Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith has passed away in the hospital at the age of 89.The acclaimed British actress, renowned for her significant roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, as well as her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, died in the hospital on Friday morning, as confirmed by her family.
Her sons, Chris Larkin, known for Widow Clicquot, and Toby Stephens from Die Another Day, released a statement saying: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dame Maggie Smith.”
“She peacefully departed in the hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27th.”
“We would like to express our gratitude to the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and unwavering kindness during her final days.”
“We appreciate your kind messages and support, and we kindly ask for privacy during this time.”
Maggie Smith pictured in 1966
Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, Smith began her career in the early 1950s with notable theatre performances. She gained acclaim for her role in The Royal Family and secured her first Olivier Award in 1971 for her work in The Private Ear/The Public Eye.
Smith’s film debut occurred in the crime drama Nowhere to Go (1958), but she truly left her mark in the 1960s with films such as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), for which she earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
Maggie Smith 1934 – 2024: A Life in Pictures
She received a second Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978).
Smith was Oscar-nominated for her performances in Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1985), and Gosford Park (2001).
She gained immense popularity as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series (2001 – 2011), portraying the wise and formidable head of Gryffindor House, a character known for her strength, loyalty, and sharp wit.
Additionally, she was celebrated for her role as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the beloved series Downton Abbey.
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Her career, spanning more than half a century, garnered recognition almost from the start, receiving an early BAFTA nomination for Promising Newcomer in 1959 for Nowhere To Go.
This was soon followed by BAFTA nominations for Young Cassidy in 1966, Death On The Nile in 1979, California Suite in 1980, Quartet in 1982, The Secret Garden in 1994, Tea With Mussolini in 2000, Gosford Park in 2002, and The Lady In The Van in 2016.
She also won Best Actress awards for The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, A Private Function, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.
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Her final roles included The Miracle Club, a story about a group of women from Dublin who embark on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, in which her character Violet passes away.
Thaddeus O’Sullivan, the Irish director who worked with Maggie Smith on The Miracle Club, told RTÉ News: “Maggie Smith was a brilliant and instinctive actor. She was witty and entertaining off camera, working incredibly hard and for long hours on set.”
He shared, “She cherished her time in Dublin and held fond memories of working on The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne. It was a tremendous privilege to have known and collaborated with her.”
(L-R) Laura Linney and Maggie Smith in 2023’s The Miracle Club – the story of a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes
She is survived by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, as well as her extended family.
