Dame Maggie Smith Passes Away Aged 89

Dame Maggie Smith, best known for her appearances in the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ franchises, has passed away aged 89.

The actress, who has won two Oscars, three Emmys and many theatre awards, peacefully passed away in hospital on September 27. 

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin said in a statement. 

“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,” it added. 

Smith originally drew many fans through her performance of the Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in ‘Downton Abbey’, which started in the 1970s. 

She later drew even more fans when she took on the role of transfiguration Professor Minerva McGonagall. 

Tributes poured in from her co-stars and Royalty, as UK King Charles described her as  “a national treasure” and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “beloved by so many for her great talent.”

Daniel Radcliffe, the actor for Harry Potter, said Smith had a “fierce intellect” and “gloriously sharp tongue”. 

Emma Watson, actress for Hermione Granger, said she didn’t quite appreciate who was sharing the screen “with a true definition of greatness” until her adult years.

On Instagram, she praised the star for being “real, honest, funny and self-honouring.”

“Maggie, there are a lot of male professors and by God you held your own.”

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in ‘Harry Potter’, said he felt “incredibly lucky to have shared a set with [Dame Maggie] and particularly lucky to have shared a dance” on Instagram.

Smith was named Dame Commander of the British Empire along with Judi Dench and Diana Rigg in 1990.

She had an illustrious career, which started in the 1950s, and span across film, TV and theatre productions.