The beloved Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at age 89. From Downtown Abbey to Sister Act to Harry Potter, here are five of her most legendary roles. 

1. Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Downtown Abbey)

Smith starred in the Emmy-winning period drama series Downtown Abbey as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. Downtown Abbey chronicled the lives of the Crawley family, British aristocrats, and their servants in the early 20th century.

Violet was the matriarch of the family and her character was known for her sharp-tongued wit. Violet was Smith’s last role of her illustrious career.

2. Professor Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter series)

Smith captured the essence of Professor McGonagall perfectly. There is no one else who could have portrayed the formidable but fair witch better than Smith.

Interestingly enough, despite the widespread recognition Smith received for her part in the Harry Potter films, she didn’t find the role particularly “satisfying,” as she admitted during a 2019 interview with the U.K.’s ES Magazine.

“I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it wasn’t what you’d call satisfying. I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things,” Smith had said during the interview.

3. Mother Superior (Sister Act and Sister Act 2)

In the hit comedy Sister Act, Smith played Mother Superior, the head nun of a convent that took in nightclub singer Deloris (Whoopi Goldberg) who needed to hide from her mobster boyfriend. The movie is a classic for so many reasons, but it really couldn’t have been what it was without Smith as Mother Superior.

4. Muriel Donnelly (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows British retirees who travel to India to live in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. However, upon their arrival, the retirees discover that the Marigold Hotel was not as luxurious as it had been advertised. Slowly but surely, the retirees begin to appreciate and be charmed by the hotel. Smith played Muriel Donnelly in this film.

5. Lady Gresham (Becoming Jane)

Becoming Jane is a 2007 biographical period drama based on the life of Jane Austen before she became the famous writer she is known as today.

In Becoming Jane, 20-year-old Jane (Anne Hathaway) is burgeoning writer who daringly longs to marry for true love. Her parents, however, have other ideas and are looking for a well-off man for Jane to marry to ensure her social status.

The man in question is Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), nephew to the incredibly rich local aristocrat Lady Gresham (Smith). Smith’s portrayal of Lady Gresham is incredibly entertaining, filled with sharpness and wit.