The Enduring Love of Dame Maggie Smith and Beverly Cross

Dame Maggie Smith and Beverly Cross shared a remarkable love story, characterized by a series of obstacles before their eventual union. Beverly Cross, a distinguished English playwright and screenwriter, became Dame Maggie Smith’s second husband, though the journey to their marriage was protracted and complicated. Beverly Cross passed away in 1998, several decades after the two first crossed paths.

Beverly Cross, born on April 13, 1931, in London, hailed from a theatrical family and initially garnered attention by writing children’s plays during the 1950s. His early success was bolstered by his first adult play, “One More River,” which premiered in 1958. The play revolved around a mutiny narrative, where a crew places its first officer on trial for manslaughter.

Throughout the 1960s, Cross’s career flourished. He translated “Boeing-Boeing,” a French farce by Marc Camoletti, in 1962, which enjoyed an extended run in London’s West End. He also crafted the book for the musical comedy “Half a Sixpence,” inspired by H.G. Wells’ novel “Kipps,” which opened in 1963. His screenwriting career spanned over two decades, with notable contributions to major films such as “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Genghis Khan” (1965), and “Clash of the Titans” (1981).

The romantic journey between Beverly and Maggie began in 1952 at Oxford University. For Cross, it was love at first sight, even though he was already married to Elizabeth Clunies-Ross, a classmate from Oxford. Despite this initial barrier, Cross remained steadfast in his affection for Maggie, ultimately divorcing his wife and proposing to Maggie.

However, their romance experienced another hurdle when Maggie Smith married actor Robert Stephens in 1967. She had two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, with Stephens before their marriage ended in divorce in 1975. Shortly thereafter, Beverly and Maggie finally married.

Reflecting on their eventual marriage, Smith described herself as “remarkably fortunate.” She noted, “When you meet again someone you should have married in the first place, it’s like a script. That kind of luck is too good to be true.” Although the couple did not have children together, Cross became a stepfather to Smith’s children from her previous marriage.

Beverly Cross passed away on March 20, 1998, at the age of 66 due to an aneurysm. In interviews, Maggie often referred to Cross as the “rock” of her life, and his passing left a profound impact on her. In a 2013 interview with 60 Minutes, she expressed the difficulty of facing life without him.

On September 27, 2024, Maggie Smith passed away at the age of 89. While the official cause of death was not disclosed, Maggie had previously endured health challenges, including Graves’ disease and breast cancer, from which she ultimately recovered. Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, issued a statement following her death, expressing profound sorrow at the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother, emphasizing her private nature and her presence among friends and family at her passing. They also extended gratitude to the staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days.