Dame Maggie Smith, known for her roles in the Harry Potter and Downton Abbey films, has died at the age of 89.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, published statement to the BBC she stated that she died peacefully in hospital on Friday morning.
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“It is with great sadness that we must announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” the statement read, “She passed away peacefully in hospital this morning, Friday 27 September. She was very private, she was with friends and family on that day, leaving two sons and five loving grandchildren, devastated by the loss of an extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unwavering kindness during her final days. Thank you for all your kind messages and support and please respect our privacy during this time.”
Throughout her career, Smith has won two Oscars, four Emmys and countless stage awards. The Oscars were awarded for her roles in the films Miss Jean Brodie’s Prime Minister and The California Apartment. Smith was also honored as a 1990 New Year’s Honors Lady for services to the performing arts.
Her work made her successful throughout, including in the eyes of novel audiences with her roles as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham in the ITV and PBS historical drama Downton Abbey, the latter of which earned Smith three of her four Emmy Awards .
Tributes poured in throughout the entertainment industrywith actor Hugh Bonneville, who co-starred with Smith in Downton Abbey, told the BBC that Smith was a “true legend of her generation” and added: “Anyone who has ever seen a scene with Maggie will attest to her keen eye, quick wit and enormous talent. “
