Dame Maggie Smith, one of the most celebrated actresses of our time, has passed away at the age of 89. Known for her wide-ranging roles on stage, film, and television, Smith leaves behind an unparalleled legacy in the performing arts.

Her passing was confirmed by her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, in a statement issued through publicist Clair Dobbs on Friday, September 27.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” the statement read.

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“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.”

The family took the opportunity to express their gratitude toward the medical team who cared for Smith in her final days.

“We would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days,” Stephens and Larkin added. “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Maggie Smith’s career spanned over seven decades, during which she garnered international recognition for her incredible performances.

She appeared in more than 50 films, earning two Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards, along with numerous other accolades. Her first Oscar came in 1969 for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, where she portrayed an idealistic and unconventional school teacher.

A decade later, she won her second Academy Award for California Suite (1978), cementing her status as one of the industry’s finest talents.

Born in Ilford, England, in 1934, Maggie Smith discovered her love for acting early in life.

Her stage debut came in 1952 when she played Viola in a production of Twelfth Night. This marked the beginning of a career that would see her grace not only stages across the world but also the screens of millions.

From her first uncredited film role in 1956’s Child in the House to her breakout role in the crime drama Nowhere to Go in 1959, Smith’s dedication to her craft was evident from the very start.

Her performances in theater were equally impressive. In 1990, Smith won a Tony Award for her role in Lettice and Lovage.

That same year, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her contributions to the performing arts. Her prolific work in the 1990s also included memorable performances in films such as Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), and Tea with Mussolini (1999).

However, it was in the 2000s that Maggie Smith introduced herself to a new generation of fans. She became globally renowned for her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series.

As the no-nonsense transfiguration teacher and later headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Smith captured the hearts of millions with her commanding presence and sharp wit. Her role as McGonagall spanned eight films from 2001 to 2011, and she became an indelible part of the franchise’s success.

Another defining role in her later years came as the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in the critically acclaimed BBC series Downton Abbey. Her portrayal of the sharp-tongued, aristocratic matriarch earned her three Emmy Awards, further solidifying her place as a beloved television icon.

Despite her fame, Smith maintained her famously spiky persona, admitting, “It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies,” she quipped, reflecting on her career of commanding, often acerbic characters.

Despite the added fame she received from Downton Abbey, Smith wasn’t entirely comfortable with her newfound visibility. In a 2014 interview with The Telegraph, she shared her discomfort at being recognized in public. “That’s never happened to me before,” she said, explaining that fans had started to notice her on the street.

“It’s television that does it. It was awful. I love wandering around on my own and I just couldn’t. I don’t go places, and if I do, I nearly always have to have a friend. It’s very difficult when you’re on your own because you have no escape.”

Her personal life was marked by both joy and profound loss. Smith was married to actor Robert Stephens in 1967, and the couple had two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin. The marriage ended in 1975, and later that year, Smith married playwright Beverley Cross.

Their union lasted until Cross’s death in 1998. When asked about loneliness during a rare interview with 60 Minutes in 2013, Smith poignantly remarked, “It seems a bit pointless, going on one’s own and not having someone to share it with.”

Smith spoke openly about the grief of losing Cross, revealing that work became a way to keep her mind occupied.

“They say it goes away but it doesn’t,” she said of her grief. “It just gets different. It’s awful, but what do you do? After the busyness, you are more alone, much more. A day that is absolutely crowded keeps your mind away from why you are alone but when it stops there is that deafening silence.”

In her final years, Maggie Smith continued to grace the screen with her presence in films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and The Lady in the Van (2015).

Her last film role before her death was as Lily Fox in 2023’s The Miracle Club. Despite her advancing years, Smith remained a powerful force in cinema and left behind an enduring legacy.

She is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren, all of whom are mourning the loss of their remarkable mother and grandmother.

Though her physical presence is no longer with us, Maggie Smith’s legacy will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and the countless audiences who admired her work.

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