She had two Oscars and survived cancer: what was Maggie Smith's life like and who, besides Minerva McGonagall, did she play

Today, on September 28, the star of the Harry Potter film series, Maggie Smith, has died. The legendary actress passed away at the age of 89, leaving an indelible mark on cinema.

Throughout her long career, she won two Oscars, was a seven-time BAFTA winner, a Golden Globe winner, and a four-time Emmy winner. However, few people know that in addition to her enchanting achievements, the late actress had some difficult periods in her life. She suffered from a serious cancer that caused her to lose her hair. OBOZ.UA decided to tell you what the life of the legendary actress was like.

Margaret Natalie Smith was born on December 28, 1934 in the London suburb of Ilford. She studied at Oxford, the oldest English-speaking university in the world, where she began her acting career. The young actress first appeared on the professional stage in 1952, playing the title role of Viola in the play Twelfth Night.

Maggie Smith's acting career

The first movie with the young Maggie Smith was released in 1965. The actress took on the role of Desdemona, the wife of the protagonist of Othello.

The next work was the film The Rise of Miss Jean Brodie, which brought the celebrity her first Oscar. Then the star played a wild teacher at a girls' school in Edinburgh. This role revealed the versatility of the young artist's talent.

"Hotel California brought Maggie Smith two awards at once. She embodied the role of British actress Diane Barry, for which she won her second Oscar and Golden Globe.

One of the most popular films of the English celebrity was the movie "Act, Sister". Maggie Smith played the abbess of a convent in San Francisco, whose life changes dramatically after meeting nightclub singer Deloris Wilson.

One of the most atypical roles for the legendary actress was that of an elderly homeless woman, Mary Shepherd. In the script of The Lady in the Van, the protagonist persuades the famous playwright Alan Bennett to give her permission to live in a brightly colored van parked near her home. Maggie Smith's unique talent allowed her to flawlessly reveal the character's eccentricity.

And, of course, we can't help but mention the iconic role of Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series.

Oncological disease

It was during the filming of the world-famous movie saga based on J.K. Rowling's novel that Maggie Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to the serious illness, the actress had to undergo chemotherapy. She was constantly in terrible pain and nausea, and spent her last days on set in a wig, as all her hair fell out.

However, the celebrity's colleagues assure that she never lost hope for the best and, despite all the obstacles, did not give up her favorite business.

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