“Harry Potter,” “Sister Act” and more

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of legendary actress Maggie Smith, who died Friday at age 89.

A veteran of both stage and screen, Smith was born on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England. She made her film debut in the British television series BBC Sunday Night Theater in 1955.

ForbesMaggie Smith, the Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning acting legend, dies at 89From Marc Berman

Per IMDbSmith made his first appearance on the big screen in the 1956 British film child in the housewhere she played the uncredited role of a party guest. She made her official film debut two years later in the 1958 crime drama Nowhere.

Overall, according to IMDbOver the course of her illustrious career, Smith appeared in 85 film projects.

From her dozens of film appearances, here are 10 films starring Smith to check out.

“The Miracle Club” (2023)

Maggie Smith’s final film role came in the 2023 comedy The Miracle Club.

In the film, Smith’s character Lily Fox forms the musical group The Miracles with two friends – Eileen (Kathy Bates) and Dolly (Laura Linney) – to perform in a Catholic Church talent show. After winning the competition, the Miracles receive tickets for a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.

“Downton Abbey” (2019)

Although Maggie Smith established the iconic role of Dowager Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley in the classic ITV/BBC television series Masterpiece Downton Abbey– which ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2015 – she was able to reprise the role twice Downton Abbey feature films.

The first Downton Abbey The film was released in theaters in 2019, while its sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in 2022.

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2011)

Maggie Smith plays Muriel Donnelly in The best exotic Marigold hotelone of a group of British citizens “in their golden years” who move into a retirement hotel in India.

The cast of the 2011 comedy-drama also includes Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel and the late Tom Wilkinson. Smith reprized her role in the film’s sequel. The second best exotic Marigold hotelwhich was published in 2015.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)

One of Maggie Smith’s most famous roles began in 2001, when she played Hogwarts professor Minerva McGonagall in the big screen adaptation of JK Rowling’s bestselling novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Smith played the role of McGonagall in six more Harry Potter films over the next decade, ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. Smith’s McGonagall was not released in 2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

“Gosford Park” (2001)

Maggie Smith played the role of Constance Trentham in director Robert Altman’s crime comedy Gosford Park in 2001.

The film’s ensemble cast also included Smith’s future Harry Potter Starring Michael Gambon as well as Kristen Scott Thomas, Ryan Phillipe, Stephen Fry, Derek Jacobi, Clive Owen and Helen Mirren.

Gosford Park Smith received her sixth and final Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.

“Sister Act” (1992)

Maggie Smith played the Reverend Mother in Sister lawa musical crime comedy from 1992 starring Whoopi Goldberg.

In the film, Goldberg plays Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier, a lounge singer who witnesses a mob murder and is placed under witness protection at a convent run by the Venerable Mother – and ultimately establishes her new identity as Sister Mary Clarence.

Smith reprized her role as Venerable Mother, also known as Mother Superior, in the sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit in 1993.

“A Room with a View” (1985)

A historical romantic drama directed by James Ivory. A room with a view Maggie Smith stars as Charlotte Bartlett, who watches over her cousin Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) during a trip to Florence, Italy.

A room with a view earned Smith an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

“California Suite” (1978)

Maggie Smith plays Diane Barrie opposite Michael Caine’s Sidney Cochran in the romantic comedy California Suitewhich tells four different stories of eight different guests staying at a hotel in Beverly Hills.

Diane and Barrie are a British couple traveling to Los Angeles for the Oscars.

California Suite earned Smith an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – her only win in that category in four attempts throughout her career.

“Death on the Nile” (1978)

An adaptation of legendary author Agatha Christie’s classic crime novel, Maggie Smith plays Miss Bowers – one of nine passengers suspected of murder by Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) after a suspicious death aboard a boat trip on the Nile in Africa.

“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1970)

Maggie Smith won her first Oscar – for Best Actress – for playing the eccentric Scottish teacher Jean Brodie The heyday of Miss Jean Brodie. The film was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in only one other category – a nomination for best original song for composer Rod McKeun’s tune Jean.

Smith also received another Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Aunt Augusta in the 1972 adventure comedy Traveling with my aunt.

ForbesThe Prime of Miss Maggie Smith: A TributeFrom Hal Rubenstein