Dame Maggie Smith: An Appreciation

We bid a fond farewell to an acting legend who only got better with the passing of years.

Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith), in the British drama series “Downton Abbey.” Dame Smith passed away on Sept. 27. MovieStillsDB

Dame Maggie Smith, the renowned and versatile British actress, died on Sept. 27 of undisclosed causes at the age of 89 at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Smith’s career spanned seven decades. She won awards in every major performance medium (with the exception of the Grammys) while gaining the respect and adulation of critics, audiences, and her peers the world over.