Maggie Smith has passed away aged 89 as her sons paid tribute (Image: Getty)
as her two sons shared a heartbroken statement.
They said via a spokesperson: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. 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.”
Smith was diagnosed with a serious condition known as Graves’ disease, which can lead to complications such as heart failure. The acclaimed actress, best known for her roles as Professor McGonagall in the ‘Harry Potter’ series and the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in ‘Downton Abbey’, faced significant health challenges due to this illness.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in hyperthyroidism, or the excessive production of thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate critical bodily functions like heart rate and body temperature, but an overabundance can trigger severe symptoms.
The condition prompts the immune system to produce an antibody that interferes with thyroid cells, disrupting normal thyroid function and leading to hormone overproduction, as explained by the Mayo Clinic.
At the age of 33, while working on the play “Lettice”, Dame Maggie began experiencing intense symptoms of the disease, including a form known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy, which affects around a third of those with Graves’ disease.
In an interview with The New York Times, she described how her eyes became irritated and bulged out, accompanied by swelling, creating an “absolutely frightening” appearance, reports .
Maggie Smith opened up about her frightening condition (Image: (Image: GETTY))
Reflecting on her struggle with the condition, which came after a cycling accident that broke her arm, she shared: “It’s been kind of like a fog of despair, really.”
“It was ghastly having a broken arm; ghastly with the play, letting everybody down; and on top of that, I looked absolutely frightening, and didn’t know which way to turn.”
Dame Maggie Smith faced a harrowing time as she battled Graves’ disease, undergoing radiotherapy and optical surgery. The esteemed actress was isolated for an entire year during her recovery period.
Graves’ disease is typically treated with radiotherapy, where patients ingest radioactive iodine, which is naturally processed by the thyroid gland to produce vital hormones. This treatment causes the thyroid to shrink, reducing symptoms gradually, as per the Mayo Clinic’s explanation.
However, there’s a caveat: “Radioiodine therapy may increase your risk of new or worsened symptoms of Graves’ ophthalmopathy,” warns the Mayo Clinic.
For those suffering from Graves’ ophthalmopathy, like Dame Maggie, the approach to radiotherapy can differ. Orbital radiotherapy targets X-rays at tissues behind the eye over several sessions, aiming to reduce inflammation.
In addition to radiotherapy, Dame Maggie also underwent surgery, which resulted in noticeable bruising around her eyes. This procedure can involve partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland and is considered by the NHS for patients with severe eye issues or if other treatments fail to provide relief.