Dame Maggie Smith plays Violent, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey. Photo: PBS

Fresh on the heels of one of the all-time greats of the acting world (Dame Judi Dench) turning 89 earlier this month on December 9, we now have the brilliant opportunity to celebrate another ‘Dame’ as she also turned 89 this past week – Dame Maggie Smith.

Although she has achieved worldwide recognition with her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in 7 of the 8 Harry Potter films, the 6-time nominated, 2-time Oscar winning (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, California Suite) actress is, perhaps, best known in recent years for her spot-on portrayal of Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.

Like her fellow octogenarian Dame, she seems to have no plans on slowing down and putting her feet up any time soon. Following her brilliant six seasons on Downton Abbey and then two follow-up feature DA films, she showcased her talents in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van, starring opposite James Corden, Jim Broadbent, Dominic Cooper and Frances de la Tour. Dame Maggie will now grace us on the big screen once again with The Miracle Club, starring as Lily Fox alongside Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

Appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970, she was raised to Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 New Year Honours, and then made a Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to drama in the  2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Her two Oscars have to fight for space on her awards shelf with 5 BAFTA’s, 3 Emmy’s,  3 Golden Globes, 5 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, 2 Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) awards, and 1 Tony Award. Dame Maggie is also one of only a handful of actors/actresses to have won the ‘Triple Crown of Acting”, winning a competitive Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award. Only 12 have achieved the Grand Slam of Acting by adding a Grammy to their collection.

Harry Potter and Downton Abbey roles aside, Dame Maggie Smith began her acting career at the age of 17 playing Viola in Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse. From that moment, there was no looking back from that original 1952 performance with countless live stage performances mixed in with the too numerous to mention small and big screen appearances during her 70+ year career.

Happy belated 89th, Dame Maggie Smith!