Two-time Oscar and three-time Emmy winner, Dame Maggie Smith passes away at 89. She was best known for her roles in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies and ‘Downton Abbey.’
Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin confirmed the saddening news in a published statement writing, “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” before adding, “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.”
Smith’s co-actors also paid their tributes to her passing. Maggie’s 1993’s ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’ co-star Rob Lowe recounted his “unforgettable experience” working with the Oscar winner in his statement.
He wrote, “Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” speaking of her acting prowess. He further wrote, “She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools,” before concluding, “We will never see another. Godspeed, Ms Smith!”
Her ‘Downton Abbey’ co-star Hugh Bonneville, praising Smith’s acting skills, wrote, “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit, and formidable talent,” before adding, “She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”
The Prime Minister of Britain also gave his condolences in a statement on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account. He wrote, “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time,” before adding in honor of the late actress, “Dame Maggie Smith introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career.” He further wrote, “Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.”
Smith’s earliest accolade was in 1958 in the form of a BAFTA award for her endearing performance in ‘Nowhere To Go.’ She also played the charismatic Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre, and two years later she received her first Oscar nomination for the role.
Apart from her role as Professor McGonagall in ‘Harry Potter’ and Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in ‘Downton Abbey,’ she also played a prominent role as chaperone Charlotte Barlett in the 1985 Merchant Ivory film ‘A Room With a View,’ for which she earned another Oscar nomination and a BAFTA.
She won her two Oscars for ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ‘(1969) for The Best Actress category, and bagged Best Supporting Actress for ‘California Suite (1978).’ She was Oscar-nominated for ‘Othello’ (1965), ‘Travels with My Aunt’ (1972), ‘A Room with a View’ (1985), and ‘Gosford Park ‘(2001).
Her final project was ‘The Miracle Club’ (2023), where a group of women from Dublin venture out to a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes.