British actress Maggie Smith, best-known as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter, dies at 89

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London: British actress Maggie Smith, an award winning Shakespearian actress and double Oscar winner who later appeared in the Harry Potter films, has died aged 89, the BBC reported on Friday...

One of the few actors to win the treble of an Oscar (two), Emmy (four), and Tony, Smiths long career started on the stage in the 1950s...

But for many younger fans in the 21st century, she was best-known as Professor McGonagall in all seven Harry Potter movies, and the Dowager Countess in the hit TV series and movie spin-offs of Downton Abbey, a role that seemed tailor-made for an actress known for purse-lipped asides and malicious cracks...

Her first Academy Award nomination was for her turn playing Desdemona opposite Laurence Oliviers Othello in 1965, before winning the Oscar for her role as an Edinburgh schoolmistress in 1969s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie...

Other critically acclaimed roles included Lady Bracknell in Wildes The Importance of Being Earnest on the West End stage, a 92-year-old bitterly fighting senility in Edward Albees play Three Tall Women, and her part in 2001 black comedy movie Gosford Park...

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British actress Maggie Smith, best-known as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter, dies at 89

08, Oct, 24

One of the few actors to win the treble of an Oscar (2), Emmy (4), and Tony, Maggie Smith’s long career started on stage in the 1950s.