew Ms. Smith (now Dame Maggie to her countrymen) when she starred in «The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie» (1969), about a teacher at a girls’ school in the 1930s who dared to have progressive social views — and a love life. Vincent Canby’s review in The New York Times described her performance as «a staggering amalgam of counterpointed moods, switches in voice levels and obliquely stated emotions, all of which are precisely right.» It brought her the Academy Award for best actress.

Anita Gates, Robert Berkvist

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/arts/maggie-smith-dead.html

Maggie Smith, ebullient scene-stealer of stage and screen, dies at 89

The British actress won Oscars for «The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie» and «California Suite,» and enchanted audiences as a professorial witch in the Harry Potter movies and the sly dowager countess on the TV series «Downton Abbey.»

Adam Bernstein

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/09/27/maggie-smith-actress-dies-dead-obituary/

Muere la actriz Maggie Smith, ganadora de dos Oscar y conocida por ‘Downton Abbey’ y ‘Harry Potter’, a los 89 años

La intérprete británica, veterana del teatro y la pantalla, ha fallecido en el hospital de Westminster (Londres), según ha informado su familia

Rafa de Miguel

https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-09-27/muere-la-actriz-maggie-smith-ganadora-de-dos-oscar-a-los-89-anos.html

Maggie Smith, actrice inoubliable de «Downton Abbey» et de «Harry Potter», est morte

A l’affiche d’une centaine de pièces de théâtre et de près de soixante longs-métrages, elle n’avait jamais cessé de jouer. Un parcours impressionnant qui fit d’elle l’une des actrices britanniques les plus récompensées du septième art. Elle s’est éteinte à l’âge de 89 ans.

Véronique Cauhapé

https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2024/09/27/maggie-smith-actrice-inoubliable-de-downton-abbey-et-de-harry-potter-est-morte_6336757_3382.html

Morta Maggie Smith, amata contessa in Downton Abbey e professoressa McGranitt in Harry Potter

E’ morta a Londra, a 89 anni, Maggie Smith, attrice britannica vincitrice di due Oscar. Una lunga carriera di successo tra teatro, cinema e televisione. Dame Margaret Natalie Smith era nata a Ilford, alle porte di Londra, il 28 dicembre del 1934. Tra le attrici britanniche più apprezzate, oltre agli Oscar aveva ottenuto tre Golden Globe, cinque premi Bafta, cinque Screen Actors Guild Awards, quattro Emmy Awards e un Tony Award per il suo prestigioso impegno in campo teatrale.

https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/cinema/2024/09/27/news/morta_maggie_smith-423521991/

Die spitze Zunge schweigt

Dame Maggie Smith spielte oft Frauen, die sich keine bissige Bemerkung entgehen ließen – bevor sie als Minerva McGonagall in den Harry-Potter-Filmen eine weitere Generation für sich einnahm.

Susan Vahabzadeh

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/tot-nachruf-downtown-abbey-jean-brodie-daphne-castle-lux.RNgHQz18hPTHjrpvhr1uie?reduced=true

Geliebte ungnädige Gräfin

In Großbritannien war Maggie Smith längst ein Star, als sie sich auch in der globalen Popkultur verewigte. 2001 übernahm die zweifache Oscar-Preisträgerin die Rolle der Lehrerin Minerva McGonagall in den Verfilmungen der Kinderbuchreihe «Harry Potter» – was schon verrät, dass sie ihre schauspielerische Berufung stets mit Humor genommen hat. Später erzählte sie, dass sie anfangs bei Regie-Anweisungen mit Drachen innerlich noch zusammengezuckt war.

Andreas Busche

https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/nachruf-auf-maggie-smith-geliebte-ungnadige-grafin-12450767.html

Mit unvergleichlicher Eleganz überschritt Maggie Smith die Grenzen zwischen Komödie und Tragödie

Die zweifache Oscarpreisträgerin ist für ihre Rollen in «Downton Abbey» und «Harry Potter» bekannt. Ihre Erscheinung schmiegte sich nie dem Zeitgeist an – ihr Werdegang zeigt, dass es auch anders geht.

Marion Löhndorf

https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/nachruf-englische-schauspielerin-maggie-smith-eine-lady-mit-haltung-und-biss-ld.1316288

Videos:

Maggie Smith & Kenneth Williams read Betjeman’s «Death in Leamington»

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzzBwic-xjw

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) ORIGINAL TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXA0N55c3iw

JEAN_BRODIE_SCENE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBtPjtTAOQ

MagPark70’sPt1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1pUX1tzL54

Maggie Smith Wins Supporting Actress: 1979 Oscars