Maggie Smith ‘s sons announced the news of her sudden passing (Image: Getty)
The world has been left in shock at the heartbreaking news of
The beloved actress has died in hospital aged 89. Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died in hospital on Friday morning.
They said in a statement: “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.”
She is known for her legendary performances on stage and screen – most notably as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey – as she leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Fans and celebrities alike are mourning the loss of one of the most beloved and talented actresses of her generation.
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This Morning star Gyles Brandreth took to X to write: “The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era & a quite extraordinary life. She was a truly great actress, “one of the greats” & simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful. One of a kind in every way & consequently irreplaceable.”
Actor and comedian Omid Djalili said: “We’ve lost one the best today. RIP Maggie Smith.”
wrote on : “RIP Dame Maggie Smith. Magnificent actress, magnificent lady. As entertaining, sharp and witty off screen as she was off it. A very very sad loss for Britain.”
Hugh Bonneville said via News: “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.”
Gyles Brandreth paid tribute to Maggie (Image: Gyles Brandreth )
Meanwhile, CBS News anchor Anthony Mason shared a powerful quote from the actress. “I like the ephemeral thing about theatre. Every performance is like a ghost – it’s there and then it’s gone” – Dame Maggie Smith (1934-2024),” he said.
Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934. She attended Oxford High School for Girls and later studied at the Oxford Playhouse School. At 18, she made her stage debut in Twelfth Night.
Smith gained international fame for her role as the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1970.
She captured a new generation of fans with her portrayal of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. In 2010, she played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the hit ITV series Downton Abbey, a role that earned her an Emmy Award.
Despite her success, she expressed mixed feelings about her work in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, stating, “I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things.”
Her other notable film roles include a drunken Oscar loser in California Suite, a dying lover in Love, Pain and the Whole Damn Thing, the tragic lodger in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, and the quirky character in Gosford Park, which earned her a sixth Oscar nomination.