Top 10 Maggie Smith Movies of All Time

RIP Maggie Smith (1934-2024). In this video, we will explore her 10 greatest movies. In stead of ranking acting performances, this video puts the emphasis on the global audience appreciation of movies as a whole where Maggie Smith plays a significant (or lead) role.

One of the finest actors to ever come out of the United Kingdom, Maggie Smith has spent decades proving again and again why she deserves all the praise and accolades she’s received. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about her early work on the British stage, or her later film roles in movies like Death on the Nile, A Room With a View, Hook, or Sister Act, she’s always delivered. And if that’s not enough evidence of her great screen work, how about her other roles in Gosford Park, The Most Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Lady in the Van, and The Secret Garden.

And this isn’t even getting into her iconic turn as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise, a role so popular, it made her a star amongst a whole new generation of children. And then there’s her recent TV work as Violet Crawley on the smash hit series Downton Abbey, a performance which has earned her even more acclaim, as well as another whole new audience of fans.

Unsurprisingly then, over the course of her career Maggie Smith has won a lot of awards and honours for her work. In fact, not only is she a two time Academy Award winner and a five BAFTA award winner, but she’s also the recipient of four Primetime Emmys, five Screen Actors Guild awards, a Tony award, a Lawrence Olivier award, and a DBE from the British monarchy which makes her a real life dame.

Check out more great content from Stream TV on our official YouTube channel. Subscribe and ring the bell to get notified!

Credits:

Tea with Mussolini (1999) | Medusa Film, Universal Pictures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
royalty free Music produced by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music
download links:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Alexander Nakarada - Lurking Sloth" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 3.0) license
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Scott Buckley - World of Magic" is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mytwocents]

I think that Maggie loved what she did. She was acting right up to the very end of her life. I think she had a ball doing so and that is what made her so beloved. "Tea With Mussolini" and the first "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" are my favorites. Hard to choose because they were all fabulous. Maggie and Judy together were alway magic!

[Aramanth]

I would have put _The Prime of Jean Brodie_ at No. 1.
She gave an incredible performance that still hasn't been topped.

[aidagalvez]

The lady in the van is one of my favorites

[planetthunderstorm]

Here is my DAME MAGGIE SMITH - TOP 10 FILMS !!!

1: The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie
2: My House In Umbria
3: Travels With My Aunt
4: Quartet (1981)
5: Tea With Moussolini
6: The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne
7: Sister Act
8: Ladies In Lavender
9: Suddenly Last Summer (1993)
10: Death On The Nile

[desoto]

Wow! She won an Oscar for California Suite! But no mention. And Murder by Death where she played to perfection a straight comedic role. Her Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing is the best I’ve seen.

[cherimorton]

Maggie Smith.... You will always be missed and remembered for me !!! My heart is so heavy... You where a big part of my life ... I thought you would live forever you where magic to me !!! God bless you and your family...rest peacefully with God forever!!!

[lynnmanning]

She is a treasures! I adore her in anything she plays.wonderful actress!

[gittes]

a strange ranking but putting Harry Potter at #1 is absolutely absurd. There were any number of performances not mentioned in this list that were much more deserving.

[garylefevers]

Thank you for including The Secret Garden. Definitely a favorite of my family and myself. Ms. Smith is my favorite actress of her age. God bless her.

[alexandergroppe]

1-The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
2- The Lady in the Van
3- My House in Umbria
4- Tea With Mussolini
5- Ladies in Lavender

[jbug]

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I truly adored her role as Muriel Donnelly. The evolution of her character was amazing, touching and uplifting! Both "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" movies were incredible, the legendary actors cast in eclectic roles made them both masterpieces!

[grantfarkas]

Loved her in Hook as Granny Wendy with Robin Williams.

[Chanwills]

My top five Maggie performances:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (obvi)
Bed Among The Lentils (talking heads)
Keeping Mum
Tea with Mussolini
The Secret Garden

[ChristinePallas]

RIP Maggie Smith . We will miss your acting.. I loved your interviews you were so honest it was funny.

[_Astral_Traveller_]

My favorite movie of hers has to be Downton Abbey she was a badass countess with many funny lines

[janknuckey]

How can 'The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne' and 'California Suite' not make the list? Not to mention 'The Lady in the Van', 'The Missionary' and 'Sister Act'.

[astridvitols]

Thanksfully for your work and this beautiful selection🤩, completed by the co-contributions of everyone here in the comments (nice fraternity ! ha ha !), thanks to All of us !!!💝💖 I'd like to add this very subtile and beautiful movie "From Time to Time" (2009), very interesting for young people... and everyone of course !!! Best thoughts to All over the world, let's now enjoy to discover or watch again all those marvellous movies 💝!!! So many gifts, so much Love for Maggie Smith and all actors and friends in her singular life !!!💋💋💖

[kevinwoplin]

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne is a harrowing and powerhouse performance one of the best by an actress ever

[jazzquebec]

May I add Jessica Tandy? She was also one of my favourite British actresses, as was Maggie Smith. The film 'Driving Miss Daisie'. What unrivalled gems of actresses they were.

[petergough]

Maggie is a one off... her dry sence of humor is amazing🇬🇧