Dame Maggie Smith, one of the world’s most notable actresses, has passed away at age 89.
The news was confirmed by her sons on Friday, Sept. 27, through a statement by publicist Clair Dobbs. Their statement read:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday, 27th September.”
They added: “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren, all 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,” Stephens and Larkin continued.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The actress, who was well-known for her character, Professor Minerva McGonagall, in the Harry Potter film series, as well as Violet Crawley in the Downton Abbey series, appeared in over 50 films throughout her career spanning over 70 years.
Starring across television, film, and theater, she won two Academy Awards for roles in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978); a Tony Award for Lettice and Lovage in 1990 and was made a dame by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to the performing arts. She also earned four Golden Globe Awards, five BAFTA Awards, as well as four Oscar nominations.
Dame Maggie Smith was born in 1934 in Ilford, England, and got married to her ex-husband, actor Robert Stephens, in 1967, with whom she had two sons, Stephens and Larkin. However, the two got divorced in 1975.
She went on to marry playwright Beverley Cross that same year and stayed married to him until his death in March 1998. When asked in 2013 if she ever felt lonely in an interview on 60 Minutes, she replied, “It seems a bit pointless, going on one’s own and not having someone to share it with.”
Smith told The Telegraph later on that she used work as a distraction.
“They say it goes away but it doesn’t,” she said of losing Cross. “It just gets different. It’s awful, but what do you do? After the busyness, you are more alone, much more. A day that is absolutely crowded keeps your mind away from why you are alone, but when it stops, there is that deafening silence.”
Following the announcement of her death, tributes poured in from King Charles, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and many of her co-stars from her remarkable career.
King Charles described her as “a national treasure” whose “warmth and wit… shone through both off and on the stage.”
Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that her “work will be cherished for generations to come.” He added that she “introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career.”
Harry Potter cast members also paid their tributes, with Daniel Radcliffe fondly remembering her “fierce intellect” and “gloriously sharp tongue.”
“I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set,” he said.
Emma Watson also paid tribute, remembering Maggie as “real, honest, funny, and self-honoring.”
“Maggie, there are a lot of male professors and by God, you held your own,” she wrote.
Additionally, Downton Abbey creator and writer Julian Fellowes said via Variety magazine that she was “a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny, and heart-breaking.”
Sister Act co-star Whoopi Goldberg described Dame Maggie as “a great woman and a brilliant actress.” She added: “I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind.’”
Speaking of her, Maggie’s friend Sandra Bullock said that her “wicked sense of humor” and advice made “life much sweeter.”
Dame Maggie Smith leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable performances and is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren.
