Dame Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89

27 September 2024, 15:54

Dame Maggie Smith has died aged 89.

News of her passing was announced today by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens in a statement:

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September," it said.

"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."

Having started her illustrious career in the 1950s, Dame Maggie became one of the most respected and prolific acting icons of her generation.

She won two Academy Awards, firstly in 1970 for her turn in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and again in 1979 for California Suite.

Smith was nominated a further four times for an Oscar and received a total of eight BAFTA Awards, as well as a Tony Award.

She gained her first BAFTA nomination in 1958 for Nowhere To Go, later being offered the role of Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre by Laurence Olivier in 1963, which bagged her the first Oscar nomination of her career after it was made into a film two years later.

As well as starring in notable films such as A Room With A View alongside fellow icon Dame Judi Dench, Maggie was also celebrated for her roles in the Harry Potter film series and Downton Abbey in recent years.

In Harry Potter she played the barb-tongued Professor Minerva McGonagall, and in Downton Abbey was the grand matriarch Violet Crawley who was celebrated for her whip-smart one-liners.

Her Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville paid tribute to his former colleague after hearing news of her death.

“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

"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."