After acting through seven decades in her career, the curtain has finally fallen on Dame Margaret (Maggie) Smith’s life. Smith, who is a beloved actress whose death has saddened many. Acting through seven decades, she’s impacted and influenced children and adults alike.
“She was probably my first role model because she made teaching look fun but also admirable from when I first encountered her when I was 11 or 12,” Mrs. Breitzka, CHS English teacher and Harry Potter enthusiast said.
For many, their first encounter with her was for the role of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. Playing one of the head Professors, right under the headmaster, she made many fall in love with the series and look towards her as a role model. As Breitzka had said, she made teaching look admirable and fun, giving them someone to look up to as children.
Though all her roles have had impacts on people’s lives, for some, it may be Professor McGonagall, but for others, it might be one of her other movies or shows. From Sister Act and Hook, which are light-hearted funny movies, to Downton Abbey, a show that is a serious historical drama, she will always have an impact on someone’s life.
Some of these roles have quotes that have stuck with fans throughout the years.
Breitzka’s favorite quote, which appears both in JK Rowling’s famous book series, and Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter movies, is: “You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don’t let you off homework today. I assure you that if you do die, you need not hand it in.”
This was a comeback Rowling had written that stuck with many fans in the book series and was later perfected by Smith’s acting.
Her acting has also won her many awards throughout her career. Over seven decades of acting, she won two Academy Awards, Four Emmys, One Tony Award, two Oscars, five British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and five Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also had earned many other smaller awards, having won around fifty-eight awards overall. That does not even count the number of times she had been nominated for an award too, which was around one hundred and fifty-seven times.
Sadly, on Friday, September 27, she passed away.
“My heart hit the floor, but then I had the chance to take in everything that she’s brought to my classroom and my love of my profession,” Breitzka said.
Throughout the school and world, many have mourned the loss of this wonderful actress. Many tributes have been made towards her, in respect of her life and the impact she has made throughout seven decades. The world of acting will never be the same without her.
