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Today’s Turtle Star, we honor the incredible, amazing, and iconic Dame Margaret Natalie Smith. Dame Smith had a career for over 70 years before her death. She was known as one of Britain’s and the world’s most prolific and legendary actresses. During her amazing career she has won countless awards which included two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for six Olivier Awards. She was a Grammy win away from being in the elusive EGOT. Dame Smith will be remembered for her many roles and in her later years being the strict Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and as Violet Crawley in Downtown Abbey. Let’s take a moment and honor this amazing actress and raise our wands for her.
Jean Brodie- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Dame Smith was excellent in this film. She stood by her beliefs and values even if they were wrong. She was a teacher that had high standards for her students. Her motto for her students was, “Little girls, I am in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders, and all my pupils are the crème de la crème. Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life.” Dame Smith seemed to have a certain control and awe in her role and really brought Miss Brodie to life. Dame Smith deserved her Academy Award.
Professor Minerva McGonagall – Harry Potter series (2002-2011)
Dame Smith came back in a big way by being cast as Head of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall. A whole new audience was introduced to this amazing actress. If you read the books, Dame Smith was the perfect choice for Professor McGonagall and who couldn’t love how she said Potter. Showing up in all eight films and the only actor that JK Rowling wanted, she was the best. Hold up your wand for this amazing professor.
Violet Crawley-Downtown Abbey (2010-2016)
You know you are a boss when you star in a series while making a major movie and winning awards. Dame Smith plays Violet Crawley, the Countess of Grantham. Dame Smith was a force in this series as she represented the old world in the show but let everyone know she was quick-witted and not to be messed with. Dame Smith was so great in this role that she won three Emmy awards for her performance.
Lettice Douffet – Lettice and Lovage (1987-1990)
Starring in the comedic and satirical play, Lettice and Lovage, Dame Smith plays Lettice Douffet. The play revolves around an extravagant tour guide who loves to elaborate the history behind an English country house. Dame Smith is excellent in her role or play that was specifically written for her. In 1990, Dame Smith won the Tony award for her performance.
Desdemona- Othello (1965)
Dame Smith received her first of six Academy Award nominations in her career. In the film version of the classic Shakespearean play, Dame Smith plays Desdemona, the wife of Othello. This is one of the only Shakespearean plays where all the principal actors were nominated for Oscars. Smith is great in her role, and she was FOINE in her younger years. I will say that the film doesn’t age well as Olivier is in blackface which is not cool.
Charlotte Bartlett- A Room with a View (1986)
Dame Smith earned another her fifth Academy Award nomination in her impressive career in this James Ivory directed film. Dame Smith plays Charlotte, the older cousin and somewhat handler to Lucy. Charlotte had her hands full to make sure Lucy never went out without supervision for the purpose of protecting her honor and reputation. Dame Smith was great in this role even if it was small, but you know Smith was going to bring her A-game and a little sass. We all want a room with a nice little view and Dame Smith makes sure Charlotte voices her opinion.
Constance Trentham- Gosford Park (2001)
In the film that inspired Downtown Abbey, Dame Smith used this role as a little taste of what was to come in her Downtown Abbey role. Garnering her sixth and final Academy Award nomination, Dame Smith is a force to be reckoned with in this small role as Countess of Trentham, a visitor to the great house. If you watch Downtown Abbey, Dame Smith doesn’t change a thing about her performance. As Constance, you wouldn’t want to be around her as she is quite a mean person, but she is brilliant. So much sass in her characters.
Diana Barrie- California Suite (1978)
Dame Smith won her second Academy Award but this time in the Best Supporting Actress category. Dame Smith plays Diana Barrie, a British actress who is nominated for the first time for the Academy Award for Best Actress. I felt like I just wrote that sentence twice. Dame Smith is awesome in this role as she and Caine have hilarious moments. Dame Smith as Diana is sweet one moment but as the film progresses becomes a little all over the place as the big moment approaches. You must watch this film.
Mother Superior – Sister Act (1992)
This was the first film I ever remember seeing Dame Smith perform. I went and saw this film as a kid during a field trip or birthday party. Even though Sister Act was all about Whoopi Goldberg and her iconic performance, I remember Dame Smith as Mother Superior. Dame Smith was the perfect counter to Goldberg’s character. Playing as Mother Superior, Dame Smith was calm yet charismatic. She help balance out the film with her cold but loving presence. It was fun to watch Dame Smith opposite of Goldberg as one was a neat person and the other a chaotic force from Las Vegas.
Augusta Bertram – Travels with My Aunt (1972)
Dame Smith has a habit of gaining those Academy Award nominations. Garnering her third Oscar nomination and second in the Best Actress category, Dame Smith was great as Augusta Bertram. In this comedic film, the film centers on the adventurous, amoral aunt and her respectable middle-class nephew. As Augusta, she struts around while thinking of past and present lovers and not giving a damn what anyone thinks. You would want an aunt like her as she goes on trips around the world even if you meet strange characters
