The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of beloved Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith, who has sadly passed away at the age of 89.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, announced her passing “with great sadness”, sharing with fans that she had died “peacefully” on Friday, September 27.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” they said in a statement.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Born December 28, 1934, Smith’s career began in 1952 as a student performer at the Oxford Playhouse, before making her professional debut on Broadway in New Faces of ’56. Over the years, she rose to prominence alongside Dame Judi Dench, becoming a pillar of British theatre, with notable performances for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Smith’s Broadway career was equally remarkable, earning Tony Award nominations for her roles in Private Lives (1975) and Night and Day (1979). In 1990, she took home the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in Lettice and Lovage.
On screen, Smith garnered two Academy Awards: Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978). She received Oscar nominations for other standout performances in Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1985), and Gosford Park (2001). Smith also became a beloved figure among younger audiences with her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series (2001–2011).
Her versatile talent shone through in films like Death on the Nile (1978), Sister Act (1992), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), and The Lady in the Van (2015). However, it was her role as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010–2015) that earned her widespread international acclaim and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Throughout her career, Smith was honoured with numerous accolades, including a British Film Institute Fellowship (1993), a BAFTA Fellowship (1996), and the Society of London Theatre Special Award (2010). She was also made a dame in 1990 for her services to the arts by the late Queen Elizabeth.
As news of Smith’s passing spread, fans and celebrities alike joined together to pay tribute and celebrate her remarkable legacy on screen.
Smith is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren.
-with Reuters.