Maggie Smith, one of the world’s most renowned actresses, has died. She was 89.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed the news on Friday, Sept. 27, stating in a statement through publicist Clair Dobbs, “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.”
“She passed away peacefully in the hospital early this morning, Friday, 27th September,” he said. “She was an extraordinarily private lady who died surrounded by friends and relatives. She leaves behind two sons and five adoring grandchildren who are crushed by the death of their amazing mother and grandma.
“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,” according to Stephens and Larkin.
Their final words were: “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Smith, who starred in more than 50 films, received two Academy Awards for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978). She also won four Golden Globe Awards and had four further Oscar nominations.
The actress was well-known for her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and Violet Crawley in the Downton Abbey series.
Smith was born in Ilford, England, in 1934, and made her stage debut in 1952 as Viola in a performance of Twelfth Night. Her career lasted 70 years and includes lead roles in television, cinema, and theater.
Smith’s first film credit was an uncredited performance in 1956’s Child in the House, followed by a larger role in 1959’s crime drama Nowhere to Go.
A decade later, Smith won her first Oscar for Best Actress for her depiction of an idealistic and unconventional schoolteacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Her second Academy Award came over ten years later, for California Suite.
The actress received a Tony Award for her performance in Lettice and Lovage in 1990. That same year, Queen Elizabeth II named her a dame in recognition of her services to performing arts.
During that time, Smith appeared in numerous high-profile films, including Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Hook (1991), and Tea with Mussolini (1999).
Smith introduced herself to a new generation of moviegoers in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as Professor Minerva McGonagall, a no-nonsense transfiguration instructor, head of Gryffindor House, and subsequently Hogwarts headmistress. The 2001 hit picture inspired seven sequels, with Smith repeating her beloved role in each.
She continued to perform and showcase her variety in the iconic BBC series Downton Abbey, where she played Dowager Countess Violet Crawley and won three Emmy Awards.
Smith once stated of her reputation, “It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” according to the Associated Press.
“Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies,” she said. In a 2014 interview with The Telegraph, Smith also discussed the increased public celebrity she received from her Downton Abbey part, adding, “That’s never happened to me before,” as she noted that fans had started recognizing her on the street.
“Television does it. It was terrible. I enjoy roaming about on my own, and I simply couldn’t,” she explained. “I don’t go somewhere very often, and when I do, I almost always go with a companion. It’s really difficult when you’re alone since you have no way out.
When questioned about her legacy after receiving the Evening Standard Icon Award for her contribution in theatre, Smith said, “Everything is an icon.
If you’ve been around long enough, you’re considered an icon. A fairly dusty icon, or a national treasure?”
The actress proceeded to appear in films including The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Lady in the Van. Her final film role before her death was as Lily Fox in The Miracle Club, which was released in 2023.
Smith has two kids, Stephens and Larkin, who she raised with her ex-husband, actor Robert Stephens. The couple married in 1967 and divorced in 1975.
She married playwright Beverley Cross in 1975, and they were married until he died in March 1998. When asked if she was lonely in a rare interview with 60 Minutes in 2013, Smith answered, “It seems a bit pointless, going on one’s own and not having someone to share it with.”
The singer told The Telegraph that she utilized employment to keep her mind busy.
“They say it goes away, but it doesn’t,” she explained about her grief over Cross’s death. “It simply becomes different. It’s dreadful, but what can you do? Following the activities, you are much more alone. A bustling day diverts your attention away from why you are alone, but when it stops, there is a deafening quiet.
Smith is survived by her sons and five grandchildren.
