Shepperton Studios has unveiled The Maggie Smith Stage, honouring Dame Maggie Smith’s extraordinary contribution to film, television, and the performing arts.
The unveiling took place during a private event on May 7 attended by close friends and family including her two sons Toby Stephens and Christopher Larkin. The dedication marks an historic moment for the Studios.
Dame Maggie Smith is one of Britain’s most celebrated actors, with a career spanning more than seven decades across theatre, film, and television. She has a distinguished and longstanding association with both Shepperton and its sister studio, Pinewood, having filmed numerous productions across the two sites.
Her acclaimed work at the Studios includes The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987), which earned her the BAFTA for Best Actress. Other notable productions in which Smith starred and filmed at Pinewood and Shepperton include Othello (1965), Clash of the Titans (1981), The Secret Garden (1993), and Gosford Park (2001).
The naming of The Maggie Smith Stage celebrates Dame Maggie’s remarkable legacy and recognises her enduring influence on generations of audiences and filmmakers. Her body of work, characterised by technical mastery, emotional depth, and iconic performances, has left an indelible mark on British and international cinema.
Christopher Larkin and Toby Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith’s Sons, said in a joint statement: “We are deeply touched by this recognition. Our mother would have been honoured to have her own stage at Shepperton, a place she had fond memories of and that means so much to the industry she dearly loved.”
A Pinewood Group spokesperson said: “Dame Maggie Smith is a national treasure and one of the finest actors of her generation. Her connection to both Shepperton and Pinewood Studios is deeply woven into our history, and we are honoured to recognise her contribution by naming The Maggie Smith Stage.”
