Maggie Smith in Sister Act (Image: The Walt Disney Company)
The film world is reeling as the much-anticipated faces uncertainty following the loss of acting legend,
Passing away aged 89, Dame Maggie left behind a legacy that included the role of Reverend Mother in the beloved Sister Act franchise. The original 1992 hit and its 1993 sequel saw her star opposite Whoopi Goldberg, who played Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in a story of crime, comedy, and choir.
With whispers of circulating since 2020, the project’s fate now hangs by a thread. Goldberg, now 68, had previously declared she would only proceed if Smith reprised her iconic role.
On ITV’s Loose Women in January last year, she expressed her sentiment, saying: “One of the things that I want to make sure I do while I’m here is I want to let Maggie Smith know that I’m holding the part of Mother Superior for you. Because I just can’t do it with anybody but you.”
Goldberg even went so far as to assure Dame Maggie of making her participation effortless, saying: “So if you need me to come over here and shoot it and do whatever we have to do, we will do whatever you want us to do. But we don’t want to do it without you, Maggie”, reports .
Whoopi Goldberg on Loose Women (Image: ITV)
The esteemed Dame Maggie Smith passed away earlier today, her family confirmed, after she died at a London hospital. Her sons released a heartfelt statement, which read: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the .
“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.”
They continued to express gratitude towards the healthcare staff, adding: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the 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.”
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Maggie Smith has died aged 89 (Image: Getty)
Dame Maggie’s passing has led to an outpouring of respect and admiration from the acting community. Whoopi Goldberg, her co-star from ‘Sister Act’, took to to honour the late actress.
She posted: “Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family…RIP.”
Hugh Bonneville, a fellow star from Downton Abbey, was swift to honour the late actress. He wrote: “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.”