Dame Maggie Smith, 84, has surprised many after winning for a record-breaking fifth time for the Best Actress Prize at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

She kept things simple and classy in a black satin blazer and showed off her trophy. The win comes 57 years after her first best actress prize at the event back in 1962.

Smith won the award on Sunday for her portrayal of the secretary to Joseph Goebbels, who was a minister for propaganda in Nazi Germany in the play  A German Life. It was her first time returning to the stage in 12 years.

She took to the stage after winning the award and recalled when she won her first award.

“It was just so long ago that I got one when I started.  

“I got it because they couldn’t think of anybody else to give it to.”

Smith won her first Evening Standard theatre acting award for her role in  The Private Ear  and  The Public Eye  in 1962.

She then won awards in 1970 for  Hedda Gabler, 1984 with  The Way of the World  and in  Three Tall Women  in 1994.

Scroll through the gallery to see Dame Maggie Smith with her award on the night.